by Madison V. Fisler
July 25, 2013. After 90 years of service to the High Country, the Boone Worthwhile Women’s Club celebrated its 90th anniversary on Tuesday, July 23, at Joy Bistro in Boone.
When it was founded in 1923, the Boone Worthwhile Women’s Club was a large community organization, over 100 members strong, that worked locally to help out the Boone community. Now, 90 years later, the club may be a bit smaller in size, but time has not diminished its determination and spirit.
“Right now we do numerous things in the community,” said Baben Patricelli, president of the Boone Worthwhile Women’s Club.
“We give donations to over 15 local organizations plus we give out two $1,000 scholarships annually.”
Organizations that receive funding rom the Boone Worthwhile Women’s Club include:
- The Boone Community Band
- Daniel Boone Native Gardens
- Habitat for Humanity
- The Hickory Ridge Homestead
- Hope Pregnancy Resource Center
- Hospice of Watauga County
- OASIS
- Salvation Army
- Special Olympics
- Watauga Arts Council
- Watauga Humane Society
- Watauga Youth Network
- and more.
Back row, left to right: Deborah Plotts, Lenore Highet, Baben Patricelli, Marie Schaedler, Janice Edwards, Barbara Bernstein
Patricelli, who has been a member of the organization since 1970, said that their funding comes from the interest from the sale of their clubhouse that the organization once held on Cherry Brook Lane in Boone.
“As the club started getting smaller, we sold the house and invested the money to use the interest to fund all of the organiations and scholarships,” Patricelli said.
“We don’t have fundraising events or anything like that. We meet up six times a year and in the summer for lunch.”
The Boone Worthwhile Women’s Club is always seeking new members. There are no dues for the club, no funds to be raised and no fundraisers since all of the needed funds come from the interest off of the clubhouse.
To become a member of the Club, contact Baben Patricelli at 828-264-2539
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