Longevity & Lasting Impact Through Giving: Santa Monic Philamathean Charity Club, Inc.

I attended a scholarship luncheon today for my 'sister-cousin' who won a $2,000 award. The luncheon was put on by a group who claims to be the oldest black woman's charity club in California. The group, The Philamathean Charity Club, Inc. was started in 1941 and today they gave away nearly $60,000 in scholarships to college students from the Los Angeles area. I was deeply impressed by this. One of it's members who is now 82 was the school lunch lady at my elementary school. She was at the luncheon and remembers when my Dad was in knickers! Other members include a "once-removed" cousin (80 years old) and a childhood friend's mother( who says she's been in the club for 41 years.) Nineteen active members are listed in on the roster.

I thought about how this small group of women has been making a lasting impact on the future by encouraging students to stay in school for decades! I wondered, how do they do this? They don't hold fundraisers or sell raffle tickets, or chicken dinners. Then it dawned on me, this is a group of givers who understand the impact they can make when they give and pool their resources together. I would not classify them as a group of wealthy people, but I would classify them as 'women of resources' who put their resources where their values lie. I am so grateful for the legacy that they are expanding and the example they have set for me...

I appreciate their longevity --as a club and as women. They were dressed up, looking good, speaking well and enjoying the day. I did too!

This is a lesson in black philanthropy that I won't soon forget. I have attended plenty of scholarship luncheons (and chaired one too,) where it was a struggle to give away $15,000! Today's luncheon listed no 'corporate' sponsors nor foundation grants. The scholarships were the result of this group and the generosity, forward thinking and stewardship of it's active member participants. Wow!

I know that it is not easy to do this in a club of women. I am certain that internally the group has struggles, but the results are beautiful and most certainly must outweigh the small hurdles they must overcome to give away these scholarships.

I know their are other clubs in the black community that give, I am just struck by this piece of tradition that is planted in my own backyard. I am struck that my view of the work of the Philamathean Charity Club, Inc. reassures me that all around me people are standing together and working together to accomplish meaningful things. Some people are even willing to get personal with it and give from their own pockets. I don't know what the club's mission is or if they have ever been recognized for their work. Today I want to honor what they are doing and post about it to share with others and pitch that we are really designed to make an impact on this world that is greater than the sum of our individual credentials, goals and possessions... and that with longevity we can do great things.

Just a few thoughts from a metropolitan mom on the move mostly reminding herself to press on toward the higher calling......