Dana Point Women's Club Inc.
PROGRAMS
Project Foster
Project Foster provides dignity, comfort and hope to kids experiencing chaotic living conditions, poverty and possible abuse or neglect. This underserved population often leave their homes for shelters or foster care with a few random belongings hastily stuffed into a trash bag. Our goal is to give each child the dignity of his or her own suitcase, filled with clothing and hygiene items and heartfelt comfort items curated to their gender and clothing size. Each of our donated rolling suitcases and duffle bag is filled with basic clothing (underwear, socks, shirts, pants, pajamas, a hand knitted hat and a warm hoodie), hygiene essentials, a handmade pillow case, sheet, a hand embroidered throw, school supplies, books/toys, and a handwritten note of encouragement. We work closely with Orange County Social Services, foster and other agencies, schools, shelters and nonprofits to aid vulnerable children referred by social workers, domestic abuse shelters, homeless advocates, counselors and other child welfare workers. With the exception of gently used books, each case and all content items are purchased new. We serve ages 3 to 21 with 24 unique sizes- 12 for each gender. A filled duffle has an estimated retail value of $225 to $250 depending on clothing size. We rely heavily on in-kind donations from churches, businesses, non profits and the general public, plus vital cash donations which allow us to fill “holes” in our inventory. Project Foster has received accolades from social workers, foster parents adults who are former foster kids, and family court judges who see the positive impact on vulnerable kids who need to know they matter.
Project Foster has delivered over 3,200 filled cases to Orange County foster kids since its inception in early 2023. It is now expanding to serve youth in domestic abuse shelters, congregate care, and the most needy McKinney-Vento children referred by school counselors and social workers. Each case has a retail value of $225 to $250 but the “magic” of the program is conveyed by our many comfort items, carefully selected by caring volunteers to suit each child’s age, gender and size - handmade items including quilts, hats and pillow cases and handwritten notes and throws embroidered with notes of encouragement. Our goal is to provide basic necessities, but also comfort and hope to children experiencing poverty, family upheaval and trauma.
Project Scholarship/Project Literacy
DPWC supports education and literacy by providing scholarships to local female high school graduates pursuing higher education in trade schools, colleges or universities. In addition, it holds annual book drives to support literacy and supports summer reading programs for kids and adult literacy programs.
Scholarships to teens recognize academic, athletic and extra-curricular excellence while considering financial need. Annual book drives support local schools and cash donations support programs promoting literacy for children and adults. In FY 25/26, DPWC awarded 5 $2000 scholarships to local graduating females; held a book drive providing in kind donations of books to a local elementary school library, and made a donation in support of adult literacy. Plans for FY 27 include expanding the scholarship program to additional local schools.
Project Angel Tree
Project Angel Tree is a beloved Club tradition where generous DPWC members provide Christmas gifts to all siblings aged 0 to 18 in local vulnerable families provided by social workers at local Title 1 schools. In addition, each family is awarded a grocery gift certificate to make the holidays brighter.
In FY 2026, DPWC made cash and in kind donations of more than $8,500 to needy families on behalf of Project Angel Tree.
Other Projects
DPWC supports other worthy causes including Project Nourish (support of food banks), Handbags for Hearts (donating gently used handbags stuffed with toiletries and essentials to approximately 100 local women annually), Project Military (hosting drives for military families and donating funds to local military support groups), breast cancer research , and other one time causes.
In fiscal 2026, DPWC provided cash and in-kind donations of almost $15,000 to these other projects.
CONTACT
Dana Point Women's Club Inc.
P O Box 205
Dana Point, California 92629
Toni Nelson
Phone: 949-284-6415