News

HOME OF THE SPARROW

TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

A simple statement with far-reaching impact!

Imagine for a moment that you are a mother of two young children working 40 hours a week, earning minimum wage – that’s roughly $15,000 per year. How do you afford rent, health care, food, and basic transportation?

In 2009, 24% of female-headed households lived below the poverty line in Chester County.* Homelessness, hunger and poverty still haunt our county’s most vulnerable women and children.  We’ve been making a difference since 1995 with our mission – to provide housing and supportive services to homeless and low-income women who want to improve their lives and become self-sufficient.

We’re thrilled to boast an 82% success rate with most women moving on to more permanent housing upon completion of one of our programs.

“Being in this program is not for the faint-hearted,” said one woman who completed it.  “It forced me to take a long hard look at myself and my life.  It has given me a new lease on life.  It made me believe in myself again because I had to work very hard for every step forward, but, in hindsight, that is what makes Home of the Sparrow special.”

*Source: Blueprint Report – Chester County Fund for Women and Girls

International Women's Club of Philadelphia


INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CLUB OF NEW ENGLAND

History:

The International Women’s Club of New England (IWCNE) was founded by Anna Kristina Sawtelle. The first monthly luncheon was held on March 28, 1992. Since its inception, IWCNE has donated over $122,200 to a variety of charities supporting women and children. Although an independent group, the New England Club is a member of Welcome Clubs International. IWCNE and two other clubs, one in Dallas, TX and another in Douala, Cameroon, share the same by-laws and logo, the Palm Tree. A Pine Cone logo was added to represent our New England Club. Past Presidents: Anna Kristina Sawtell, Pearl Somaini-Dayer, Brenda Bukowski, Gwen Knowlton, Nonie Hubrecht, Barb Poulin, Lucille Gentsch, Charline Ludgate and Ellen O'Toole. Current President: Ellen Farber

The International Women’s Club of New England is an organization of women from all walks of life, ethnic backgrounds, religious beliefs, political philosophies and varying ages who come together to promote friendship and understanding among people of different nationalities and cultures. We support selected charities that primarily assist women and children in need. Since IWCNE’s beginning, the annual goal has been to donate $5,000 or more to charities that support women and children. Money is raised at a variety of events organized by members. Among our fund raisers are Arts and Entertainment Evenings, Fashion Shows, Holiday Fairs, PotLuck Dinners and Raffles. Meetings/luncheons are held on the 4th Saturday of each month at various area restaurants. Prospective members are urged to join us at one of the luncheons to meet members and learn about the Club’s missions and goals. Various Activity Groups meet monthly: Book Discussion, Theatre/Concert/Museum trips, International Film Discussion, Les Chanteuses, a choral group, and various Language Conversation groups. IWCNE pursues ways of making international connections and furthering cultural exchange. We welcome ideas for new programs and projects as well as support for our current events and activities.

UNITED STATES SISTER CLUBS


Note: To view a Newsletter or the Web Site of a particular Club, please click on the link at the end of the description of the Club. (It may take a few minutes for the file to come up.)


California: is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. Its geography ranges from the Pacific coast to the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, Mojave Desert and the Redwood Forests of the northwest. There are two WCI sister clubs in California:

Welcome to California - San Diego: was founded in 2002 and currently has over 60 members representing 21 nationalities. San Diego is located in Southern California on the Pacific Coast, just north of the US-Mexico border. San Diego is a port city and was founded as a mission in 1769. Please click here to visit the Welcome to California - San Diego web site.

President: Vida Van Note. vidavan@msn.com
Liaison:     Elisabeth Miller. liesbethmiller@sbcglobal.net

Women's International Border Club: founded in 2005, located in Chula Vista. Click here to read this Club's Newsletter.

President: Maria Cunning. andrewmorganfd@sbcglobal.net
Liaison:    Wilma Boettcher. vboettcher@cox.net
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Colorado: Denver, the "Mile High City", is the capital of the State of Colorado. Founded as a mining camp in 1855, it is at the edge of the high plains before the vast and scenic Rocky Mountains jut skyward 14,000 feet. A regional commercial and financial center, Denver is a vibrant metropolis of 2.5 million people with over 300 days of sunshine each year. It also has the reputation as one of the country's healthiest places to live.

All of us in the WCI family are invited to visit this fabulous city during the WCI Twelfth Biennial Intenational Conference in 2012.

Welcome to Colorado - Denver: was founded in 1978 and currently has over 300 members representing 43 nationalities.

President: Aida Souviron. asouviron@comcast.net
Liaison:    Julia Banks. jabbksandco@aol.com

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Florida: is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. Much of the land mass of the state is a large peninsula with the Gulf of Mexico to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. It is nicknamed the "Sunshine State" because of its generally warm climate - subtropical in the northern and central regions, with a true tropical climate in the southern portion.

Welcome to Florida International Club is located in Naples, and emcompasses Naples, Marco Island and Bonita Springs. It was founded in 1986. The club currently has over 187 members representing 35 nationalities.

President: Lila Corner clmcorner@aol.com
Liaison:     Barbara Meek bilbarm@gmail.com

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Maine: "Picturesque" is the word that describes the southern Maine area with its rocky coasts and smooth sands and small coastal lobster and fishing villages. Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Ogunquit and York are among the wonderful locales for this club's meetings. 

International Women's Club of New England: is located in southern Main and was founded in 1992. The club currently has about 150 members representing 20 nationalities. Please click here to visit the IWCNE website.

August 2011 Newsletter

President: Ellen Farber musicalellen@aol.com
Liaison: Loi Diamond zoidiamond@aol.com
     
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Massachusetts: is a state in the New England region of the northeast Unites States. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, Vermont and New Hampshire to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Most of its population of 6.4 million lives in the Boston Metropolitan area:

Berkshire International Club: was founded in 1994 and currently has over 100 members representing about 27 nationalities. The club is located in western Massachusetts were the fall colors are spectacular. The area is home to Mass MoCA (modern art) in North Adams, the Clark Art Institute (French impressionist paintings) in Williamstown, and Tanglewood which is the Boston Synphony's summer home.

President: Ghetta Hirsch ghettagh@aol.com 
Liaison:  Vera Lecocq  velecocq@verizon.net


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Pennsylvania: The IWCP club was founded in Philadelphia known as the city of "Brotherly Love". Philadelphia is on the Delaware River and among its sites are Independence Hall where both the U.S. Declatation of independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed, and the Liberty Bell in City Center.

The International Women's Club of Philadelphia was founded in 1989 and currently has around 80 members representing 10 nationalities. Please click here to visit the IWCP web site.

President: Anne Constantinescu. ancadaniel@gmail.com
Liaison:     Jacqueline Yates. jacquelineyates@gmail.com

 

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Washington, DC: is the capital of the United States and home to its national government, abundant cultural institutions and peoples from all over the world.

Welcome to Washington International Club, Inc.  was founded in 1959 and currently has around 550 members representing 70 nationalities. Members of this club come from the urban, suburban and rural areas of DC, Maryland and Virginia. Please click here to visit the Welcome to Washington International web site.

President: Laurie Nakamoto lnakamoto@amourllc.com
Liaison:     Faye Wickersham efwick@cox.net

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