The Woman’s Club
Part of a distinguished tradition of service

The Woman’s Club of Rock Hill was organized in 1939. It is affiliated with the South Carolina and General Federation of Women’s Clubs, the largest and oldest women’s volunteer service organization in the world. As far back as 1899, Federated women’s clubs established the national model for the juvenile court system. They were responsible for the establishment of 75% of America’s public libraries, led the effort to establish food safety laws, contributed to the establishment of the Forest Reserve and the National Park Service, among its many other contributions. Notable clubwomen include Julia Ward Howe, author of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and a leader in the suffrage movement; Eleanor Roosevelt; and Jane Addams, founder the Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago which served as a model for social reform movement .

GFWC-SC was founded in 1898 and includes over 70 clubs in the state. It is headquartered in Columbia in the historic Stackhouse Mansion which dates from the 1850s.

The Rock Hill Woman’s Club maintains its property, the Armstrong-Mauldin House, and its landscaping. The house was purchased in 1971 and serves as the clubhouse and the organizational center for all the club’s community activities. It is also available to the public for weddings, receptions and meetings.

The Club, since its inception, has responded to local, national and international needs with contributions of volunteer hours and monetary support. These projects for the past 18 years have been funded by the Club’s annual Bridal Fair. They are developed and implemented by six departments (committees).

The Departments are:
• Arts • Conservation • Education • Home Life • International Affairs • Public Affairs

In the last three (3) years, they have provided money and/or volunteer time to support:

•York County Library
•Arts Council of Rock Hill & York County
•Department of Social Services
•Rock Hill School District
•Clemson Extension 4-H Camps
•Rock Hill Clean and Green
•Children’s Attention Home
•Children’s Attention Home Charter School
•Central Child Development Center
•American Cancer Society
•American Red Cross
•Rock Hill Veteran’s Clinic
•Rock Hill Police Department
•Community Health
•Teen Health Center
•Hispanic Community Center
•Piedmont Health Care
•Safe Passage
•Rock Hill National Guard

Selected examples of support:
Arts Department
•Monetary awards to high school art students
•Major contribution to fund a Charlotte Symphony
•Concert for Rock Hill Schools 5ts graders
•Theater and concert tickets for the Girls’ Home residents

Conservation Department
•Support of 4-H conservation camps
•Teaching all district first graders recycling
•Establishment of a backyard habitat
•Fashion shows (held at the club) by Camp Sew children at the end of their camp

Home Life Department
•Contribution of furniture, printer and paper to Children’s Attention Home
•Contribution of heart models to the Women’s Center of the Piedmont Medical Center
•Purchase of two (2) Canine Companions

Education Department
•Continued support of a technology library which was established by the Club at the ATC
•Purchase of playground equipment for special needs children at a public elementary school
•Student tutoring
•Support of Children’s Attention Home Charter School with materials, books, gloves, hats, holiday parties and gift
•A manners booklet was compiled for elementary school students

International Affairs
•Donation of books to a school in Bolivia
•Collection of food for World Food Day
•Financial support of Heifer International
•Financial support of teacher training in Liberia
•Contributions to Hispanic Center in Rock Hill
•Financial support of Operation Smile
•Collection of school supplies for Iraqi children

Public Affairs Department
•Gifts to veterans at the Veteran’s Clinic
•Monetary contributions and personal care bags to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Program
•Monetary contribution to Safe Kids Program for Child Identification Kits
•Food for families of deployed troops
•Women’s History brochure of county events

(Compiled Summer 2005)