The woman's club of minneapolis is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, civic and social services, study and friendly association.

Women , Womens Service Clubs

The woman's club was originated by six women who realized that they could achieve more in the community collectively than they could individually. They began meeting in 1907 and continued growing until they built the building located at 410 oak grove st. In minneapolis. They are responsible in large part for the milk program and lunch program in the minneapolis public schools, the purification of water in the city of minneapolis and had a great hand in the public health nursing program. Community outreach has always been the mission-based foundation of the woman's club of minneapolis. Since its founding, the club has donated over five million dollars to local nonprofits that help women and children in our community. Over the years, we have continued most of our traditional activities and we have also begun some new ones. The ard godfrey house, the oldest frame house in minneapolis, dating from 1849, was restored by the woman's club and opened to the public in 1979. Now owned and maintained by the minneapolis park board, the woman's club continues to care for the interior furnishings and provides guided tours on weekends throughout the summer. In addition, they host open house events each may (dandelion day) and december (holiday open house). Private tours are given upon request at other times and the house is also open for special events. Over 750 visitors toured the godfrey house in fy18. The woman's club of minneapolis currently has over 40 committees and interest groups to coordinate its charitable, educational and social activities. Some of the committees include: the writer's guild, classes and seminars, grants and scholarships, the needlework guild, various reading groups, the history committee, and the finance committee. Below are some of the accomplishments for the fy2018 fiscal year. Educational programs for the continuing education of members and the community are an important part of the mission. Every tuesday, the club sponsors an educational program for the benefit of the club's members with topics ranging from history, global and local issues, to health and wellness. In addition, each month, the great decisions discussion group hosts a guest speaker that presents information about world issues. The breakfast networking is a premier networking event for club members and community members and each month focuses on a topic relevant to today's businesswoman. New programs added last year included nextgen saturdays (for teens and young women) and the breakfast business book club. The members also participate in activities that benefit other non-profit organizations including:" every quarter, members of the club prepared sandwiches for the hennepin avenue methodist church dignity center, using ingredients provided by the woman's club. " throughout the year, members contribute personal care items such as shampoo and lotion for sharing and caring hands. " in august, the school supply drive collects school supplies for children in need, everything from calculators to rulers and pencils and in partnership with the aquatennial princess candidates, 75 backpacks full of supplies were donated to people serving people" every fall, members contribute to the children's book drive to provide books for the minnesota visiting nurse agency to give to parents of babies and young children, often the only books in the home. Over 1500 books have been donated in the past 5 years. " during the christmas season, there are two large outreach opportunities. Disadvantaged youth were part of shop with a cop which pairs woman's club members with minneapolis police to shop with children for their families. Be a santa to a senior provided the opportunity for members to fulfill 60+ christmas wishes for seniors living at augustana homes, a local nursing home. " the hat and mitten tree collected warm items valued at over $3,000, donated by members to east african women's center. " hosted a baby shower and conducted a book drive (1,500 books