GFWC Illinois top ten projects 2025 - Women’s History & Resource Center (WHRC) Award

The Lockport Woman’s Club was recognized for outstanding work in preserving and celebrating its rich history.

• Moment in LWC History: A committee member researched and presented monthly historical highlights at meetings and in the newsletter, showcasing LWC’s long‑standing philanthropic impact. The six‑member committee brought a combined 212 years of membership experience, adding depth and personal insight.

• Club Archives & Yearbook Restoration: The Club History Committee continued reorganizing and expanding the archives, meeting regularly at Lewis University. A major 2025 project involved restoring 123 historical yearbooks—carefully dismantling old scrapbooks, preserving damaged pages, and creating three new volumes with custom quilted covers. These restored books will be presented to members in Spring 2026.

GFWC Illinois top ten projects 2025 - Communications & Public Relations Award

The Lockport Woman’s Club received this award for exceptional work in strengthening community visibility and member engagement.

• Fox 32 Chicago Feature: A televised special highlighted LWC’s Sewing Initiative, where members refurbished surplus sewing machines to support a vocational program for young adults with special needs. The story included interviews with school leaders and a student who praised the program’s impact on skill‑building and confidence. https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/surplus-sewing-machines-spark-new-opportunities-lockport-students

• Monthly Newsletter: Launched to ensure all members receive consistent, accessible information—whether attending meetings or reading from home. It features club updates, member spotlights, history moments, wellness tips, and upcoming events.

• Website Management: Two members maintained an up‑to‑date, welcoming website to keep information current and easy to access.

• Active Facebook Presence: Regular posts promoted club activities, shared reminders, and introduced the new “Member of the Month” feature to celebrate members and boost engagement.

Together, these efforts strengthened communication, showcased LWC’s mission, and elevated the club’s presence as a vibrant community organization.

GFWC Illinois top ten projects 2025 - Education and Libraries Award

The Lockport Woman’s Club was recognized for its strong commitment to literacy, education, and community partnerships.

• Reading Buddies: LWC partnered with the school district to launch a new literacy program for kindergarten and first‑grade students. Five members volunteered weekly, assisting with phonics, listening skills, creative projects, and small‑group reading activities. Students and staff praised the volunteers’ warmth and positive impact, and the program is expected to grow throughout the school year.

• White Oak Library Foundation Endowment: LWC made a significant donation to the White Oak Library Foundation and was honored with a plaque and the naming of a conference room. As the founders of the Lockport Library in 1922, the club viewed this as a meaningful way to continue supporting a treasured community institution.

GFWC Illinois top ten projects 2025 - Civic Engagement and Outreach Award

The Lockport Woman’s Club was honored for its strong community partnerships and meaningful outreach efforts.

• Lockport Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors: The LWC President and First Vice President served as Chamber Ambassadors, raising awareness of the club and strengthening community connections. They participated in fundraisers, ribbon cuttings, and the opening of the Give Something Back Foundation—founded by Robert Carr, who credited a $250 LWC scholarship as the start of his success.

• K9s for Veterans: LWC and Homer Glen Junior Woman's Club supported the K9s for Veterans with a Spring Fashion Show, helping raise $5,126.18 for the Jim and Gina Glasgow K9s for Veterans Foundation. Members also contributed $5,525 in in‑kind donations and assembled seven themed baskets valued at approximately $400.

• Library Beautification: Members arranged for the replacement of a weathered marker commemorating LWC’s founding of the Lockport Library in 1922, overseeing design approval and artist coordination. Members celebrated the unveiling of the new statue.

• Food Drive: LWC donated $3,000 to the Lockport Township High School emergency food drive, helping provide over 550 meal kits. The club’s contribution alone supplied meals for 40 families during a time of urgent need.

GFWC Illinois top ten projects 2025 - Leadership Award

The Lockport Woman’s Club was recognized for exceptional leadership, planning, and organizational excellence.

• Development Committee: Six members formed this new committee to thoroughly review and vet all future fundraising proposals. They evaluated cost‑effectiveness, insurance needs, permits, venue suitability, and staffing. The committee also reviewed large‑scale projects proposed for Legacy Fund support and helped members refine ideas before presenting them to the board or general membership.

• Programs Committee: Six members collaborated to design the club’s annual program schedule, guided by member survey results. Their thoughtful planning produced a year of engaging programs on women’s history, travel, quilting, domestic violence awareness, horticulture, and fitness—strengthening both member retention and recruitment.

• Bylaws Revisions Committee: Five members reviewed the club’s bylaws, identified areas needing correction or clarification, and drafted amendments for membership approval, ensuring the club’s governing documents remain accurate and aligned with current practices.

GFWC Illinois top ten projects 2025 - Membership Award

The Lockport Woman’s Club was recognized for exceptional growth and member engagement.

