September 2026 Newsletter

5 days ago

8 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Lessons in Compassion

Our September meeting brought us back together after our summer hiatus—and we jumped right back in!

Taylor Montana, Executive Director, United for Financial Security, and her team from Orange County United Way kicked off the season with an engaging Paycheck to Paycheck interactive experience. Divided into teams, we stepped into the shoes of families facing real-life financial challenges, making tough choices about how to stretch a limited paycheck. It was eye-opening, thought-provoking, and definitely gave us a new appreciation for the phrase “making ends meet.”

Elain Kwak, Daisy McCune, Monique Wolff, Taylor Montano, Toni Nelson, Juliana Mittino-Smith

With school back in session, we continued one of our favorite traditions: our annual Project Literacy Book Drive. R.H. Dana Elementary Principal Juliana Mittino-Smith joined us to accept our generous collection of book donations (in-kind book donations totaled $1,500) and shared an update on the school and its students. We also presented Juliana with a $500 Project Literacy donation to contribute further to the School's book supply -- a great reminder that a good book can open many doors!

And, of course, there was lunch! Our own Sara Knadler whipped up a delicious chicken salad, complemented by fresh fruit, warm rolls and an assortment of homemade lemon bundt cakes baked by our talented members. Compassion is wonderful—but compassion with cake is even better! Click HERE for the delicious recipe.

It was a meaningful start to our new season, filled with learning, giving, sharing, and a little sweetness along the way.

Annual Storytelling Event, "Do Tell" Returns!

Please join us for Baron Harley's 7th annual "Do Tell" storytelling event, Sunday, September 20, 2026 from 4-6 PM at Community House. This unique form of oral storytelling is modeled after “The Moth,” a national non-profit group which promotes the art and craft of storytelling through live events. "Do Tell" aims to entertain and inspire you as our storytellers each take 10 minutes to share a poignant life experience. Grab your family and friends and go to dinner afterwards. It’s a nice way to end a weekend. 100% of proceeds from this event benefit Project Foster. Tickets are expected to sell out. Click HERE to purchase yours.

✨ Shop for a Cause! 🥂👗 October 2, 2026 12:00pm to 5:00pm

Join us for Cozzena’s 2026 Circle of Fashion Bubbly Bar Boutique! Sip something bubbly, nibble on delicious charcuterie, and shop Cozzena’s fabulous collection of beautiful, affordable fashions for women of all ages.

And the best part? 20% of all sales will benefit DPWC’s Project Angel Tree, helping support Orange County’s foster and at-risk kids. ❤️

🥂 Bubbly? Yes.

🧀 Charcuterie? Absolutely.

👗 Shopping? You bet!

❤️ Giving back? Even better!

No fee to attend, but please RSVP so Cozzena can plan plenty of bubbly and bites for all of its wonderful shoppers!

Come sip, shop & support a great cause!

Happening Now!!

Our School Supply Drive is in full swing! 🎒✏️

Each of our duffle bags is packed with school supplies to help local kiddos throughout the year.

Next time you’re out shopping, toss a few school essentials into your cart. 📚✏️🖍️

Every little bit helps—and the kids will love them! 💙

Great Ideas Need Great Volunteers!

One thing is certain—our members are full of wonderful ideas!

We distributed suggestion cards asking for ideas for speakers, activities, and Girls' Night Out events for the upcoming fiscal year, and the response was incredible. From exciting outings and educational programs to social gatherings and unique experiences, your suggestions have given us plenty of inspiration for a fun and engaging year ahead.

Now comes the next step: bringing those ideas to life.

Many of the suggestions, such as a day at the Del Mar Racetrack, wine tastings, theater outings, and other special events, require planning and coordination. While our board is excited to help make these events happen, we can't do it alone.

We're looking for members who would be willing to take the lead on an event or join a planning team. You don't need experience—just enthusiasm and a willingness to help. Whether you'd like to organize an outing, assist with reservations, coordinate logistics, or simply lend a hand, your support can make a big difference.

If there is an event you'd be interested in leading or helping with, please contact our Ways & Means Director, Leticia Celaya. Together, we can turn these great suggestions into memorable experiences for all our members.

Philanthropy Update

Project Literacy

Thank you to all our generous members for your contribution to our annual Project Literacy book drive. We alternate the drive every year between two local schools - RH Dana and Palisades Elementary Schools. This year we contributed over $1500 in books along with a $500 cash donation from the Club. And that doesn't count books shipped directly to the school. Thank you!

Project Foster

Please feel free to add your own personal note to the card included

with each of our duffles.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Man a Booth: Project Foster is a beneficiary of the Laguna Rotary Club Oktoberfest and Car Show to be held Sunday October 4th. We will be manning a booth, sharing information and providing children with a small craft. Be sure to check Sign Up Genius to volunteer for one of our regular work sessions or for the Laguna Rotary Oktoberfest Booth. .

