On this page, you will find information about the ways in which the ROWC is striving to make a difference in our community.




2013 Successful Events

•  Queen of Hearts Tea Fundraiser
One of the ROWC's favorite annual events is our Queen of Hearts Tea fundraiser. Each February, with light hearts and beautiful, some even outrageous hats, we celebrate with a high tea that would make Alice happy. Each unique table setting is beautifully adorned with grace and humor. As is the tradition, husbands and other men of the community act as waiters as we enjoy tea and treats.

This year's waiters included Royal Oak's Mayor Jim Ellison, District Court Judge Derek Meinecke and County Commissioner Dave Woodward. The highlight of this year's event was our first lady of Royal Oak, Jodie Ellison, as our Queen of Hearts.

Our hearts were light and our spirits warmed by the successful fundraiser and the friendship shared. Proceeds will go towards the care of the ROWC clubhouse and our annual scholarship program that aids Royal Oak high school students. [Photos courtesy of Royal Oak Patch.]

For more photos from the event, please click here.

•  Paying it Forward - A Gift for All Involved - April 2013
We recently received a thank you letter from a family along with $200.00. It was their way of 'paying it forward' after receiving assistance from us a couple of years ago. Their home, due to a horrible turn of events, became unlivable and its contents unsafe. A ROWC member was alerted by a social worker and we quickly made donations of money, clothes, food, household goods and holiday gifts. But in our hearts we knew what we were doing was only a 'drop in the bucket'.

The letter reads: "Every time someone stopped by to drop something off to us, we were overcome with emotion and gratitude. We literally cried with relief and with kindness - not just for the items we had received, but for the restoration of our belief in human kindness, which we had all but lost. The items brought to us were like precious treasures to us - each and every one, and the people who brought them were like messengers from God."

We were moved to tears by this letter and so appreciative of the lesson it provided: when we reach out to aid others even in the smallest of fashions, we may help restore a life and a soul. We thank this family for teaching us this lesson and we are happy to hear they are back on their feet. Within minutes of reading this letter, the money was sent to Habitat for Humanity. Paying it forward.

•  Laissez le bon temps rouler - ROWC style!
Each year the Royal Oak Woman's Club teams up with Pronto! Restaurant for Fat Tuesday fundraising as we "Let the good times roll!" For the second year in a row, the ROWC chose the Royal Oak School's program Blessings in a Backpack. Blessings In a Backpack is a "neighbor-helping-neighbor" program that is designed to help meet the nutritional needs of children and families. Learn more about ending childhood hunger in Royal Oak at: http://backpack.pillarsocialmedia.com.

With wonderful support from Pronto!, Bill Welch of Hollywood Market and the many ROWC members, friends and neighbors who dined at Pronto!, we raised over $2,700. Of special note, two of Royal Oak's youngest supporters made their community fundraising debuts: Sloane and Will Tillander (shown to the right). We welcome Sloane and Will and are always pleased to have their parents Brett and Liz with us as well..

2012 Successful Events

•  Blessings in a Backpack Fundraiser a Great Success
At our annual Fat Tuesday fundraiser on February 21 at Pronto! Restaurant, $4,800 was successfully raised for Blessings in a Backpack. Through Blessings in a Backpack, Royal Oak schoolchildren on the free and reduced lunch program will be sent home each Friday with a backpack full of nonperishable meals. Research shows that when children are well fed attendance improves, test scores increase, and behavior issues are reduced, making your donation impactful immediately and in the long term. A donation of just $100 provides a backpack and food for one child for an entire school year due to the reduced costs of food provided by area merchants.

The members of the ROWC thank the many who came out to support its efforts for Blessings in a Backpack as well as some Fat Tuesday fun and great food at Pronto! The ROWC also wishes to thank Pronto! for its ongoing support of our efforts and its love and faith in the community of Royal Oak. Finally, many thanks to the Royal Oak schools and volunteers who make Blessings in a Backpack a reality for our children.

2011 Successful Events

•  Supporting Cancer Awareness - Big or Small, We Love Them All!

Royal Oak Woman’s Club airing out their laundry. (Royal Oak Review).

"More than 100 bras of every color, fabric and size have been strung from a clothesline outside the group’s clubhouse at 404 S. Pleasant St. There are even more of them on display inside the clubhouse.

The women in the organization are hoping the inaugural Breast Cancer Awareness Month Bra Installation is an attention-grabbing reminder for ladies to take care of themselves by performing self breast examinations.

"I wanted to do something for breast cancer awareness," said Alena Clark, a Royal Oak resident and member of the club. "I like this because it’s kind of shocking and makes people think about it. It’s something out of the ordinary."   Read more...

[Click on the photo for a larger image.]

Royal Oak Woman’s Club urges breast health (Detroit Free Press).

Members of the Royal Oak Woman’s Club strung a clothesline this week beside their clubhouse just west of downtown Royal Oak and hung dozens of brassieres.

"Big or small, we love them all!" is the whimsical title of this installation art — the club’s way of raising awareness in October for the 25th National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, said President Jeanne Sarnacki.   Read more...

•  Spring Spaghetti Dinner
Our annual Spring Spaghetti Dinner was a success thanks to the many folks who came by to enjoy a wonderful dinner or do take-out that night. We raised $1,000. This funds will be used to support the ROWC's scholarship efforts and the care of our historic clubhouse. See you at our fall dinner!

•  Fat Tuesday Fundraiser at Pronto!
What a wonderful Fat Tuesday Fundraiser at Pronto! We raised $2,800 for Challenge Day at Royal Oak High School and Royal Oak Middle School. Thanks to all those who came out and supported the event by dining at Pronto! or doing take outs.

Thanks to the owners of Pronto!, Jim Domanski and Bill Thomas for again partnering with us and donating two beautiful gift baskets.

Thanks to Josephine Primeau for the donation of a piece of her art work for the raffle.

Thanks to Shannon Hulswits for the wonderful poster that has come to be known as our official identification for a great fundraiser.

Thanks to Tom Moline, our school district superintendent for all your support....and not just because its a school sponsored event....but always helping when the community needs a bit of support for a good cause. Royal Oak is a great place.

Learn more about Challenge Day and it's mission to provide youth and their communities with experiential programs that demonstrate the possibility of love and connection through the celebration of diversity, truth, and full expression at www.challengeday.org.



Learn more about how the ROWC is impacting our community.

•  Oct. 15, 2010: ROWC in the news
"Friendship, sisterhood give Woman’s Club staying power " is the title of an article that appeared recently in the local C&G newspaper. Read the article here.

•  February 16, 2010: Royal Oak Woman's Club Fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of South Oakland County

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!! It’s time for FAT TUESDAY fun at Prontos! on Tuesday, Feb 16th. We will be partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of South Oakland County A percentage of the day’s sales and take-out will be donated to this worthy cause. This event runs from 10 AM to 10 PM.

Many area children count on the Club for meals, mentorship and a safe, secure place to ‘be a kid’. Please join us for great food, ROWC fun and some 'joy de vivre'. Bring your friends and family too.

•  Oct. 17, 2007: HAVEN Domestic Violence Center opens in Royal Oak
The Royal Oak Woman's Club, and ROWC Group 7 specifically, played a major part in this site opening in Royal Oak. Members of Group 7 worked with the City Commission and the city's legal staff to get this site approved for use by HAVEN. Read more...