THE WOMAN'S CLUB OF ALBANY

      United in Service to Our Community Since 1910





~Modern comfort for timeless beauty~



#GivingTuesday 2024

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This year donations will go toward air conditioning for the house!

After extensive research, we have a plan to install air conditioning in our building, respecting the historic nature of the house interior and exterior. The units will not be seen from the street and will be basically invisible inside. 

All donations are tax-deductible and support our mission of preserving our historic home and supporting and enriching the lives of women and children in the Capital Region and beyond.



Do we

really

need it?

Yes, here's why: 

  • Historic preservation: Furnishings, plaster walls and ceilings, wood floors and ceilings, built-ins and woodwork have already experienced damage from alternate swelling and contracting due to extremes heat and humidity alternating with dryer, cooler temperatures. We need to control the climate in the house to halt and protect against further damage.
  • Reduced building access: Use of our center for members and the community is significantly curtailed in the summer months due to extreme heat.
  • Loss of rental income: Each year, we lose an estimated $3,000-$5,000 in income when potential renters select another venue due to our lack of air conditioning. 
  • Negative impact on fundraising activities: We do not schedule summer fundraising events at the WCA, and the September garage sale is sometimes unbearably hot for volunteers and shoppers. 
  • Global warming: The anticipated increase in average temperatures in Albany is truly alarming.*  
  • For the safety and comfort of our members and guests.

What has

been done

so far?

Over a year of preparation including: 
  • Designated A/C fund with $1,800 in donations. 
  • Site visits to local historical buildings with A/C to see how they did it. 
  • WCA building assessment to determine feasibility.**
  • Proposal to the Board, Building and Development Committees outlining a multifaceted strategy for our large, historic home.
  • Grant application to NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, matching funds required.


What 

happens 

next?

Here's what we know so far:
  • Donations: Your Giving Tuesday 2024 gift is restricted to the A/C fund.
  • Grant application: We expect news in late December.
  • Additional funding: Led by the Development Committee, we will continue to seek other funding sources such as individual and corporate donors and grants. Can you help?
  • Insulation: We are looking to insulate the attic to retain heat in winter and reduce the need for cooling in summer.
  • Matching funds: With generous support from donors like you, we hope to be ready with matching funds if our grant application is approved. 

Full disclosure: The outcome of our grant application will determine the timeline for this ambitious project that may take more than one year. The Board is committed. 

*Giving Tuesday contributions for air conditioning are not restricted to Dec. 3. The webpage and donation button will remain available until January.

*Sobering statistics 

Excerpt from Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan's letter of support for the WCA's grant application. 

"If global emissions stay on their current path, Albany will be 5.4 degrees hotter on average in the 2030s and 8 degrees hotter on average by the 2050s. With a grant enabling them to install air conditioning, the Club and its members will be able to continue to provide their wonderful services to the Albany community year-round for years to come."

**Feasibility study 

Volunteers Dave and Ed Languish, both HVAC specialists, made multiple visits to evaluate the building and determine an appropriate system including calls to a manufacturer about equipment specifications.

Dave and Ed are the nephews of Josie Languish, one of the three remaining WCA members before the club's renaissance in 2004. Read more here. The brothers continue to value this organization and recognize its importance in the life of their beloved aunt. 

Still have questions?

This linked document provides additional information including photos submitted with the grant proposal and estimated costs to illustrate the scope and complexities associated with our large historic building.

Please reflect on the many positive consequences of air conditioning for our building, our community service work, our future income, our members and guests in choosing how to support this initiative. 

Giving Tuesday 2022 WCA: A Pillar of the Community Since 1910


<---BEFORE     and     AFTER --->

Donors contributed over $3,300, seed money that supported a successful grant application for $15,000 from the Bender Family Foundation. Members stepped up with additional gifts to complete painting the windows and the porch ceiling.

Giving Tuesday 2023 East Porch Entrance


<---BEFORE     and     AFTER --->

Thanks to Giving Tuesday 2023 donations of over $5,000 and other WCA funds, restoration of the east porch is nearing completion.  


Giving Tuesday 2024 Air Conditioning


~Modern comfort for timeless beauty~

Will you help our historic building with a gift to the WCA Air Conditioning Fund today? 

No amount is too small or too large. Please support the club at the level that is right for you.

**Grant applications and requests for sponsorships are bolstered by broad membership participation in fundraising campaigns. Together we make an impact.**


There are two ways to donate.

  • Online -- fill out the form below, select "Giving Tuesday" and pay with a card. Current members: if you log in to your account, you won't have to type in your information. 
  • Check -- mail your donation to: WCA, 725 Madison Ave., Albany, NY 12208, or drop it off at the WCA. Please note Giving Tuesday in the memo line. Payment by check helps the club save on credit card fees.

Giving Tuesday contributions for air conditioning are not restricted to Dec. 3. The webpage and donation button will remain available until January.

Please contact womansclubofalbany725@gmail.com with any questions. The Woman's Club of Albany is a 501(c)3 organization.

Thank you!

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The Woman's Club of Albany

725 Madison Avenue • Albany • New York • 12208

518-465-3626


womansclubofalbany725@gmail.com

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