• Membership Growth: From June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026, the Lockport Woman’s Club welcomed 24 new members. This strong increase reflects the club’s warm, inclusive culture and its growing visibility in the community. Each new member strengthens LWC’s ability to serve, lead, and make a meaningful impact throughout Lockport.

GFWC Illinois top ten projects 2025 - Unity Award

The Lockport Woman’s Club was honored for its collaborative spirit and strong partnership with neighboring clubs.

• Joint Spring Fashion Show: LWC joined forces with the Homer Glen Junior Woman’s Club to co‑host a successful Spring Fashion Show fundraiser. Together, the clubs raised $5,126.18 for the Jim and Gina Glasgow K9s for Veterans Foundation, demonstrating the power of unity and shared purpose in supporting meaningful community causes.

GFWC Illinois top ten projects 2024 - Women’s History & Resource Center (WHRC) Award

he Lockport Woman’s Club was recognized for its commitment to preserving and sharing its rich history.

• History Podcast: LWC was invited to participate in a history podcast hosted by Clint Cargill, Director of Education and Public Programs at the Gaylord Building Historic Site. Two members prepared and recorded an engaging interview highlighting the club’s 122‑year history, philanthropic impact, and community leadership. The episode is expected to be published in 2025.

GFWC Illinois top ten projects 2024 -  Communications & Public Relations Award

he Lockport Woman’s Club was recognized for creative, strategic communication efforts that strengthened community visibility.

• Strategic Communications: Eleven members participated in a televised interview during the Artisan Market at Old Canal Days, helping promote one of the club’s major fundraising events. Members also designed a suite of promotional materials—including digital billboard graphics displayed on five community billboards, outdoor banners, indoor signage, posters, and flyers—to support the Christmas Crossroads Holiday Craft Show, the club’s largest annual fundraiser.

GFWC Illinois top ten projects 2024 - Education & Libraries Award

The Lockport Woman’s Club was recognized for its leadership in expanding literacy access and supporting early childhood education.

• Dolly Parton Imagination Library: Through the initiative of the Lockport Woman’s Club, Will County became the first county in Illinois to launch Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a global program that mails free, high‑quality books to children from birth to age five. To help meet the county’s $150,000 fundraising goal, LWC donated $5,000, becoming the program’s first sponsor and partner. As the founders of the Lockport Library in 1922, the club viewed this as a meaningful continuation of its long‑standing commitment to literacy. Once the program is fully implemented, LWC will continue supporting it through donations, family enrollment assistance, and community promotion.

GFWC Illinois top ten projects 2024 - Civic Engagement & Outreach Award

The Lockport Woman’s Club was recognized for its ongoing commitment to supporting local organizations and meeting community needs.

• Small Projects Committee: Five members selected a variety of local charities and schools to receive monthly donations, ensuring support reached residents of all ages. Their efforts included a winter hats and gloves drive for a local school, contributions to the high school’s Horticultural Program, and donations to Toys for Tots. Members also collected recyclable dental items to support Dragon Master, a charity funding brain cancer research. These thoughtful, consistent acts of service reflect LWC’s dedication to making a meaningful difference throughout the community.

The Lockport Woman’s Club was recognized for outstanding achievement in education, literacy, and community learning initiatives.

• Outstanding Achievement Award: LWC earned top honors in the Education & Libraries category (50+ member division) for its broad commitment to educational support, including the Vocational Sewing Initiative, Financial Literacy Initiative, Book Club, and multiple generous scholarships.

• Creativity Award – Vocational Sewing Initiative: LWC also received the 2023 Creativity Award for its innovative Vocational Sewing Initiative, which supports young adults with special needs in developing life skills and workplace readiness.

• Vocational Sewing Initiative (Program Overview): Eight members established a sewing program for Career Community Connections (CCC), a vocational training program serving young adults ages 18–22. After presenting the concept to CCC leadership in May 2023, the proposal was enthusiastically accepted, filling a critical training gap the school could not staff internally. Members developed lesson plans, selected appropriate projects, and used their sewing and teaching expertise to create a supportive, hands‑on learning environment. This project advanced to the GFWC National Convention in July 2024.

GFWC Illinois top ten projects 2023 - Women’s History & Resource Center (WHRC)

The Lockport Woman’s Club was honored for its exceptional work in documenting and preserving the club’s long and meaningful history.

• Creativity Award – With Charity For All History Book: LWC received the 2023 Creativity Award for the publication of With Charity For All, a comprehensive history of the club from 1902 to 2022. This project advanced to the 2024 GFWC National Convention.

• History Book Project Overview: Five members compiled and published a 120‑year history of the Lockport Woman’s Club, drawing from decades of documents and memorabilia preserved by members and stored at Lewis University. The last history book had been written for the club’s 100th anniversary, making this new volume a significant undertaking. Over three years, committee members dedicated more than 4,200 hours to research and writing. The final production cost was $2,411, and complimentary copies were donated to local libraries, the high school, and community organizations. The project stands as a testament to the club’s enduring legacy and the dedication of its History Committee.