April 2026 Newsletter

Dana Point Women's Club
Apr 12
7 min read

The Exclusive Diamond Club

Our fundraiser is just days away, and you don't want to miss it! There’s so much excitement in store—our incredible volunteers have poured their hearts into making this event unforgettable.

Let’s show everyone we’re more than a lunch club—we’re a vibrant charity where every member matters! Join our upcoming Fundraiser for a night of fun and impact. Your participation, whether attending or donating, makes a difference and counts toward volunteer hours. Let’s make it memorable together!

Did you hear the buzz at the April 2^nd meeting? We’re rolling out an Exclusive Private Bar, where you’ll find delicious drinks and irresistible sweet treats—available only to those who secure a spot in our Diamond Club. It’s your chance to experience something truly unique!

Come for the cause-stay for the party!

All proceeds benefit our Project Foster philanthropy—where together, we're making a difference and bringing smiles to children in foster care! Can’t make it to the event? No worries. You can still join our fun ‘Buy A Bag’ campaign —with a $250 donation, you’ll fund a duffle bag packed full of essentials and deliver a little happiness to a foster child’s day.

Or make it a team effort and ‘Split A Bag’ with a friend! Share the giving, share the joy!

100% of net proceeds from our Diamond Celebrations will benefit Project Foster

April Meeting-Fostering Hope!

Our Fostering Hope April meeting featured a special speaker, Kurt M. Varricchio, a successful Orange County attorney and sports agent who was a former foster child. Kurt shared compelling parts of his childhood, abusive family relationships, stealing, armed robbery and juvenile hall. He surprised us with tales of his creative “mall-top camping” and reminded us that sometimes hope comes from the most unexpected places—even if you have to scale a rooftop to find it. Kurt tells his story in his Amazon best seller, Behind in the Count. Hearing his story reminds us why we love to volunteer in our Club philanthropies - to further our mission to strengthen community through Project Foster, Project Angel Tree, Project Scholarship and Project Literacy. Our meeting was featured in the Dana Point Times.

Our members added heartfelt notes and playful drawings to spiral notebooks, filling them with encouragement and

warmth. These little bursts of creativity and kindness will be tucked into Project Foster duffle bags, ensuring every child receives not just essentials, but also a smile and a sense of hope.

Financial Highlights: And we're not done yet!

We’re proud to serve our community through Club activities, Community House rentals, and Project Foster, each making a positive impact.

Our Club thrives on member enthusiasm, raising funds through annual dues, General Meetings and special events. Your generosity made this year's charitable giving possible:

· $5,300 to Project Military—helping those who serve with heartfelt support

· $3,200 in gift cards for Angel Tree families—bringing smiles to children

· $675 to Handbags for Hearts—supporting those in need with compassion and care

· $1,522 to Project Literacy—helping open doors through the gift of reading

In May, we’re excited to award $8,000 in scholarships to local graduates, raising the per-student award from $1,500 to $2,000 each. It’s a joy to help these bright and inspiring young women take their next steps. We are also planning additional year end donations. Stay tuned!

While Project Foster has become our hands-on charity, we haven’t stopped supporting the causes that matter. Community House rentals continue to thrive. The Community House covers the Club’s basic needs and overhead, freeing up more funds for good deeds; any extra is set aside to plan for our future and maintain an emergency reserve.

Launched last June, Project Foster is fueled entirely by heartfelt community donations, allowing it to operate independently. So far, we’ve distributed 868 duffle bags in our fiscal year to date ($193,000 estimated retail value) to those who need it most, earning wonderful feedback from those who serve foster and at-risk kids and teens in the community.

This brief summary shines a light on the meaningful work we do together. We look forward to continuing our "legacy of heart and hope" for the next 75 years.

The Boys Scouts Dug In!!!

The boy scouts earned their pins in style, tackling the Community House landscaping project with gusto! They swooped in, dug up our stubborn lilies, and whisked them away to a nature preserve—making room for a much easier-to-maintain garden. It was no small feat, and these hard-working teens absolutely deserved their pins. To say thanks, we treated them to pizza (and yes, it disappeared in record time—who can blame them?). We’re incredibly grateful for their muscle and enthusiasm; they saved us from aching backs and a hefty bill if we’d hired professional landscapers. Way to go, Scouts!

The Men Behind the Women!!

The Men are everywhere—like a superhero squad, but with more paint splatters and less spandex! We are so lucky to have our husbands tackling every project at the Community House and the Project Foster Warehouse. One day they’re painting, the next they’re wrangling weeds, building shelves, or bravely climbing ladders to hang decorations for our meetings (with only minimal grumbling).

