Welcome to the Clubs
by Laura Breen Galante
In Lake Mary, Heathrow, and Sanford, three women’s clubs have been cornerstones of their communities for many years (and in one case, for more than a century). These clubs provide their members with countless opportunities for socializing and building friendships. Even more importantly, the organizations are run by dedicated women who believe in working hard to support a variety of local nonprofits and causes. Let’s take a closer look at this trio of clubs and the valuable community service work they do in Seminole County and beyond:
Lake Mary Woman’s Club
Founded in 1962, the GFWC Lake Mary Woman’s Club, Inc. has nearly 50 members and meets on the third Wednesday of each month, from September through May.
The 501(c)(3) organization is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), established in 1890. The GFWC is an international women’s organization dedicated to improving communities through volunteer service, with more than 63,000 members in affiliated clubs throughout the United States and other countries.
Gail Hill Smith, the Lake Mary club’s second vice president of communications, says even though the group is a charter of GFWC, it operates autonomously.
“We select what areas we want to work in, but then we report back [to GFWC],” says Gail. “That’s what gives us strength with not only our local voice, but also at a national and state level.”
The Lake Mary Woman’s Club focuses on five areas of community service: arts and culture, civic engagement and outreach, education and libraries, environment, and health and wellness – all while having fun.
Over the years, club members have been involved in a myriad of projects. In the arts arena, the ladies have assisted with local festivals and have brought the Arts Across America program to Crystal Lake and Bentley elementary schools, to help make the arts accessible to all.
The group’s members have raised funds for the Lake Mary fire and police departments and regularly volunteer with Kids House of Seminole, where club member Nancy Crawford previously served as executive director. The club also supports The Russell Home for Atypical Children in Orlando, which serves children with special needs, and has purchased dogs to be trained by Canine Companions as service animals.
Other organizations supported by the club have included Find Your Fabulosity, which empowers domestic violence survivors; Seminole State College, for an annual scholarship; Rescue Outreach Mission, which serves those experiencing homelessness; and Flight to Honor, a program to recognize and honor GFWC women veterans such as member Karyn Rinaldi, retired U.S. Navy. Special to all the members is the club’s support of Tools 4 Seminole Schools and Take Stock in Children.
President Ronnie Capalino is proud that the club gave more than $18,000 to the community in 2025.
Environmental projects have included donating funds to D Ranch Preserve in Osteen for a nature center it is developing. The ladies also plan to partner with Lake Mary Mayor David Mealor for an Arbor Day presentation, where a tree will be planted in honor of Lois Jackson, a former president of the club.
Recent fundraisers have included bingo events; a Tribute to Elvis, a well-attended live performance; and the group’s annual – and very popular – fashion show, with proceeds benefiting the club’s charitable initiatives.
The Lake Mary Woman’s Club fully embraces the GFWC motto of Unity in Diversity, working together for the betterment of its community.
To learn more, visit LakeMaryWomansClub.org.
Heathrow Women’s Club
The Heathrow Women’s Club, founded in 1987, has more than 120 members and meets on the second Tuesday of the month from September through May.
The 501(c)(3) organization’s motto is Socializing With a Purpose, and that’s something the members take to heart. While the ladies enjoy numerous social events such as bunco and mah-jongg, their true purpose is contributing to several nonprofits that support the health and welfare of women and children in Seminole County. Organizations championed by the Heathrow Women’s Club include:
– Seminole County Friends of Abused Children, which helps foster children experience normalcy by funding extracurricular activities and providing clothing, luggage, tutoring, school supplies, summer camp, and holiday gifts.
– SafeHouse of Seminole, which helps victims of domestic violence make a fresh start through emergency shelter, counseling, and advocacy services.
– The Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, dedicated to enhancing the educational experience for students in Seminole County.
– Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, West Sanford Branch, which inspires and enables young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to reach their full potential.
Not only do Heathrow Women’s Club members raise funds for the aforementioned organizations, they also provide hands-on, volunteer support.
For example, the ladies have hosted birthday parties for the Boys & Girls Clubs Sanford Branch and read to the children. At SafeHouse of Seminole, the club has hosted beauty nights, bringing in hair and nail professionals to provide services for the residents and donating clothing and accessories.
“One time, there was a lady who was having a job interview the next day, so it was perfect,” says Clety Gomez, club president.
The Heathrow Women’s Club hosts two major fundraisers each year. One is Diamonds and Denim, which features dinner, entertainment, and a silent auction. The other is the group’s yard sale, a huge resale event at Sawyer Lake Park in Heathrow. Proceeds from these events go directly to the club’s charities.
Two fun facts about the Heathrow Women’s Club are: you don’t have to be a resident of the Heathrow community to join, and its oldest member is 102.
“We have members from all over,” says Clety. “When I moved from New York, I joined right away. It was a great way to get to know people in the area, and some of these people are still my best friends. But it’s also about all the different activities and the charities. And you feel like you’re doing something good for the community.”
Woman’s Club of Sanford
Founded in 1913, the Woman’s Club of Sanford has nearly 50 members and meets the first Wednesday of every month.
Not for Self, but for All is the motto of this charitable organization, which is one of the oldest women’s clubs in Central Florida.
The group operates out of its clubhouse at 309 South Oak Avenue in Sanford’s downtown historic district. Originally constructed in 1877 as a church, the building was gifted to the club, relocated from its original lot, and renovated in 1934. The charming clubhouse is available for rental for social events such as weddings, meetings, and parties, and those rental fees go toward the club’s charitable outreach efforts.
President Christina Hollerbach says the club supports causes that vary from year to year and are meaningful to its members, who range in age from 35 to 95.
Last year the club supported five charities, donating $2,000 to each. One of those organizations, the CORE Foundation in Altamonte Springs, helps provide financial support and education for individuals with spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions. Karen Adam, a past president of the Woman’s Club of Sanford, suffered a spinal injury and received support from CORE, which stands for Center of Recovery & Exercise.
The Quilts of Valor Foundation, which provides service members and veterans with quilts, was another recipient. Some of the Woman’s Club of Sanford members are quilters, themselves. Other groups and organizations the club supports include the Sanford-based Angels of Mercy Ministries, which supports displaced women with the resources necessary to become self-sufficient; the Seminole State College jazz combo; The Sharing Center, which helps those experiencing poverty and homelessness in Central Florida; and Kids House of Seminole, dedicated to preventing child abuse.
Through scholarships, club members also support other Seminole County women in furthering their education. Last year, the club distributed $19,000 in scholarships.
A signature fundraiser of the Woman’s Club of Sanford is its spaghetti dinner – a 40-year-old tradition.
“I have newspaper clippings from the first spaghetti dinner where they were all wearing embroidered, handmade aprons,” says Christina, who loves delving into club history.
Indeed, the Sanford Woman’s Club has given back so much to the community that it has earned a place of honor at the Sanford Museum on First Street. At the museum, a collection of club items is on display, including yearbooks and meeting minutes from as far back as the 1920s.
“It’s nice to see how women have evolved along with the club,” says Christina, “and how we stay true to our past and our history, but also make it accessible and interesting and of value to women of today.”
To learn more, visit WomansClubOfSanford.com.