WAYNE, PA – April 10, 2019 – Nine local organizations received grant funding last night to help support women, children and families in the Greater Philadelphia region. The Saturday Club presented its annual philanthropy grants to Jake’s Dragon Foundation, Peter’s Place, Minding Your Mind, Surrey Services, Students Run Philly Style, HERB It Forward Foundation, Young Lives, Drueding Center, and The Kolbe Fund. The Saturday Club is one of the oldest women’s non-profit organizations in both Pennsylvania and nationwide. The funds, which were raised by the club via campaigns and projects throughout 2018 and 2019, will be used to establish and enhance programs while providing key assistance to each organization.
“These local organizations are incredible, and we are honored to support them with the fruits of our fundraising efforts,” said The Saturday Club’s Vice President of Community Outreach and Philanthropy, Angela Sipe. “Each organization works tirelessly to support women and children right here in our community, and we are honored to partner with these organizations to further support their efforts.”
Jake’s Dragon Foundation is dedicated to funding innovative pediatric cancer research as well as helping families cope with the enormous financial burden of this disease. The Saturday Club will be providing an in-kind donation of a rental of the clubhouse to help support them in fundraising.
Peter’s Place is a Radnor-based organization working to create a safe and supportive environment for grieving children and their families and to act as a community resource to foster understanding of the effects of death and grief. The group facilitates peer support groups for grieving children and families at their center while also bringing support groups to schools throughout Delaware, Philadelphia and Chester Counties. Peter’s Place will use their grant funding for their off-site services in low-income schools in the Greater Philadelphia region.
Minding Your Mind provides mental health education to middle, high school and college-age students, parents, teachers and caregivers. Their goal is to reduce the stigma and destructive behaviors often associated with mental health issues. The grant from The Saturday Club will help with costs with five mental health educational programs.
For 35 years Surrey Services has been helping older adults in the area live with independence and dignity and to continue as engaged members of the community. The organization meets a wide range of senior needs, including rides to appointments, help with taxes, a fitness center, various classes, and community lunch. The majority of those served are women over 60 who are widowed or divorced. The grant will subsidize 1,250 of the 16,153 meals served.
Students Run Philly Style is a Philadelphia-based long-distance running and mentorship program for students ages 6-12 living in high poverty areas. The organization pairs volunteer Running Leaders with teams of students to inspire them to push themselves further than they ever imagined with the goal of completing a full or half marathon. The grant funding from the club will allow them to purchase running shoes for participants.
The HERB It Forward Foundation provides scholarships for low-income college students and college-bound high school students who show a commitment to community service and have chosen a career path that will serve the community. The scholarship fund was founded in 2014 to honor the memory of Herb Lotman and his commitment to giving back and helping others. The grant will send two scholarship recipients to the Herb It Forward Leadership Camp.
Young Lives of Delaware Valley is a Berwyn-based organization that aims to help teen moms and their children through mentoring, parenting classes, childcare, and essential life items. The organization also helps mothers finish high school, go to college or secure a job. Young Lives will use the grant money to help them hire staff.
The Drueding Center is based in Philadelphia and offers transitional housing for young homeless families with parents between the ages of 18 and 24. The center offers a holistic approach and real hope for a productive, meaningful future for once-homeless families and provides practical help for those facing the complex issues of homelessness. The center will use the funds to help cover childcare center expenses.
The Kolbe Fund helps families pay for travel and expenses related to pediatric hospital stays. Their care packages range in cost from $50-$100 per family. The organization will use the funds to help create care packages given to families, and to offset travel expenses for families with hospitalized children.
The Saturday Club presents grants annually in April, with applications due in January. Non-profit organizations that wish to apply for a grant should visit https://bit.ly/2Gt1zo7. In addition to its philanthropy work and grant program, The Saturday Club hosts events for the local community at the group’s historic clubhouse in downtown Wayne. Additional details about The Saturday Club, including information on upcoming events and membership, may be found at https://saturdayclub.org.
About The Saturday Club
The Saturday Club of Wayne, Pennsylvania, was established in 1886 and is among the oldest women’s clubs nationwide. A non-profit organization, The Saturday Club is dedicated to providing philanthropic support to women’s and children’s charitable organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region with both financial contributions and volunteer service hours. The group celebrated its 133rd anniversary in March 2019. For more information, please visit https://saturdayclub.org.
