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Women's dedication is community's gain
(by Sue Reid - March 14, 2012)
Women's dedication is community's gain
By SUE REID
When describing the basis of the Solon Civic Club, Sandra Pannetti said the group's logo that says it all. "Women dedicated to serving our community" she said. "That's what the club is all about."
A community-serviced group over 60 members strong, the Solon Civic Club is comprised of women from the Solon and Twinsburg area. They all share a love of volunteering, said Ms. Pannetti, of Solon, a member since 2007 and past president.
"I stay involved in the club, because I feel strongly about volunteering, and I enjoy volunteering locally in the community," said Ms. Pannetti, who also is a member of the Solon Benevolent Fund.
Each year, the Solon Civic Club reaches out to the community in a number of ways.
In April, the club will host its annual charity luncheon and fashion show, which is its sole fundraiser of the year. It will be held at 1 p.m. April 15 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Twinsburg. Tickets are $28 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. The afternoon will feature fashions from Aurora Farms Outlet as well as raffles.
Fashion show co-chair Beth Cohen, of Chagrin Falls, said proceeds will fund the club's scholarship program.
An accessory drive at the show will benefit Dress for Success Cleveland, which educates, enhances, encourages and empowers women who are seeking employment and economic self-sufficiency. Ms. Cohen said those attending are asked to donate gently used scarves that are business appropriate, custom jewelry or belts to enhance outfits.
"We are having the drive to make our community aware of women in the Greater Cleveland community who might not have the same resources as others to enhance their look when trying to interview for a job," she said.
Open to everyone, the fashion show draws about 300 attendees each year.
Ms. Cohen, who has been a Solon Civic Club member for more than 15 years, is chairing the event with Lydia Williams.
The club is known for its involvement in performing the preschool vision screenings for children 3 to 5 years old. "Members go to all the preschools in Solon," Ms. Pannetti said. About 15 of them completed training through the Cleveland Sight Center, she said.
They club awarded $3,000 in scholarships last year to graduating seniors who attend Solon High School or reside in Solon and attend other schools. The scholarships are heavily based on community service, Ms. Pannetti noted, but the club also looks at extracurricular activities and employment, as well as essay.
Solon Civic Club members visit the Ronald McDonald House to serve breakfast, and they make cards for Operation Write Home, which provides cards for those in the military to send to their loved ones.
Another area of service is that the club provides school supplies for Solon students in need. The group is active in recycling projects in the community and takes part in Project Linus, which provides blankets for children in hospitals or who have experienced fires in their homes.
The list goes on.
The Solon Civic Club has hosted an annual lunch with Santa for more than 35 years. Ms. Pannetti said the fun-filled day features a magic show and is held at Solon Middle School.
Membership to the club is encouraged and the group meets monthly from September to May. "We welcome anyone in the community," Ms. Pannetti said.
"It's a wonderful group of local women who strive to fund-raise and volunteer their time for a worthy cause," Ms. Cohen said. "We do civic-minded events that I think otherwise our community would be sorely lacking," she said.
"I love sitting with 25 to 60 women each month and talking about what we can do this month to enhance our community," she said. "We have some fabulous volunteers who are very selfless and give of their time year after year. I think that's such a great message."
Reservations for the luncheon and fashion show can be made by calling Patsy Lapidus at 440-248-8281 or Marie DeRoia at 440-349-2767 by April 9.
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