Fundraising

My AWC Denmark life by Dorte Brandenhoff

In 1980 I attended my first AWC gathering, a wine & cheese evening, as a guest: an interesting evening meeting so many wonderful women, American as well as Danish.
Edith Beyer was signing up volunteers for the coming Bazaar.  I was accepted into the Club and signed up to work at the Tombola chaired by Inga Knud- Larsen.

I got actively involved in fundraising right away. First in the Cookbook committee, submitting Danish information and translations to anything cooking relating, several old family recipes, and hosting the fundraising luncheon serving several of the dishes from the cookbook, AWC published in 1982.

Next, I was asked to Chair the 1983 Bazaar. A bit like being throw into the open sea with no life vest. I learned a lot, enjoyed even more and formed lifelong friendships. And – may I add – the Bazaar was a success.

1984 was the Club’s 50th anniversary and I was asked to join the committee, planning the celebration to be hosted at Rydhave by the Ambassador’s wife. At this time, it was not uncommon for special fundraising events as well as AWC Award ceremonies to be hosted in the Ambassador’s residence.

Afterwards, I became a Board member, serving on the Award committees for 21 years, 13 of them as the Chair for the Philanthropy Committee. AWC celebrated its 60th birthday (1994) by awarding DKK 60,000 from the Philanthropy Fund.

Over the years I have attended several FAWCO conferences, both interim and national, the last one in 2000 in Washington DC. In 2005 I moved to San Francisco but have kept my membership and interest in AWC current.

AWC fundraising success

The very first Philanthropy Award was presented in 1939: DKK 50.00 to Kofoeds Skole, which was awarded again in 1994. From 1980 till 1999, DKK 638,950 was awarded through the Philanthropy Fund: 73 awards to 57 different organizations. In addition, Scholarship Awards and Cultural Awards were given, so we are bound to have exceeded DKK 1 million during the last 20 years of the decade.
Would it not be interesting to know the full amount over the 90 years AWC has been around?

AWC charitable work in May

As always, AWC celebrated our 90th birthday by giving to those who need help.
On 18 May, Claude Lawson and Mary Stewart Burgher delivered three large bags of kitchen equipment and one large box of clothes that AWC donated to the cost-free "shop" for refugees run by Bixen på Ottilliavej in Valby. The donations – mostly from Amber Milland - were very gratefully received.

Thanks to Claude and Amber for helping us fulfil the third part of our motto: "fun, friendship and philanthropy"!

Bixen volunteers were so grateful to receive the donations and the customers were so eager to enter the “shop” that we didn’t get any photos.

On 25 May, AWC’s Amy Faircloth organized the pick-up of more books for schoolchildren in Ghana – three bags and one box of novels, reference books and games and craft books in English – from the home of Mary Stewart Burgher by helpful staff from the Ghanaian Embassy in Copenhagen. Amy also picked up some used technology: an old mobile phone and charger, etc. Her NGO, the Talent Tree, uses the items either directly or for spare parts in Ghana.

Anyone with good-quality English books or old tech to give should contact Mary Stewart Burgher (emessbe@yahoo.com) to arrange donation. You clear unused or superseded items out of your home and Ghanaians put them to use – everyone wins.

AWC charity work in 2022–2023

AWC has quietly done a lot to fulfil the third aim in its motto – “fun, friendship and philanthropy” in the 2022–2023 club year.

1. We collected and delivered 5 carloads of clothes and household goods to Bixen på Ottiliavej, which distributed them to refugees who use their cost-free “shop” in Frederiksberg.
2. We collected and donated a carload of children’s books in English, which were sent to Ghana, and helped the Heart Pillow Project to make almost 2,000 pillows for women in Copenhagen who have had breast surgery.
3. We donated nearly DKK 5,000 to the FAWCO Target Project, Awesome Blossoms, raised through earring sales.
4. We gave DKK 10,000 to Goldschmidt’s Music Academy (the 2023 Philanthropy Award), which provides free music lessons to children in Nørrebro.
5. We provide continuous services and support to the Missionaries of Charity’s soup kitchen for homeless people in Nørrebro.

We hear that, sadly, the number of people going to the soup kitchen each day has nearly doubled. If you can donate toiletries or clothing – particularly gloves, scarves and hats – for these people, bring them to any club event (such as the December cookie packaging) or contact Mary Stewart Burgher (emessbe@yahoo.com) to arrange pick-up.

Thank you, everybody!