Children & Families
Knit For The Kids is a nonprofit committed to making a difference in the lives of children in Northern California with life-threatening illnesses and disabilities. We keep these children warm by knitting hats and scarves while they are in camp.
Other areas of involvement for "Knit for Kids" are nursing homes, hospitals, and homeless shelters. "Knit for Kids" goal is to send 1,000 hats and scarves to children in need.
STAND! For Families Free of Violence is committed to promoting safe and strong families. Their approach to eliminating family violence is well-rounded and community-wide. In addition to providing a complete spectrum of prevention, intervention, and treatment programs; they also enlist the efforts of local residents, partners, and institutions all of whom are striving with STAND! to stop domestic violence and child abuse. STAND! is a founding member of the "Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence", a cross-sector organization working for 10 years to help solve domestic violence, sexual assault and children exposed to violence.
VESTIA (Volunteer Emergency Services Team in Action) is a nonprofit corporation under the County's Employment & Human Services division. VESTIA is composed of volunteers who raise money and obtain donated goods and services to provide supplemental support to County clients. Annually it serves over 6200 clients with low to very low incomes.
Youth Homes is a nonprofit created in 1965 and is committed to serve the needs of abused and neglected foster children and adolescents. The program provides intensive residential treatment programs in five group homes. Caring staff offers a safe, clean environment to combat the chaotic world these youths have experienced.
Health
Hospice Foundation of the East Bay: Offers in-home, end of life support upon request. The AWC supports Hospice services as well as these two hospice homes through donations of money, goods, or time. In 2009-10 AWC made a contribution as well as the community sponsoring Hospice with a holiday tree light donation.
Brun's House (part of Hospice) is a private home in Alamo for up to six patients who are unable to remain in their homes and still need to receive palliative care. Since its founding in 2004, over 1500 patients have stayed at Brun's where families have unlimited access to their loved one.
George Mark Children's House is a private home in San Leandro providing care for children with life threatening illnesses. Their families also receive support through respite care, and grief and bereavement counseling. The aim is to relieve suffering by providing comfort to the children and support services to the family. They provide the gift of time - time for kids to be just kids and parents to be "Mom" and "Dad" instead of round the clock caregivers.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is aWorldwide JDRF is the leading charitable funder & advocate of type 1 juvenile diabetes research. Its mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications. Each October a Walk-A-Thon is held to raise funds & awareness for juvenile diabetes.
Special Needs Community
Canine Companions for Independence is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. Founded in 1975, Canine Companions trains four types of assistance dogs. Service Dogs assist adults with disabilities by performing daily tasks like picking up dropped items and opening doors. Hearing Dogs alert the deaf and hard of hearing to important sounds. Facility Dogs work with professionals in a visitation, education, or healthcare setting. Finally, skilled Companion Dogs enhance independence for children and adults with physical, cognitive, and envelopmental disabilities. All of this is provided to the recipient at no cost for the life of the dog.
Community
In addition to some of the programs listed above, the following programs are supported through the Club's "Purple Pails" collections at each monthly meeting:
Lion's Recycle for Sight Program - for over 80 years Lion's Clubs nationwide have accepted donations of old eyeglasses to recycle in developing nations. AWC shows its support through monthly Purple Pail eyeglass collection.
Our Troops - Provides old cell phones in order for troops to have a means to communicate with family and friends.
Penny Pines Reforestation Program - In 1941 the San Francisco Sportswomen Association began this program for reforestation in CA. The AWC has supported Penny Pines since at least 1965 through monthly donations of loose coins and have planted over 86 acres of tree in this reforestation program.
Scholarship Program
Alamo Women's Club annually awards two scholarships each to the San Ramon Valley and Monte Vista high schools, as well as a monetary award to the Del Amigo Continuation High School and a scholarship to a Diablo Valley College student.
The selection criteria for high school students requires that students be academically strong, but not necessarily the top academic students in the school. The AWC wants to recognize those students who have special talents in the ARTS.
Other selection criteria are:
- demonstrated talent & accomplishments
- at least a strong B average grade
- contribution to the community
- commitment to continuing education
For the Diablo Valley College student, the requirements are that the student be:
The Scholarship Committee usually consists of three Alamo Women's Club members. The selection process begins in March and ends the fourth Wednesday in May when the scholarships are presented at the Club's Scholarship Tea.
2011 Recipients
Del Amigo H.S. - $500
DVC - 2 students received $1,750/ea
Monte Vista H.S. - 2 students received $1,000/ea
SRVHS - 2 students received $1,000/ea
