College Women’s Club of Pasadena Celebrates 103 Years of Empowering Scholars

For over a century, the College Women’s Club of Pasadena has been a beacon of empowerment, shaping the futures of countless young women through its scholarship program. As it prepares to celebrate its 103rd year, the club’s commitment to higher education continues to resonate, leaving an indelible mark on the community

Since its inception in 1921, the club’s commitment to higher education has left an indelible mark on the community. Approximately $1.2 million has been awarded to over 600 deserving recipients.

On May 7, during a luncheon at The Blinn House, the College Women’s Club will celebrate this academic achievement and the election of new board members for the 2024-2025 term. Exclusive to members and invited guests, this event will serve as a testament to the club’s enduring dedication to supporting women in their pursuit of education.

In an interview, Kathy LaRussa, Chairperson of Social Media and Publicity for the College Women’s Club of Pasadena, spoke about the club’s rich history and its ongoing mission to empower the next generation of female leaders. She highlighted the club’s humble beginnings, starting with a mere $100 fund in 1921, which has since grown to an impressive $1.3 million endowment.

“We started off very, very small, but over the years, we’ve expanded the recipients to include more STEM technology students,” LaRussa said. “The engineering department at CalState LA is our newest school that we’re associating with. And we have scholars from there. We have nursing students, the Criminalistics Department at CalState LA. We also include the Art Center students, Glendale Community College, Pacific Oaks, and Pasadena City College.”

Running for 103 years, the scholarship program continues to adapt and expand, with a focus on supporting local young women attending colleges and universities in the Pasadena area. Applicants go through a rigorous selection process, which includes proof of enrollment, letters of recommendation, and essays, all scored by a committee of 15 members in collaboration with the Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF).

“Oh, my gosh, they’re invaluable,” LaRussa said about the PCF. “We partnered with them in 2019, something like that, and they allowed us to take our funds, which the women in the club used to manage just through investments. They offer us the investment management support along with the technical support of the rubric and bringing all the applications into one website or email. And then they also help us administer the actual funds because the students need to, after they’ve received a scholarship, contact them and then that money is transferred to the college or university that they’re going to be attending.”

Despite the challenges posed by fluctuating stock markets, the club remains committed to its mission of supporting local scholars, with plans to continue expanding scholarship opportunities in the future.

“Our goal is to keep it local,” LaRussa affirmed, emphasizing the club’s focus on nurturing talent within the community.

The luncheon on May 7 will feature not only the celebration of scholarship recipients and the announcement of newly elected board members, but also one of the club’s scholars returning to speak about her career journey.

In addition to celebrating academic achievement, the club also fosters a sense of community among its members, with a tradition of sending greetings and gifts to scholars throughout the year.

“Our members do a lot of note-writing, birthday cards, and we’ve asked scholars to come back and speak to the club, to talk to us about their career once they’re established,” LaRussa said. “In October, we’ll be hosting one of our monthly club meetings. The whole focus will be about our scholarship foundation, and we’re having one of our scholars come back and speak to us.”

The College Women’s Club’s Scholarship Committee first began giving loans to women seeking higher education in 1923. By 1932, the Club had loaned $5,000 to 19 women. In 1952, the Scholarship Foundation was established as a nonprofit organization to enable bequests and donations to be tax-deductible.

Currently, the Club gives eight to 17 scholarships and fellowships each year to women in colleges and universities in and around Pasadena.

For more information, visit https://cwcpasadena.org/.