Their endless help not only saves us a bundle—so we can give more to our favorite charities—but also keeps us entertained. Who knows what adventure awaits them next? We are truly grateful for their hard work, resourcefulness, and willingness to take on whatever odd job we throw their way!

Gardening Club!

Ladies, are you ready to dig in, get your hands dirty, and have a blast outdoors? Become one of our fabulous Dirt Divas and join Shelley Currie in making our exterior landscaping shine! Whether you’ve got a green thumb or just love soaking up the sunshine, Shelley would love your help each month. Plus, you’ll earn volunteer hours while having fun and making new friends. Reach out to Shelley if you’re excited to join the crew—let’s make our space beautiful together! Thanks, everyone!

Sip and Snip?? Ladies, would you be interested in a Sip and Snip flower arranging event hosted by our lovely Julie Aros? Please contact Marla Freeman so we can build an interest list.

Philanthropy Update

Project Scholarship

Our scholarship committee has an exciting celebration planned for this year's scholarship winners. The Committee carefully vets all our applications and considers the academic records, community service, athletic, artistic, cultural and extra-curricular activities of local young women who are pursuing higher education. This longstanding DPWC program, which is administered by a committee currently headed by Betty Hill and Carol Kelly, also considers personal hardship. This year's awards were increased to $2,000 per scholarship.

DPWC will host the scholarship recipients and their parents at our May 7^th luncheon where members will hear from each of the impressive scholars. Scholarship committee members will attend awards ceremonies at local high schools to present the awards once more and express their support for this year’s four Project Scholarship awardees. A fifth scholarship may be offered by the Tina and Bernie Fornadley Giving Fund to an applicant pursuing a non -traditional education such as plumbing or electrical training (subject to an applicant coming forth).

A Lovely Message for Project Foster

Although Project Foster provides a significant benefit to local foster and at-risk kids, we seldom hear directly from the recipients due to legal, safety and privacy concerns. However, we often receive notes passed on by social workers and also heartfelt messages from people who work in the field. This one, from a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer, was especially touching and we wanted to pass it on.

Rising Stars and Guiding Lights

Step into the Spotlight! Meet our “Rising Stars” and “Guiding Lights”—the incredible women who keep our group shining. Thanks to Membership Chair and 2nd VP Pearl Zimmerman for these sparkling intros!

Smiling woman with wavy hair stands outdoors, wearing a blue shirt. Sunny day with greenery in the background. Relaxed and cheerful mood. — Kristina Walsh

Rising star Kristina Walsh brings an infectious energy and heartfelt dedication to Dana Point Women's Club. A passionate advocate for youth, Kristina has devoted countless hours to volunteering—most notably through the PTA—supporting children and families throughout her years in Laguna Niguel. Kristina's commitment to service continues today as she serves as Treasurer for the Dana West Yacht Club Junior Sailing Program and supports fundraising for the Dana Hill’s Dolphin Foundation. With a strong background in sales, both Kristina and her husband built successful careers grounded in connection and leadership—skills clearly reflected in their two motivated sons. As her husband prepares to retire this year, Kristina is excited to embrace a new chapter filled with travel, adventure, and even deeper community involvement.

Donna Childress, this month's Guiding Light, brings years of dedication and leadership to the Dana Point Women’s Club. A retired Senior Vice President of Operations for Trading Places International, Donna has spent the past 5 years channeling her expertise into volunteer service. She currently serves as Treasurer, playing a vital role in supporting the club’s mission and charitable efforts. Known for her reliability, Donna exemplifies the heart of our organization. Donna's decorating and culinary skills turned our 2025 Evening in Tuscany fundraiser into a classy and unforgettable event. Members still rave about her lasagna! Outside of the club, she enjoys cooking and baking, traveling, and spending cherished time with her family.

We are working hard finding and writing grant requests to support both Project Foster and our proposed renovation of Community House. We could use more womanpower on finding and writing the grants, each of which has a different format. If you have writing or research talent and love our philanthropies, please contact Toni Nelson who will show you the ropes.

Book Club News

April's selection is The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans. This is a best seller and highly recommended novel about Sylvia, a 70-plus retired lawyer who tries to make sense of the world and confront her painful past through writing letters - some she sends, many she never does.

Several news organizations have claimed this to be the BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR.

For those who are ahead on the reading schedule, here is May's selection. The Brain that Changes Itself, by Norman Doidge, M.D. This nonfiction book is also a NY Times bestseller. This book, which is written in layman's language, is about neuroplasticity - the idea that the human brain can reorganize and change itself throughout life - even after injury and in ways scientists once thought impossible!

Book club meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of the month from 1-3 PM at the clubhouse.

If you'd like to participate in the Book Club, please email Karen Lamie and she'll add you to the list.