Providing Community Service Through Our Sponsored Projects
GFWC Michigan supports many worthwhile projects. The state-sponsored projects are ones that GFWC Michigan members created, still own, and continue to support. The endorsed projects are those that we elect to support. In addition, the clubs support projects that are specially chosen by the GFWC MI President as the President’s Projects to coincide with her two-year administration theme:
“Let Our Voices Be Heard”
2024-2026 GFWC Michigan President
COMMUNITY CONNECTION INITIATIVES
Signature Program: Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention - BECOME A CHAMPION: BE THE VOICE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO VOICE: Teach safe and healthy relationship skills to our youth and adults. Support legislation that provides stricter laws against abusers and rights for victims. Support victim-centered services, including therapy, housing programs, teen dating violence prevention, and legal assistance.
Juniors’ Special Program: Advocates for Children – BE A CHAMPION IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN: Work with local police and social services agencies to determine how to spruce up their children’s waiting room areas. Sponsor a room and make it kid-friendly and cozy. Clean, paint, and add children’s-size furniture items to the room to bring warmth and caring into the surroundings. Create a book nook and art area and keep items stocked.
Arts and Culture – DEVELOPING COMMUNITY ORIENTED ART: Take an active role in creating and enhancing your community by partnering with City organizations and local schools to create mural paintings throughout your community that highlight local culture and display pride in your town’s history and traditions.
Civic Engagement and Outreach – PREPARATION SAVES LIVES: Focus on efforts to educate your community in life-saving skills of CPR and First Aid. You can be “lifesavers” by offering education and training opportunities to others. Caring for your community and working with others to make it a safer place is a great example of Civic Engagement and Outreach.
Education and Libraries – SUPPORT HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS: Establish a working relationship with an early learning program. Engagement can be volunteering to read, supporting a parent meeting, providing needed supplies for arts and crafts, providing books for the children to take home, or hosting a library card sign-up drive.
Environment – OUR NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS ENGAGE IN NATURE: Invest in refurbishing the signage of parks. Update benches and water fountains, educate others on local animals and plants. Volunteer to be a trail guide, ranger for a day, or clean up a park day. Sponsor a garbage can. August 25 is National Park Day. Plan a hike day with a picnic. Appreciate the park employees with a picnic basket.
Health and Wellness – CAREGIVERS’ CIRCLE: November is Caregiver Recognition Month. Show special support by writing notecards, providing meals, taking the caregiver to lunch, hosting an afternoon tea, or treating them to a manicure, pedicure, or massage.
*For more information, please refer to the GFWC International Club Manual – found at GFWC.org
Guiding Harbor (previously known as Girlstown)
Girlstown was founded by the General Federation of Women’s Club of Michigan in 1958. What began as Girlstown, providing quality residential services to young female victims of abuse and neglect, has expanded to include all child victims and has become Guiding Harbor. As Guiding Harbor we are continuing our residential program for girls while offering hope to abused boys and girls through our foster care placements.
Our Supervised Independent Living program offers a safety net for young adults as they begin the process of living on their own. A major fundraiser for Guiding Harbor is their extremely successful Annual Auction usually held in November. For more information, visit their website at www.GuidingHarbor.org
GFWC Michigan Education Foundation
“Women Investing In Women” is their motto. The scholarships are given for self-improvement and do not necessarily have to be for academic work. The scholarships are not awarded on financial need also.
Club members are encouraged to buy a page for the Education Foundation Book memorializing or honoring someone special. The pages cost $100.00 and it is a wonderful tribute to someone special. This Education Foundation committee has another saying, “Buy a page before you age.”
Bay Cliff
Bay Cliff Health Camp is a non-profit, non-denominational summer therapy center located on 170 acres of land along Lake Superior near Big Bay in Marquette County. It serves physically handicapped children ranging in age from 3 through 17. Founded in 1934 it now has 50 buildings used for housing and program facilities. The camp enrolls approximately 200 children for a seven-week summer session.
Bay Cliff is an endorsed GFWC MI project since 1998. Contributions are reported on a treasurer report form and mailed to GFWC MI. GFWC MI co-chairmen are Dianne Lahtinen (
Michigan Youth Leadership
Students from many Michigan schools are brought together for energetic interaction with leaders of today and positive peers. Events include panel discussions with leaders from business and government, community service, team building activities, motivational speakers, leadership exercises, and impromptu speaking exercises small groups.
GFWC MI clubs sponsor local high school sophomores and contact schools and others in their community to encourage involvement. Your $185.00 sponsorship may be sent directly to Michigan Youth Leadership, 39741 Salvatore Drive, Sterling Heights, MI 48313. For further information go to www.mylead.org or email us at
The GFWC MI Chairman for MYLead is Julie Dart.
Joint Presidents’ Project – Michigan LEADS Forum
Answering the Call with a New Approach to Leadership
Past President Kathy Lewis, President Rae Lynn Hicks and 1st Vice President Diane LaBree have committed to streamlining leadership opportunities within the state and emphasizing the honor of representing Michigan as the LEADS candidate at the International Convention. A leadership seminar will be held annually.
The hope is that someone who attends the Michigan LEADS Forum would be inspired to apply for the honor of LEADS delegate to represent Michigan at the International Convention. As any LEADS Ambassador will tell you—it is an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime and a privilege to be selected!