News Articles

2025
A big thanks to the Women's Club of Valencia Lakes for $5,000 for food!
Posted on December 9th, 2025
 

“Linda Benson stopped into the Pantry several times in recent weeks, to give us checks totaling $5,000 from the Women’s Club of Valencia Lakes,” said Tom Bullaro, director of Our Lady’s Pantry.

“Our club also collected 500 pounds of food for our families — and more is coming,” said Benson.

“We cannot thank the Women’s Club enough for this donation — as well as their amazing support for very many years already,” said Bullaro.  “This check will go a long way toward putting nutritious food on the tables of countless men, women, and children who don’t always know where their next meal is coming from.  We like to think coming to Pantry on Saturday mornings, gives our clients hope and comfort in knowing they are not alone.”

“Coming to Our Lady’s Pantry makes my morning,” one client told us one Saturday.  “I am grateful for everybody.”

On Saturday October 25th, the Valencia Lakes West Women’s Club held their 16th annual Walk & Roll for a Cure. Nearly 200 Valencia Lakes residents participated in the 2.2 mile walk around the community, led by cancer survivors.  The 2025 proceeds benefit Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation for both research and clinical care across all facilities. Philanthropic funding is critical because cancer continues to affect over 10 million people worldwide as a cure is being sought. 
 
Moffitt representative Rachel Fredrick was in attendance and provided a brief presentation. T-shirts were generously provided by realtors Zoki Mbolekwa, Kelly Peer, Phillip Wade from Dalton Wade Realtors, and Lisa Gudath from Turner Title. Culligan Water supplied over 20 cases of water. Einstein Bros., Dunkin, Caribou Coffee, Costco, Sam’s Club and Carr’s Custom Catering donated food items for the continental breakfast that followed the event.
 
In addition to the light breakfast following the walk, raffles and a silent auction with items donated by local businesses, Valencia Lakes residents, and VL clubs were held.  Historically, Valencia Lakes West Women’s Club has donated a total of $214,000 to the Moffitt Foundation and this year will look to donate another $20,000 to the cause.  Donations will be accepted until the end of the year, and anyone wishing to donate can do so at https://www.vlwomen.org. Next year for the first time there will be a community “Cruise for a Cure” sponsored by the VLWWC in January 2026 which will contribute to the donations.

 

VLWWC presents checks to Sun City Center EMS and SouthShore CAHT

The Valencia Lakes West Women’s Club (VLWWC) presented checks the week of February 17 to both the Sun City Center Emergency Medical Squad (SCC EMS) and the SouthShore Campaign Against Human Trafficking (CAHT). The VLWWC has 225 members and members must be residents of the Valencia Lakes community. The focus of the Club is charitable giving and outreach in the local community.

In order to raise awareness about cardiovascular health risk, which is the leading cause of death among women, the Club held a “Wear Red Dinner Dance” on February 7, 2025. The event coincided with the American Heart Association National Wear Red Day.  SCC EMS Chief Michael Bardell was in attendance and spoke briefly about the role of the EMS.
The squad benefits the community by responding to emergency calls, providing education and medical equipment, and assisting with disaster communication for the Valencia Lakes community. 

A total of $2000 was raised and donated to the SCC EMS. With the check presentation, Deputy Chief, Ed Whitehead provided the VLWCC President and Vice Presidents with a tour of the facility.

 

The SouthShore CAHT has a mission to raise awareness, prevent human trafficking and to support victims and help put an end to human trafficking. Florida DCF revealed that in a county-wide data, Hillsborough County had the highest number of reports of human trafficking in Florida for 2024.

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 $60 each.   Almost 800 backpacks have been distributed during the past five years. The VLWWC will again be donating $1000 to the SouthShore CAHT to purchase additional backpacks.  They expect to need 224 rescue backpacks this year. Additional donations to CAHT will be accepted via their website sccblueheart.org.

 

The VLWWC would like to thank the entire Valencia Lakes community for their generous donations to these community partners. Additional support was obtained from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay SouthShore Council.

Published in SCC Observer 3/20/25

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.