Host a Drive: Thank you to all our donors (including some of our generous members) who made and cash and in kind donations for our recent Summer of Hope Drives. Please let us know if your church or organization would like to host one of our current drives for Socks, Toys, Pajamas and/or Sheets.

Help solicit grants and donations: Send emails to local organizations who might be interested in hosting one of our speakers and a donation drive. We have the letters and the leads but need manpower to get them out and follow up with a phone call. We also need help researching potential grantors. Contact Toni Nelson if you can help.

Safety Reminders:

Project Angel Tree - Coming Soon

We will be launching Project Angel Tree at our November meeting. where members will have the opportunity to purchase a wish list gift for one of our "angels" or their siblings from a list provided by guidance counsellors. This beloved annual tradition also includes grocery gift cards donated to each family by the Club, making the holidays a little brighter for vulnerable local families with students at our local Title One Schools. Stay tuned for more information next month.

Rising Stars and Guiding Lights-

Membership Chair, Rose Folli, caught up with a couple members this summer. Their conversations highlighted favorite club memories, inspiration for staying involved, and the friendships, service, and community that make our club special.

Let's see what they had to say! ✨

Rising Star, Pam Zakhar, tells a bit about herself and what drew to DPWC.

Tell us about yourself. I have lived in South Orange County for 42 years and have been an educator for over 22 years, with the last 20 years teaching at a public virtual school. I love helping students grow and succeed, and I truly enjoy connecting with people. I'm always open to trying new things, meeting new people, and finding ways to make a positive difference in my community.

What inspired you to join DPWC?

A good friend who is already a member suggested I join. I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.

What interested you most when you first learned about our mission?

As a teacher, I have always been passionate about empowering children and helping them reach their full potential. DPWC's mission of supporting and empowering women and children in South Orange County really resonated with me, and I wanted to be involved in making a meaningful impact.

What skills or experiences are you hoping to bring to the group?

I hope to bring my experience as an educator, my organizational skills, and my enthusiasm for volunteering and working as part of a team. I'm excited to participate, contribute wherever I can, and support the organization's mission through service and community involvement.

What is something fun or surprising about you?

I love traveling and going to concerts, exploring new places, and meeting people from different backgrounds. I'm always up for a new adventure and enjoy stepping outside my comfort zone to try something new!

Guiding Light, Lucinda Lambros, tells us a bit about what drew her to the club.

What first drew you to our club?

I’ve always enjoyed being around women who want to make a difference. When I first learned about the Dana Point Women’s Club, I immediately felt a connection to its mission and the women involved.

Do you remember your first meeting or event? What stood out to you, and what has changed since then?

My first event was the Spring Fashion Show in 2020. The models were all members of the club, which made it especially fun and personal. It was such an enjoyable event and a wonderful introduction to the club.

Since then, I’ve loved seeing how much the club has grown. Our events have become bigger and more diverse, we’ve welcomed so many new members, and there’s always something new and exciting happening.

What has kept you involved over the years?

The people and the sense of community have kept me involved. I’ve enjoyed watching the club evolve, attending different events, meeting new members, and seeing how much we can accomplish together. It’s rewarding to be part of a group of women who genuinely care about making a difference.

What advice would you give to new members?

Get involved in any way you can! Attend the events, volunteer, join a committee, or simply take the time to get to know other members. Being around the women in the club is one of the best parts of being a member. The more you participate, the more you’ll get out of the experience.

What is something fun or surprising about you?

I was recently honored to be featured as the KNX 1070 Hero of the Week for my work with the Handbags for Hearts campaign. I was nominated by Toni Nelson, which made the recognition especially meaningful to me. Outside of the club, I love to bake and decorate sugar cookies. I’m also a big fan of the Dana Point Car Show. I love meeting the car owners—they’re always so friendly—and it’s just a really fun event!

Book Club News

Our September book, The Big Sleep, published in 1939, is Raymond Chandler's first novel and the debut of his iconic private detective, Philip Marlowe, who is hired by a dying millionaire to handle a blackmail case involving his wild daughter, Carmen. The case quickly spirals into a complex web of kidnapping, pornography, murder, and corruption in 1930s Los Angeles, establishing the "hardboiled" detective genre with its cynical tone, atmospheric setting, and morally ambiguous characters.

For those who like to read ahead, our October book is White Oleander, a 1999 novel by American author Janet Fitch. It is the unforgettable story of Astrid's journey through a series of foster homes and her efforts to find a place for herself an impossible circumstances. Each home is its own universe, with a new set of laws and lessons to be learned. With determination and humor, Astrid confronts the challenges of loneliness and poverty, and strives to learn who a motherless child in a an indifferent world can become.