JACKSON — Year after year, the Women’s Club at Jackson’s Westlake Golf and Country Club adult community has stepped up to the plate, with its members volunteering for many philanthropic activities.
On March 11 at the annual Komen celebration at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village, the club will receive an award, the Race for the Cure Highest Fundraising Team Overall, from the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Central and South Jersey affiliate.
“The award is given to the team that raises the most money for the Race for the Cure every year,” said Monica Smith, Susan G. Komen director of development. “The Women’s Club at Westlake was the top team at $55,947. Bristol-Myers Squibb was second at $29,881, and Johnson & Johnson came in third place at $27,960.”
The award is being given through the auspices of the Central and South Jersey affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Nancy Healey, executive director, said the organization is very grateful to the Women’s Club at Westlake.
“They are one of the top supporters of our Komen affiliate,” Healey said. “Their fundraising efforts help us to continue to provide funding locally for breast cancer screening and education, and nationally for innovative research bringing us closer to the cure. We are grateful for their generosity and dedication.”
Arleen Vaccarino, immediate past president of the Women’s Club at Westlake, said that last year “we started early in our efforts to raise money for Susan G. Komen with our event journal.”
“The journal was designed and created by Arlene Kirshenbaum, a talented photographer, who has done a great amount of work for the organization,” Vaccarino said. “The journal had business, as well as personal, ads. The personals were in celebration of survivors or in memory of others who have lost their battle with breast cancer.”
Vaccarino said a kick-off dinner, with the theme of “New York, New York,” was held in October. Rhonda Ames and Vaccarino chaired the fundraiser.
The club also had a walk to raise funds, and more than 200 people participated.
“The Women’s Club at Westlake had almost 400 members this past year,” said Vaccarino. “We do many philanthropic activities, in addition to the money we raise for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.”
Vaccarino said the club made donations to the following: Jackson First Aid Squad, $3,700; teen suicide prevention, $1,500; and Volunteer Auxiliary for the Ocean County Animal Shelter, $250.
Additionally, funds were raised for Women’s College Scholarships, $5,000; the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Research Foundation, $1,500; Alzheimer’s disease, $8,500; pancreatic disease, $10,000; Providence House family shelter, $750; Jackson Food Bank, $750; Westlake Movie, $100; Adopt- A-Family (Jackson Women of Today), $550; and Goetz School Holiday Giving Tree, $600.
“We have a very dedicated and hardworking membership, but we know how to have fun while we do our charitable work,” Vaccarino said.
Last year the club had a luncheon and fashion show, a mah-jongg and card party, along with a mock cruise, to name a few events.
For information about the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Central and South Jersey Affiliate, call 609-896-1201 or visit the Internet website at www.komencsnj.org.