Woman's Club hands out scholarships, donations

DOWNEY - The Woman's Club of Downey continued its tradition of giving by issuing awards and scholarships worth thousands of dollars at its general meeting June 5.The club presented $500 each to the Friends of the Downey City Library and the Downey Symphony for its Music in the Schools program. Pat Smith, president of the Friends of the Downey City Library, accepted the donation on her group's behalf. Shirlee MacDowell accepted the donation on the symphony's behalf. Both Smith and MacDowell are longtime members and office holders of the Woman's Club. At the same meeting, the club awarded its annual scholarships to local students. This year's scholarship recipients include: Christina Gibbs (Downey High School) - Gibbs is graduating from Downey High this year with a 4.59 GPA and will attend Stanford in the fall. Kaylie Greilach (Warren High School) - Greilach will graduate from Downey High with a 4.65 GPA and is on her way to UCLA. Christine Diep (Downey Adult School) - Diep finished the adult school's court reporting program and said she will "definitely put these funds to good use in furthering my career." Also present at the meeting was Dana Kendall, a 2009 Warren High graduate and Woman's Club scholarship recipient who graduated from Brigham Young University this year. "I am so grateful for the Woman's Club for their hard work and generosity," she said. "From the first year to my last at BYU, I would sometimes feel a great panic over the financing of my education. But then I would remember the Woman's Club scholarship that was not just for one year but every year for my four years at BYU. This made all the difference and I am so grateful." According to Linda Dong, president of the Woman's Club of Downey Foundation, the foundation has given more than $80,000 to local students. "There is no other joy greater than giving to these students who have worked so hard to achieve phenomenal grade point averages through their hard work, determination and discipline," she said. "Because the foundation is separate from the parent organization and dedicated to a charitable purpose with clearly defined goals, people know exactly how their money will be used," added Cheryll Olson, president of the Woman's Club. "Money donated to the Woman's Club of Downey Foundation is clearly earmarked for scholarships." For details on joining the Woman's Club of Downey, call Jean Barrera at (562) 861-1114. To donate to the foundation, call Linda Dong at (626) 288-8558.

********** Published: June 13, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 09