Mentor Woman's Club History

In October 1939, the constitution of the Mentor Woman's Club was formally adopted. Little did the group of nine women who started the Club realize that their organization would grow in a few short years to the largest and most active organization in the community. With blue as its official color and violet as its chosen flower, the first official program bulletin appeared in December of that year and was dedicated to Mentor's own First Lady, Mrs. James A. Garfield. The new organization undertook only one major project in its initial year--that of providing Christmas baskets for needy families.

During the "War Years" --from 1942 to 1946--the Club worked energetically in the community with Victory Gardens, blankets for the ambulance corps and clothing collected for Holland, then considered to be the most totally destroyed country in the war. Red Cross courses in first aid were offered to members. Panel discussions were held on wartime affairs and a donation to "The Memorial Forest" was given so that those from Mentor who gave their lives would not be forgotten.

In the 1950s, a Bookmobile Service at Lake County Hospital was introduced with members serving as volunteers to maintain the patients' library, and after more than 50 years, continues today. The Mentor Woman's Club joined the General Federation of Women's Clubs and opened the previously limited membership of the Club so that all qualified women might join in our many civic activities. With the increased scope of the Club, the first monthly publication--called the "Chatterbox" was published. This was a forerunner of the current "Newsletter."  The first essay contest for junior and senior high students was held, with cash awards as prizes.  The play "Our Town" was presented by the Lake Erie College Community Theatre, with proceeds from this project providing our first $300 scholarship for a worthy Mentor student. The organization continued its international support by sending seeds to the Philippines, supporting a Korean village project, and donating to a Pan American scholarship.

In the 1960s, Mentor Woman's Club continued to provide scholarships with revenue generated by White Elephant sales, concerts, and luncheon fashion shows. Locally the Club organized and conducted a fund drive to landscape Mentor Library grounds, organized the "Learn to Read" class presented through the Mentor Adult Program, and donated money to Lake County Crippled Children's Society to be used in building a treatment center.  International projects included sending supplies to needy families in Laos, donated to CARE for literary kits for South American and Asia, and made bandages and knit slippers for our soldiers in Vietnam. The Club sponsored the Junior Women's Club of Mentor, with one of the members serving as advisory for the next two years. The Junior Women's Club continues today.

Throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s,  Mentor Woman's Club continued its scholarship program with the Great Lakes Ball and and then "Collector's Cornucopia". Held annually, the highly successful annual arts and crafts show and sale continued to generate scholarship income for many years. The Club participated in the first "Better in Mentor Days" by selling helium-filled balloons. Members continued its generous support to community organizations such as a clothing drive for Hope Chest, donating of books and games for Forbes House (home for battered women), and suppling food to the Lake County Home. Dr. Thomas Hawk, who was the Club's very first scholarship recipient, established a trust scholarship of $5,000 in the name of the Hawk family.

Into the 21st century, Mentor Woman's Club continues to contribute to the community with support to "It's Better in Mentor" Festival, Hope Chest, Kind News, Lake County Free Clinic, Lake County Historical Society, Salvation Army, Suit Yourself, YMCA Camperships, and Project Hope. The Club's ongoing projects include college scholarships to Mentor students, LakeEast bookmobile and baby caps for Lake Hospital System, Wildwood Cultural Center Garden, Buckeye Girls State, HOBY, and the 7th Grade Essay Prize.

Mentor Woman's Club is proud of its past, present, and future contributions to and support of countless organizations--locally, nationally, and internationally.