from the Women's City Club
The Women's City Club of Pasadena is looking for nominees for the Gloria Gartz Award. Past honorees include internationally-known executive coach, best-selling author and keynote speaker Dr. Lois Frankel, and last year’s recipient, Christina Regalado, Vice President of Programs with the California Wellness Foundation.
Nominees should be women living locally who have demonstrated innovation, are visionary, generous, have a nurturing spirit, have shown respect for diversity, empower women and the community, and have noteworthy achievements. It is simple to nominate. Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N7XRG8Z Nominees may be contacted as the selection committee may request a resume or C.V. All nominations must be in by June 6, 2013. A winner will be selected by June 15. The Gloria Gartz Award Dinner will be held on July 27, 2013.
Who was Gloria Gartz? She was a visionary woman who founded the Women’s City Club of Pasadena 68 years ago. Ms. Gartz, in a time when there was no internet, no email, and no texting, was able to bring together hundreds of women to create a place for women to support each other in their personal, community, businesses, civic, and charitable efforts. Gloria Gartz proved herself to be a catalyst of community contributions in Southern California, in particular in the Pasadena community. Ms. Gartz, was an Altadena native, daughter to A.F. Gartz, a plumbing magnate from Chicago, and Kate Crane-Gartz, a Chicago steel heiress. Ms. Gartz was a strong supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Planned Parenthood, and Huntington Library. She assisted Dr. Andrus by providing funding for the founding of Grey Gables of Ojai which later led Dr. Andrus to found AARP.
Why is the WCC so important to women and the community at large? Gloria Gartz, by creating the WCC, facilitated women to mold the community we live in now. The club has been home to numerous non-profit organizations such as the League of Women Voters, one of the earliest non-profit members of the club in 1945. On the 93rd anniversary of Women’s Suffrage, it continues to be a member today. The home has also been instrumental for other non-profits, such as the American Association of University Women, Civitan, Zonta, First District PTA, Women's Civic League of Pasadena, and the council of Women's Clubs to change history and better the lives of our community members. The club and its home, the historic Blinn House, are now an integral part of Pasadena’s history.
