Rhode Island’s GFWC Wants to Be on Your Radar

"It’s the best kept secret in Rhode Island,” says Alexandra Hahn. She’s talking about the General Federation of Women’s Club (GFWC), of which she’s the state president, and she’s on a mission to change that adage to, “the best-known volunteer organization in Rhode Island.” The GFWC is a federation of approximately 2,300 women’s clubs in the US, founded in the late 1890s, whose members work tirelessly to enrich the lives of others through volunteer service.

The GFWC of Rhode Island is made up of an alumni club and five area clubs: GFWC Bristol County’s Women’s Club (established in 1952 as the GFWC Barrington Junior Women’s Club, expanded and renamed for broader reach in 2000), GFWC Cranston Community Women’s Club, GFWC Warwick Women’s Club, GFWC Wampanoag Women’s Club, and GFWC Women’s Club of South County, the largest of all. Nancy DeNuccio, president of the South County chapter, offers that because of their numbers, “We get to do what we do. Not just for South County, but the rest of the state, too.”

Devoted members commit their time to collecting and donating food and clothing for food banks and pantries, serving soup to workers at the plants and fisheries in Galilee for the Soup for the Docks program, cleaning up trash, reading to children, raising funds and awarding grants for nonprofit organizations, sending Valentines to veterans, and more, across the state.

A leading fundraiser for GFWC Women’s Club of South County is the Annual Book & Author Luncheon, which celebrated its 24th anniversary during summer. The event takes place at the historic Dunes Club in Narragansett, where approximately 300 guests enjoyed an afternoon listening to three award-winning authors speak about their latest works. All proceeds go towards providing educational scholarships for women in need, as well as grants to local nonprofit organizations supporting worthy causes such as homelessness, food insecurity, domestic violence, mental health, and more. Since its launch, the event has proved to be a fantastic aid to the community. “People love it,” says DeNuccio. “The tickets always sell out in just a few hours, and it’s all thanks to our generous sponsors, the businesses and individuals who donate raffle prizes, and all our volunteers for their countless hours and dedication.”

So what’s next on Hahn’s agenda? In March 2025, the GFWCRI will be building their very own scavenger hunt to spread awareness. While the project is still in its early planning stages, Hahn shares the premise: “We’ll have our emblem up in 20 different female-owned businesses throughout the state. If you find one, take a selfie with it and upload it to our website. If you find all 20 emblems, you’ll win the grand prize!”

Spoken in true volunteer spirit, Hahn states why she feels it’s crucial to get the GFWC’s name out there as much as possible. “We’re not doing this for money; we’re doing this so we can keep making Rhode Island a better place every day and keep bringing so many wonderful women together. The sense of purpose and reward is unparalleled.”

DeNuccio echoes Hahn’s words. “In this organization, you can do a little or you can do a lot. Either way, you’re helping, and that’s what truly matters most.” Learn more at GFWCRI.org