Feb 05, 2004

Almaden Valley Women’s Club receives commendation during the State of the City address

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

Each year, the City Council recognizes residents and organizations for their outstanding work in making San Jose a better place to live. During the State of the City address last Wednesday, the Almaden Valley Women’s Club received the San Jose Good Neighbor Recognition Award for their dedication and charitable contributions over the past 39 years.

“The club’s 70 active members are truly fulfilling their mission to provide financial assistance to nonprofit children’s foundations, educational facilities, teen programs, and community nonprofit organizations,” said Jennifer Andaluz, executive director for Downtown College Preparatory, as she presented the commendation to the club. “Thanks ladies, for your great work and commitment.”

Founded in 1965 by seven women, the Almaden Valley Women’s Club has worked tirelessly to enlist local residents in an effort to become active in social, civic and cultural improvements in their community. For the first few years, they devoted their time assisting with health screenings in local schools, creating Christmas presents for local families in need, and holding various fund-raisers. Eight annual carnivals were then held to raise additional funds for the community.

In an effort to satisfy growing pains, the club organized their first annual Art and Wine Festival at Parma Park in 1977. That year, wine glasses sold for $1.25 each, with three glasses of wine selling for $1. Raising $1,941 in its first year, the organization has since raised an estimated $600,000 for local schools, scholarship recipients and nonprofit organizations over the past 27 years.

“It’s a humbling, exciting experience,” commented Women’s Club Parliamentarian Janice LaVelle. “This was not expected to have our organization be recognized by the populace of San Jose.”

“I think this a wonderful thing,” added President Linda Bronson. “It recognizes years of volunteer work and philanthropy on the part of this organization and it comes at a unique time in our history. This rewards the work that was done way back in the late ’60s. It’s also nice that we are being honored as we leave our old festival site to start brand new.”

A unique time it is as the club bids farewell to Parma Park, where the annual festival has taken place since its inception. Each year has been filled with local entertainment, food, beer and wine, fine arts and crafts and the ever-growing children’s area, providing one of the best festivals in San Jose. Having outgrown the venue, this year’s festival will be held at Lake Almaden on Sept. 26 and promises to be more exciting and entertaining than ever.

The commendation came at the request of Vice Mayor Pat Dando, who felt it was important to pay tribute to the volunteer work of hundreds of women over the years—work that involved not only providing one of the liveliest festivals in the city, but has generated thousands of dollars in funding for the community.

“I’m proud in that they have a greater view of our community by providing these funds,” admitted Dando. “It also says a lot about their character and community service when they assisted firefighters and children after the traumatic events of 9-11. Here you have a relatively small group of women in the Almaden Valley who not only care about their immediate neighborhood, but they also care deeply about assisting those in need citywide as well as nationwide.”