The History of Brentwood Franklin Woman’s Service Club
A handful of women created the club in 1972 and held a tupperware party for their first fundraiser in November, 1973. The club became a chartered member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) in March, 1974, with about 40 members at that time.
Today there are over 60 women across Brentwood and Franklin who are helping the community through philanthropy and service across a myriad of organizations and interest groups.
Our Accomplishments
Service and Philanthropy have been the primary goals of BFWSC.
Club members partnered with the city of Brentwood to build the first public playground.
They refurbished an old house for Brentwood’s first library, were instrumental in establishing the first library in Leiper’s Fork and in creating Brentwood’s 2nd library on Maryland Way, and held their meetings at the John P. Holt Brentwood Library until 2016 when they moved their meetings to the Williamson County Library.
The club has raised money for annual educational scholarships for graduating female high school seniors, domestic violence survivors, and an Appalachian mountain project’s recipients over the years. In 2014, the club created an endowment with Columbia State Community College to fund scholarships, in perpetuity, for female Williamson County residents of all ages.
We Contributed to Friends of Radnor to help expand Radnor Lake State Park
Our efforts have raised funds to support our Celebration of Youth Reception, recognizing winners of local GFWC poetry and short story writing contests.
We have created a butterfly garden named “Catherine’s Garden” developed in collaboration with the Brentwood Garden Club on the grounds of the Owens’ Chapel. We have helped fund the historical preservation of the “Old, Old Jail” in Franklin. We contributed to Friends of Radnor Lake in a targeted effort to preserve, expand, and protect Radnor Lake.
We support children’s advocacy programs such as CASA and The Davis House; providing foods for school children’s fuel bags prepared and distributed by GraceWorks.
We have been honored to support Operation Smile by covering the costs of surgeries and supplying hospital gowns, arm bands, smile dolls, and smile bags. We provide support for our Veterans and supplied a convenience trailer used by the Fire Chaplains Association and TEMA.
We supply “Joey’s Pouch” at Williamson Medical Center for indigent new mothers and we knit homemade hats for premies, toddlers, and oncology patients at Williamson County Children’s Hospital and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.
The club’s longest running project is serving the residents of Grace Healthcare in Franklin with a monthly BINGO party, complete with prizes for every participant. This one gift of service enriches the club members who participate with a joy beyond belief.
