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Dear Friend,
Happy New Year from DWC! We thank you for your kind
support through the holiday season; your help enabled us
to provide a unique celebratory experience for the Ladies
over the past several months. From parties to special
meals to cultural activities, Day Center Participants and
Residents alike have been busy enjoying the products of
loving care from our wonderful donors and volunteers. This
momentum has carried us into 2008 with a strong start, and
many exciting new activities and programs are in store for
our community. Please read on for highlights, and visit
our website at
www.dwcweb.org for more information about our
organization and other exciting news!
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You're Invited!
Happenings at DWC
· Volunteer Orientation - Saturday, February
23 from 10am to 4pm: Make volunteering your
New Year's Resolution! Volunteers are needed in 2008
for DWC's many involvement opportunities, including
work with our Birthday Guild, Learning Center,
Public Outreach Team, Cooking Club, Participant
Outreach, and Enrichment Workshops.
Perfect for new volunteers as well as folks who want
to get more involved, this discussion- and activity-
based workshop is aimed at giving you basic
information, guidelines, and ideas for working
directly with the women DWC serves. It is a great
opportunity to learn about what makes DWC special,
raise your awareness to the causes of women's
homelessness, and meet other volunteers.
A light vegetarian lunch will be served, and parking
is available at no cost, as always.
Please contact Department Assistant Vanessa Luo at
vanessal@dwcweb.org with any questions or to
sign-up.
· 2008 Gala Planning Committee: Do you
have a passion for event planning? If so, please
consider helping us plan our annual fundraising Gala
dinner and auction! Monthly meetings will be held
through Monday, September 22 - the date of this
year's event. Please contact Development Associate
Amber Sheikh at
ambers@dwcweb.org for more information.
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Generosity Outside of the Box
Each holiday season, DWC Residents and Day Center
Participants are reminded that they are in the
thoughts of loving members of our community, and
2007 was no exception! We appreciate those who went
out of their way to make this year's festivities
extra special for the Ladies; you inspired all of us
to be creative in our approach to giving back.
Volunteers Chris and Nancy collected
wish lists, fundraised, and shopped for personalized
gifts for each of the Residents; they even came to
the Center in the middle of the night on Christmas
Eve to help staff put the packages in front of each
woman's door. Residents awoke to find that Santa had
visited! Gallagher Benefit Services staff
freshened up our home for the holidays by rolling up
their sleeves to paint the Day Center dining room
chairs and scrub the walls, doors, and mailboxes in
the Residence. They left the Center feeling bright,
cheerful and ready for sharing holiday joy. Salon
Girls Anne, Alice, and family continued a
long-standing tradition of hosting a Christmas party
for the Residents, and this season, the Ladies
received extra-special treats - entertainment from a
volunteer opera singer and hand-made scarves donated
by knitting groups throughout L.A.! Holland &
Knight's Women's Initiative hosted a wonderful
fundraising event at Sephora benefiting DWC, raising
$2,600 and donating a large amount of quality
toiletry gift items. Dedicated supporter Judith
collected donations and raised awareness about DWC
by including gifts for the Ladies as centerpieces at
a recent Bar Mitzvah celebration. And for the ninth
year in a row, volunteer Melvi collected
donations from co-workers and friends and organized
a holiday brunch for the Ladies! This
highly-anticipated event included a gift card
raffle, new wooden rocking chairs for the Day Center
and Residence, lovely desserts for all, and gifts of
January rent assistance for three exceptional DWC
Residents. Thanks to the tireless efforts of these
individuals - as well as the help of our entire
community of supporters - the Ladies had an
extraordinary holiday experience.
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DWC Family Welcomes Two New Furry Friends
The DWC Residence welcomed two new friends this
winter - two formerly homeless cats from Los
Angeles. Residents adopted Zelda, a flame-point
Siamese mix, and Dave, a large, lovable orange
Tabby, from the Sante D'Or Foundation Animal Rescue
and Adoption Center. Residents opened their hearts
and their homes to these animals - who were
carefully selected for their new home by Sante D'Or
staff - and are currently working in teams to care
for them. Long-time DWC Board member and Sante D'Or
Foundation President and volunteer, Sandie
Kimberling, hand-delivered the pets in early
November. "To see the excitement when we brought the
cats and know the women are providing the animals
what they have found at the Center - a safe,
comfortable environment and a surrounding of love
and peacefulness - well, we made a perfect match!"
she says. "We are all thrilled, and the cats are
thriving after being placed just a (short while)
ago." DWC is now accepting donations of feline
health care essentials, including litter, dry and
canned food, and grooming supplies - please contact
Development Associate Amber Sheikh at
ambers@dwcweb.org
if you are interested in making a contribution.
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