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The GFWC Coco Plum Woman’s Club Inc. held its third annual jazz concert, “A Night of Jazz,” on Oct. 17.
Club members Betty Quinn and Sally Russomano were co-chairs of the event, assisted by committee members Sue Nichols, Annie Goodrich-Sorgie, Kristen Quinn, Kim Schain and Joyce Windhorset.
The event was a fundraiser for PATCHES, PPEC, a pediatric facility for children with highly complex medical needs, a very necessary medical facility located in the community.
Wayne Gutshall, famed local saxophone player and composer, with three accompanists — Jackson Bunn, Dorian Rayes and Vivian Ortega, jazz vocalist — brought those in attendance to their feet several times during the evening.
The event raised $4,360 for PATCHES PPEC and $1,030 for the preservation of the 100-year-old Coco Plum clubhouse. During the past three years GFWC Coco Plum has raised $21,000 for PATCHES PPEC and $6,200 for the preservation of the historic clubhouse.
In February 1912, eight pioneer women founded the Coco Plum Thimble Cub, known today as the GFWC Coco Plum Woman’s Club Inc. Two years later the 43 members bought five acres in Larkins, now South Miami, and had the men of the community build a simple frame clubhouse. It became the community center of Larkins and had one shelf for its library and one book, Pollyanna. The library operated until 1959 with 16,000 volumes. The club’s Book Wagon in 1948 was the first traveling library in the state of Florida. The Mediterranean Revival clubhouse was bult in 1926 thanks to the sale of four acres of its land and is currently listed in the National Register of Historical Places.
Throughout the years, the club has focused on children’s causes such as PATCHS PPEC, for which it has raised money for the past three years. Over the years, the club has raised funds for other worthy considerations such as civil defense, Red Cross, war and veterans’ causes, and many other community activities.
The clubhouse housed a kindergarten for 26 years, a bimonthly clinic for preschool children, cotillion, and the Girl and Boy Scout meetings, just to mention a few. Current projects include an Arts and Crafts Committee competition each year in February, with blue ribbon entries going on to district level competition. Entries receiving blue ribbons at the district level then move to the GFWC Florida state competition level.
Other Coco Plum Woman’s Club projects include the Environment Committee’s Plastics Initiatives to collect and recycle plastics, as well as project to support the preservation of the newly discovered coral reef just off of Miami Beach. Civic Engagement and Outreach Committee projects include honoring our veterans, and veteran mothers, by participation in Wreaths Across America at Christmas time to honor those who served in the Armed Forces.
Also, this Committee organizes the distribution of Thanksgiving baskets for the needy in South Miami.
Health and Wellness Committee projects include club efforts like raising funds to support PATCHES, raising funds to support FIU homeless students and the FIU food bank. The Education and Libraries Committee projects include raising funds for three scholarships each year, two for migrant students and one for a Coral Gables student.
GFWC Coco Plum Woman’s Club Inc. is open for those who want to give their time and effort to make positive contributions to the community while enjoying the fellowship of its members.
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