The endowment will provide scholarships to currently enrolled McCracken County students who are single mothers, women age 40 or above, or women who provide the sole support for their families. The first scholarship from the new endowment will be awarded for the spring 2014 semester. Representatives of the club recently presented a check to Dr. Barbara Veazey, WKCTC President, to fund the endowment.
“I applaud the Business and Professional Women for identifying some of our most deserving and worthy students,” said Dr. Veazey. “By funding this endowment, the organization is helping area women – and their families – advance.”
Charted in October 1920, the Paducah Business and Professional Women have served the community for more than 90 years. The Paducah club was once the largest Business and Professional Women club in the state with approximately 140 members.
From its early years, the organization supported projects that aided in area business development. The group organized the Merchants Exposition that evolved into the McCracken County Fair. The club also developed an employment bureau to match women with available jobs in Paducah and McCracken County.
In addition to their business interests, the club also supported area families in need. Donations of food, clothing and gifts to needy families, opening club rooms for use to soldiers and sailors during World War II, and the collaboration on a malaria prevention project are just a few of the organization’s earlier contributions.
Today’s club members continue this history of service. Two members of the organization have been named State Young Careerist. Also, members Merryman Kemp and Audrey Lee were named Kentucky Business and Professional Woman of the Year in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
“We are pleased to fund this scholarship endowment to assist students at WKCTC,” said Patricia Moriarty, Paducah Business and Professional Women President. “Our predecessors had the forethought to create an investment portfolio to support the club’s mission and vision. This endowment honors our founding and early members, as well as our current members.”
PJC, Inc. manages the scholarship program for WKCTC and awards more than $350,000 annually to deserving students.