Home

Valencia Lakes West Women’s Club: Fifteen Years of Philanthropy

The Valencia Lakes West Women’s Club (VLWWC) was founded in 2009 with a mission of contributing to the local community through voluntary endeavors and charitable giving. 

Each year the Club holds its annual Walk & Roll for a Cure to benefit the Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation. With involvement of the entire Valencia Lakes community, the club has cumulatively donated $195,000 thus far. This year monies will be earmarked for the Moffitt Southshore campus in Ruskin. Over 200 walkers are expected to participate in the Walk on October 26, 2024, which will be followed by a breakfast, silent auction, and raffles.

The VLWWC has a strong educational outreach program featuring an annual scholarship program financially supporting high school seniors who are academically gifted and community minded. This year the Club awarded $12,000 in scholarships to 6 Sumner High School students. Historically, the Club has awarded $109,000 in scholarships. A Tea Party and Spring Fashion Show are fundraisers for the program. The Club’s Back to School Drive delivers school supplies to both Wimauma and Reddick Elementary Schools. Generous monetary donations have assisted with special secondary school requests for computer headphones, musical instruments, t shirts to enhance school culture, and blankets for a reading program. Look for the Back to School Drive starting July 13.

Over the past three years the Club has expanded its philanthropy to include donations to Mary & Martha House, a women’s shelter in Ruskin, the all-volunteer Sun City Center EMS through a Wear Red Dinner Dance, and the Southshore Campaign Against Human Trafficking. In the fall/winter, emphasis is on the Holiday Food Drive, Angel Tree Gift Giving, and Adopt-A-Family program which supports children and families of St. Guadalupe Parish. All these philanthropic endeavors are made possible by the support that the Valencia Lakes community provides for the VLWWC. 

Any community member wishing to obtain more information or interested in joining please check the website at https://www.vlwomen.org. 

 

 

              The Valencia Lakes West Women’s Club (VLWWC), a group of 220 residents of Valencia Lakes on Route 301 in Wimauma, presented a check for $1000 to the Southshore Campaign Against Human Trafficking(CAHT) board of directors on Saturday March 16th at their bimonthly membership meeting.  

             The mission of VLWWC is to contribute to local communities through volunteer endeavors and charitable giving, as well as forge relationships among its members.  To raise awareness about the tragedy of human trafficking in the Tampa Bay area, the Women’s Club invited staff from the Survivor Services Team of  South Shore CAHT to give a presentation for Women’s Club members on March 16, 2024. 

             At the presentation Lou Anne Rossdeutscher spoke about the crucial work of CAHT, whose mission is to support victims and help put an end to human trafficking. The Rescue Backpacks Program was formed eight years ago and is part of CAHT’s Victim Services Program.  Since the survivors of human trafficking often have nothing but the clothes on their backs - and sometimes not even that - rescue backpacks are filled with items a newly rescued victim will need to begin a new life.  They are given for free to the victims but cost approximately $55 each.   Almost 800 backpacks have been distributed during the past five years with 176 backpacks distributed so far in 2024. This generous donation will enable CAHT to purchase additional backpacks.  Since they expect to need 224 rescue backpacks in 2024, additional donations to CAHT will be accepted via their website sccblueheart.org.  

Rescue Survivor Backpack

 

            The VLWWC welcomes any female resident of the Valencia Lakes community who is interested in charitable giving. The Club’s philanthropic projects and initiatives can be found at vlwomen.org.