Our History

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In 1970, forty-five women met to form a social group known as the Women’s Civic Club of Coconut Creek. From the first year the Club made a determined effort to provide benefits to the community. Over time, the name changed to The Women’s Club of Coconut Creek, and it serves as the oldest civic organization in the city.

 

The Rowe Activity Center

 

The first president, Polly Key, organized the club into conducting the city’s first bake sale and rummage sale to help fund a donation for the building blocks for the hoped-for community center building. The original building was completed in 1973. In 2006 the city dedicated the newly renovated and renamed the Rowe Activity Center. The center is a tribute to Jack Rowe, who served as mayor and councilman of Coconut Creek, and his wife Ethel Rowe, the City’s first recreation professional and one of the founders of the Women’s Club. The Rowe Activity Center is owned and maintained by the city of Coconut Creek; however, the Women’s Club typically uses the facility for its monthly general meetings that take place the second Mondays of the month.

 

Annual Scholarship Award

 

In 1972, under President Hazel Worsham, the club started a scholarship fund that varied from year-to-year on supporting youth or adult residents of Coconut Creek. The first year, the Club awarded Allan Metzger, a city resident, $300 towards his college tuition. The very first adult to receive a scholarship from the Club was Patti Miller in 1992 that enabled her to study for her mortgage broker license. For over five decades, the raised funds enabled the club to present scholarships, and from the point appropriate record keeping of the program began in 1981, we've awarded $340,850 to 466 Coconut Creek residents as of 2024. In 2025, the new director of the program, Margaret Lancaster, hopes to revise this program to meet the demands of a post-pandemic, AI-driven society.

 

Celebrated Events in the Community

 

In 1970, the Club initiated its Festival of Lights South Creek, now known as Light Up Creek event, where we encourage all of Coconut Creek to light up their streets with luminary votive to light Santa’s way on December 24th each year.

 

Another event with a long history is the Santa’s Brunch celebration, which is held the first Saturday of December for early elementary-aged children in the city.

 

In the 1990s, members of the Women’s Club initiated a mentorship program for girls who attended Coconut Creek High School. In 2024, under the leadership of Emily Maher, it has developed into more of a program to cultivate leadership and a sense of belonging within these female youth of Coconut Creek. The program looks to expand to other high schools in the city.

 

In the mid-2000s, Kathy Rubino organized the members in hosting a community garage sale every year; however, after the pandemic, interest petered out. Under the directorship of Cheryl Blair, the garage sale has morphed into a community handy-craft market hosted three times a year by the Club.

 

In Spring of 2022, President Laura McDermott Matheric created the Book a Bunny to Egg your Yard event, where members of the Club hide Easter Eggs in participants’ yards in the early hours of Easter Morning.

 

Every third Monday of the month our Bingo Night at Sonata Coconut Creek Senior Living Facility. Many members of the Club use this as a time to connect with seniors citizen through the game of bingo.

 

General Meetings for the Club are held the second Monday of each month, typically at the Rowe Activity Center. Our Club Season runs September 1- June 30. Please follow our calendar for changes to the meeting schedule.