By Alicia Kelso
What started as a coffeehouse conversation between a handful of moms has since become a fundraising powerhouse for Upper Arlington area high school students.
The UA Women’s Club was created in 2001 when a small group of women realized the community didn’t have such a benevolent group, while other area suburbs did. The draw certainly existed, as the club is now up to 245 members.
One purpose of the UAWC is to provide scholarship money to students who give back to the community.
“The UAWC decided to focus on service, putting a different focus on student achievement. We are not looking at grade point (averages), we’re looking at selflessness,” says Robin Comfort, UAWC president. “We are looking for that student who goes the distance, who has realized the importance of giving back. We are looking for the student with a big heart, a kind heart and a giving heart.”
Each year, the UAWC gives five $1,000 “Humanitarian Awards” to college-bound seniors who live in UA and attend UAHS, Wellington, Watterson, the Columbus School for Girls or Columbus Academy. Students are nominated by teachers and counselors and are asked to complete a questionnaire for consideration.
“Each year, when the applicant pool comes in for the awards, it is amazingly difficult to select only five. We wish we could award more,” Comfort says. “So many young people today have invested themselves in giving. It is incredibly impressive and humbling to see how many hours these young people give back.”
To finance these scholarships, UAWC has facilitated an annual fundraiser, Sale Away, for the past two Julys. This year’s Sale Away fundraiser will be held rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 11 at UA Mallway Park, 2108 Arlington Ave.
The event provides the community with an opportunity to browse antiques and flea market and garage sale items donated by local merchants and residents.
“It is a well-attended event that draws the serious antique person to the casual shopper. There are a variety of vendors, including local businesses on the mallway to garage sale items from neighbors,” Comfort says. “People come looking for antiques, costume jewelry, sports equipment and many other items.”
Children’s activities designed and supervised by student volunteers, will be added to the itinerary for the first time this year. Students also help unload sale items and clean up following the event, which helps them with their service hours and could qualify them as a Humanitarian Award candidate down the road.
“Incorporating events for children will allow them to have a fun experience while their parents are shopping and visiting with friends and neighbors,” says UAWC board member Deborah Kelley.
Adding another dynamic to the fundraising event should prove to be fruitful for what is already a huge success. The club has awarded more than $31,000 to students with the money raised from membership dues ($45 annually) and just two years of Sale Away.
Although the women’s mission is to provide these scholarships, the club is about more than fundraising. The UAWC holds four meetings a year with a variety of speakers covering a number of topics.
Past speakers have included Ellen Tressel, Stephanie Spielman, doctors specializing in women’s health, representatives from Garth’s Antiques, Pots Abilities, Art Access and many more.
The club holds continual membership drives to increase participation and community awareness of its existence. It also schedules an equal number of day and evening meetings to provide convenience for all members.
“We have been growing since we formed in 2001 and are always looking for new members. Members can participate at the level their schedule allows – some attend all four meetings and some only attend one,” Comfort says. “We would like to increase attendance at our meetings by offering amazing speakers covering high interest topics.”
More membership means honoring more students, which remains the UAWC’s biggest goal moving forward. Members would eventually like to raise enough money to establish an endowment fund for the Humanitarian Awards.
Moving toward that goal, the UAWC will sponsor the Golden Bear Antique Show, managed by Bob Stutz of Dovetail Antiques. Plans are currently being solidified for the event, which is Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tremont Elementary School. It will include antique dealers from around the country.
For more information about the Upper Arlington Women’s Club, including membership and the annual Sale Away event, visit www.uawomensclub.com.
Alicia Kelso is editor of Upper Arlington Magazine.
This year’s Humanitarian Award recipients were honored at a luncheon in May. They include Max Hoster, Columbus Academy; Anna Maria Bittoni, Bishop Watterson; Yiwen Hu, Upper Arlington High School; Jennifer Marchese, UAHS; and Jameson Lowery, UAHS.