Since 1954, the Women’s Club of Tyrone has been serving the community by enhancing residential life, preserving historical sites, beautifying downtown Tyrone and promoting community pride through numerous projects and fund raisers.
The membership strongly believes the earlier quote of Ann Searer, charter member, “We are the community, and the community will only be what we make of it.”
In the past 50 years, this service organization has initiated and actively participated in significant community projects. The membership of 25-35 members has taken a strong initiative to preserve, beautify and revitalize Tyrone by putting much time, money and effort into planters, five scenic green areas – one with lights of historical merit and benches, and the medical strip entrance to Tyrone. With the exception of the planters, which were the Club’s first effort, all of the above are on-going projects and are annually financed by the club fund raisers.
Today, the Women’s Club is most often associated with their annual homemade peanut butter Easter egg sale. Many of the projects such as Breakfast with Santa, Christmas tree decorating contest, the selling of Christmas wreaths to local businesses, the Gardner Candy note card design, and the Tyrone print have been picked up by other organizations as the Women’s Club has moved on to other projects.
The Women’s Club strives to make significant community impact and lasting contributions through fundraising for and donations to groups and facilities such as recycling, Rail Park, Tyrone Snyder Public Library, Tyrone Community Players, the Tyrone YMCA, Christmas Lighting, Tyrone Hospital and academic scholarships.
The Women’s Club has a long history, approximately 42 years, of being involved with the raising of tens of thousands of dollars to supplement Tyrone Hospital’s facilities and equipment with birthing room, isolettes, surgical equipment, physical therapy equipment, an outdoor solarium and waiting room furniture.
The money for these projects was always raised through a mid-winter dance. As the Women’s Club and Tyrone Hospital are both celebrating their 50th anniversaries, the Women’s Club has chosen this year to revive this fundraiser with a slightly new twist.
On Saturday, March 12, at 6 p.m. at the U.S. Hotel in Hollidaysburg, the Women’s Club will be hosting a dinner dance and a silent auction with the proceeds to benefit the maternity wing at Tyrone Hospital. Tickets are $40 per person with a cash bar, and a menu featuring a roast turkey dinner.
The silent auction promises an opportunity to bid on some outstanding items such as paintings by Andrew Moore and Peg Panasiti, an icon by Theresa Futrick, tickets for two to Atlantic City, a three-day trip for two to Las Vegas, four Diamond Club tickets and a first pitch opportunity compliments of the Altoona Curve, a variety of theme baskets from local businesses and much more.
Tickets are available from any member of the Women’s Club or by calling Judy Norris at 684-3050 or Rose Black at the Tyrone Chamber of Commerce at 684-0736. No tickets will be sold at the door.
The Women’s Club is hopeful the community will support its efforts by purchasing tickets to the dinner dance so it can continue to make significant impact on the “place we call home”.
