Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club Awards Annual Grants

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club awarded grants to local organizations at an in-person event at the clubhouse on the evening of Tuesday, July 27.

“Over the decades, the PPWC has awarded $1.5 million in grants to these worthy local organizations,” according to its website. “Thanks to our donors, sponsors and members for their ongoing support of the PPWC fundraising efforts that make the grant program possible.”

One recipient of a grant this year that falls into the Community & Charitable Groups category was Voice For The Animals Foundation, an area nonprofit founded by Melya Kaplan “devoted to creating respect and empathy for animals through education, rescue, legislation and advocacy.”

Kaplan shared that the “generous grant” from PPWC will go to help Ringtail, a 20-year-old deaf and blind cat that was recently surrounded to the organization by her owner who was losing her home. She explained that the woman reached out to many different groups to find someone who would take the cat and all but Voice For The Animals declined due to the cat’s condition.

“We are deeply appreciative of the PPWC’s generous donation to help Ringtail,” Kaplan shared.

In the Education category, entities that received a grant from PPWC in 2021 include Canyon School Booster Club, Friends of Marquez, Palisades Enrichment Programs, PRIDE Booster Club, Palisades Charter High School and St. Matthew’s Parish School.

The Palisades-Malibu YMCA also received a grant, with Executive Director Jim Kirtley expressing gratitude for being selected.

“The Palisades Y is grateful for the support and recognition by the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club for the good works of the Y’s volunteers and staff,” he shared. “Without the support of the PPWC, other organizations and community members, the Palisades Y wouldn’t be able to impact the community in the positive ways it continues to do.”

In February, the local YMCA began participating in the citywide FeedLA initiative, offering free groceries to help address “food insecurity and other needs for vulnerable Angelenos” in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Kirtley shared that between delivering and people coming by to pick up, the organization was able to distribute all 50 bags they assembled to give away the first week of the Grab & Go Groceries program on February 4.

Under the Beautification category, grant recipients were Malibu Orchid Society, Pacific Palisades Garden Club and Village Green.

Rounding out the Community & Charitable Groups category were Better Angels, Meals on Wheels West, Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness, griefHaven and Westside Family Health Center.

GriefHaven, which was founded by Palisadian Susan Whitmore to provide “loving guidance and grief support to all who are grieving,” will use its grant to allow the nonprofit to continue providing “those in need its loving, unique and effective grief and trauma support.”

“Due to COVID, hundreds of thousands of people have died, and, for those left behind, their grief journeys are just beginning,” Whitmore shared. “In addition, there is the intense trauma healthcare providers are still experiencing. These funds will supply grief support to those and many others in need … no one is ever turned away due to lack of funds, so thanks PPWC.”

This year’s Arts & Recreation recipients included Palisades Americanism Parade Association, Pacific Palisades Art Association, Western Los Angeles County Council Boy Scouts of America #51, Los Angeles Youth Orchestra and YLC Ballet.

Two Pali High students received a scholarship from PPWC: Hailey Jo Heirigs, heading to UCSD, and Selene Lam, who will attend UCLA.

“Every one of the women that was presented to us for selection of a $500 scholarship each was above our expectations,” PPWC President Kathy Later shared. “Pali High should be so proud, and we are proud to help them on their way to further their educations.”

Though the clubhouse remained closed to in-person meetings during the pandemic, PPWC was able to meet via Zoom under the leadership of Later and Vice President Jennifer Jones, including hybrid in-person and virtual events.