(PHOENIX, Ariz., Oct. 30, 2003)—Since 1991, the Women’s Club of Phoenix has been supporting the Phoenix College Nursing Program with student scholarships. With a history of giving, the Women’s Club of Phoenix graciously provided scholarships to the following students during the Fall 2003 semester:

Nicole Fisher
Janet Hoffman
Connie Holt
Michelle Johns
Rosemary Opara
Linda Schaeffer
Normajean Serafin
JoAnn Shorty
Monika Sierra
Gracie Valenzuela

Phoenix College nursing students who are currently utilizing scholarships provided by the Women’s Club of Phoenix are:

Lisa Ochoa
Myra Francisco
Foday Kamara
Julia Heersche
Cathy Mather
Debra Dreyer
Melissa Ghahate
Dancia Rubizzi
Wendy Navarro

The Women’s Club of Phoenix has worked diligently to improve the city since the clubs inception more than 100 years ago. Through fundraising and community support, the Women’s Club of Phoenix established the following: The first Phoenix library, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), sponsored school clothing drives to buy children new cloths, fought for Manual Training and Domestic Sciences to be taught in schools, sponsored the Art Exhibit at the State Fair until 1932 and is the mother of the Fine Arts Association of Phoenix.

Over the years, the Women’s Club of Phoenix experienced the Roaring Twenties, a depression and two world wars. During World War 1, a flu epidemic erupted in Phoenix and the hospitals were overflowing. The club offered their building to the Red Cross, which established an emergency hospital in the auditorium. Members of the club served as volunteers, assisting the Red Cross with patient needs. Also, during the Great Depression, club members canned 3,600 quarts of blackberries, which were distributed to various schools and institutions.

Not only were they called upon for assistance from people in need, they were called upon to arrange flowers for the Board of Trade’s banquet hall when important guests came to Phoenix. The members used roses from their own gardens, as well as gathering donated roses from around the community. Due to the efforts of the Women’s Club, Phoenix became known as the "City of Roses."

The Women’s Club of Phoenix has unquestionably left their mark on the city, and continues to do so today by sponsoring community projects, such as scholarships for the nursing program at Phoenix College. By helping others succeed, the Women’s Club of Phoenix continues its legacy as an appreciated and respected entity in our community.

For more information about the Phoenix College Nursing Program, please call (602) 285-7121.

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