Women's Club celebrates 50 years of giving back

Its philosophy is philanthropy. In the half century of its existence, the Women’s Club of Malverne has been all about giving. It even celebrated its 50th anniversary in September with an event geared toward fund raising.

“It’s our responsibility as a philanthropic club to give back to the community,” said club President June Innella.

The club, which has nearly 60 members, was started in 1960 by a group of Malverne women as a play-date group. It was born after some members who had heard of the Tri-County Federation of Women’s Clubs decided to bring its charitable mission to their own small group.
    Today, the club is known for its giving nature. It placed a collection box in the Malverne Public Library for gently-used eye glasses for the needy and, as it does every year, gave two families in need food store gift certificates for Thanksgiving. The Women’s Club also plans to distribute monetary gifts at Christmas to families in need, which it usually finds through St. Vincent de Paul.

Each year, the club seeks a Malverne resident who is actively involved overseas in military service to whom to give $300 and a telephone card with which to call home. It also gives away free cider and cookies at the Lighting of Malverne, just to boost morale and keep in the spirit of giving and thanks.

Periodically, according to Innella, clubs within the federation will invite each other to affairs and functions in order to exchange tips and share ideas for charitable donations, events and activities. The Malverne club has taken in a number of new members in recent years “in an effort to keep the club alive, ongoing and continuing to help the residents of Malverne,” said Innella, a 14-year Malverne resident who has taught special education for 37 years.

As president of the organization, the 58-year-old Innella, who teaches in Valley Stream, is responsible for context and oversight. “If your committees work well and do what they’re supposed to do, you really are just there to see that they get done and see that everybody is able to carry out their job,” Innella said.

“We have wonderful committees. They’re very dedicated ladies,” she said of club members. “They do whatever they say they’re going to do and they’re just a bunch of wonderful ladies who really are very committed to helping others in the community.”

Many members are active in other clubs as well, according to Innella, including the local Veteran of Foreign Wars chapter, the Rosary Society and their individual parishes. In short, Innella added, “They really are a group of ladies who just enjoy giving back.”

To donate or find out more about the Women’s Club of Malverne, call (516) 887-5746. The group meets on the third Tuesday of the month, except summer months, at 7:30 p.m. at the Malverne Public Library.