PWC Foundation

PWC's Foundation Logo

Petaluma Woman’s Club Foundation, Inc.

 
A 501(c)3 California Non-profit Public Benefit Corporation provides funding for the Petaluma Woman’s Club (PWC) to support charitable programs.  The Foundation’s objectives are to:

    • Support education by awarding scholarships to local students
    • Promote community service programs by providing funding for charitable activities, improvements and outreach on a local level

PWC Foundation Annual Report

Crop of PWC Foundation Annual Report cover page to use as a pic for the link to the PWCF Annual Report

Support High School Scholarships

2024 Scholarship Winners - 5 high school seniors

Each spring the Petaluma Woman’s Club, through the Petaluma Woman’s Club Foundation, Inc. raises funds to award $1,000 scholarships to select outstanding individuals from Petaluma who are graduating from Petaluma high schools – including public, private, and continuation high schools.

The Scholarship Committee uses a rubric that rates the candidates objectively on their desire to give back or make a contribution to the community, country, and/or world.  They are also evaluated on their track record of community involvement, their need, and their career goals.

These scholarships make such a difference helping these students realize their dreams.  Help us make their dreams come true!  Donate now.

“Some students won’t make it to graduation, not for lack of good grades or hard work, but because of the high costs of higher education. Many of our students are unable to afford healthy meals and stable housing, let alone the textbooks and technology needed to complete their classes.  You can help students realize their graduation.”  – Teresa Norton from Santa Rosa Junior College sharing how PWC Scholarships help.

Support PWCF Civic Engagement

Petaluma turning basin

When Ida McNear founded the Petaluma Woman’s Club in 1896 she set this as our creed:

We desire to do all in our power to make Petaluma an ideal town, that will be known as a town of good citizenship.

In the effort for clean streets, good water, pure food and better sanitation,
we will constantly be on the alert to aid our street and city officials.

In the spirit of the founding mothers, the Petaluma Woman’s Club Foundation (PWCF) is active in aiding the City of Petaluma in safety and beautification projects, implementing our own PWCF community projects, and offering assistance to community organizations..  Join us in making Petaluma clean, safe beautiful, and neighborly.

The Petaluma Woman’s Club Foundation’s objectives are two-fold.

1.  Donated funds will be designated for safety and beautification projects in our historical downtown area where our clubhouse is located.  We are currently advocating for the rehabilitation of the decaying railroad trestle along the river in downtown Petaluma.

2.  Donated funds will offer assistance to community organizations.  We are currently supporting the Petaluma Wildlife and Natural Science Museum at Petaluma High School, Friends of the Petaluma River, The Living Room and United Anglers of Casa Grande.


Petaluma Woman’s Club Foundation, Inc.
Board of Directors

PWCF Board President

Colleen Mahoney
Colleen Mahoney

Colleen Mahoney – PWCF Board President

Colleen Mahoney is a fourth generation Petaluman.  While focused on a career as an architect, Colleen has served on many boards of directors over the years including the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Petaluma Board of Building Review and the Petaluma Woman’s Club (PWC).   The PWC is near and dear to her heart as her grandmother Pearl Mahoney, mother Connie Mahoney and sister Kerry Mahoney Davison have each been active members.  For generations the Mahoney family have been dedicated to community service with a focus on children, education and local agriculture.  When not serving to support local causes in the community, Colleen can be found working as a steward of the family ranch.

PWCF Board Vice President

Cheryl Coldiron
Cheryl Coldiron

Cheryl Coldiron – PWCF Board Vice President

Cheryl Coldiron is a Petaluma native and fourth generation PWC member (her great-grandmother Ritha Elzi, her grandmother Lillian Ramatici, and her mother Ethel Matteri were all members along with her sisters).  She has served as Secretary, Liaison, Vice-President, and President.  Although she holds an MBA (previously she was an executive in the software industry), her current career is a public-school teacher.  She is an appointed member of the Petaluma Public Art Committee; served on the Budget Committee for SVUSD; is the co-Chair of Creative Bridges; and is on the Board of the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation.  In her spare time, she loves to garden, walk her dog, paint, go to the coast, and be with her family.

PWCF Board Chief Financial Officer

Susan Walters PWCF Board Treasurer
Susan Walters

Susan Walters – PWCF Chief Financial Officer

Susan Walters, Chief Financial Officer of the Petaluma Woman’s Club Foundation, Inc., has been a member of the Petaluma Woman’s Club for ten years. She has previously served on the PWC Board of Directors as Treasurer and Internal Auditor. Susan holds a master’s in business administration with an emphasis in financial accounting. Her career has been in the financial services industry in regulatory reporting and regulatory compliance. She currently is self employed and provides consulting services to a broad range of financial institutions concerning anti-money laundering compliance. In addition, she provides forensic accounting services to support expert witness testimony in financial investigations and litigation.

PWCF Board Secretary

Nancy Fraser
Nancy Fraser

Nancy Fraser – PWCF Board Secretary

Nancy Fraser, Director and Secretary of the Petaluma Woman’s Club Foundation, Inc., has been a member of the Petaluma Woman’s Club  (PWC) since 2017.    She has previously served on the PWC Board of Directors for two terms as Co-Chair of House and Grounds and one term as  Internal Auditor.  Nancy retired as a Vice President and Assistant Corporate Secretary of a publicly traded company where she attended board and committee meetings, recorded the minutes and handled many corporate governance compliance matters.  She managed the relationship with the NYSE, handled all shareholder matters including those related to proxy season.  She further created and managed over 40 domestic and international subsidiaries.    She also sat on several Advisory Boards of publicly traded companies.


PWC Foundation 501(c)3 Documentation