Our History

The Riverside Junior Woman's Charity (RJWC) has a rich history dating back to the 1930s. In 1937, Lorraine Bender, of Riverside, turned the concept of a young woman's club into a reality. She and 35 other Riverside women met at Miss Bender's home and formed the Riverside Junior Woman's Club. 

86 years later, RJWC is still a vital part of the Riverside community. In 2009, the organization successfully worked to modify its' status to a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. As a legally recognized charity, our members continue to improve the quality of life in Riverside and the surrounding areas by identifying the needs of its' residents, promoting those needs, and encouraging charitable support within the community to meet those needs. 

With a focus on friendship and service, members remain loyal to the charity. RJWC currently has over 45 active members, over 30 associate members (five - nine years of service), and more than 15 honorary members (ten or more years of distinguished service).

To read a complete history of our organization, click below:

We thank the generations of women who have sustained this organization through their dedication and leadership.  

We especially owe sincere gratitude to over 80 years of RJWC Presidents:

  • 1937 Lorraine Bender Eicher

  • 1937-1938 Betty Russell Hobbes

  • 1938-1939 Ruth Kain

  • 1939-1941 Margaret Boudrye Jones

  • 1940-1943 Mary Jane Toskey Krieger

  • 1943-1944 Jean Knox Gilbertson

  • 1944-1945 Mildred Mancl Crandall

  • 1945-1946 Marijane Toskey Krieger

  • 1946-1947 Frances Magisano Woolridge

  • 1947-1948 Gloria Soukup Perkins

  • 1948-1949 Catherine Foskett

  • 1949-1950 Bernetta Skinner Brickwell

  • 1950-1951 Florence Wilson Henderson

  • 1951-1952 Glenna McKillip Linder

  • 1952-1953 Betty Goskett Keable

  • 1953-1954 Vivian Voss Hovey

  • 1954-1955 Judy Carey Chlumsky

  • 1955-1956 Barbara Kurtz Crouch

  • 1956-1957 Jeanne Heidler

  • 1957-1958 Barbara Moravec Kubik

  • 1958-1959 Marion Agonath Zack

  • 1959-1960 Joyce Gibson Cihla

  • 1960-1961 Pat Keogh Grace

  • 1961-1962 Rosemarie Carr Baloun

  • 1962-1963 Jane Stitt Cieply

  • 1963-1964 Joan Hamilton Ahlgrim

  • 1964-1965 Jacqueline Jones Howard

  • 1965-1966 Yvonne Dostal Lindahl

  • 1966-1967 Valerie Zalas Kosin

  • 1967-1968 Mary Rogers Harrington

  • 1968-1969 Dee Olds Cumberland

  • 1969-1970 Jan Schmerse Derdall

  • 1970-1971 Jane Marshall Mansager

  • 1971-1972 Paula Schulz Tremmel

  • 1972-1973 Bernadette Trysna DiTelia

  • 1973-1974 Marge Mulhern Branecki

  • 1974-1975 JoAnne Glimco Kosey

  • 1975-1976 Elise Schirmer George

  • 1976-1977 Christine Bapst Leuck

  • 1977-1978 Vivian Howard Kavlock

  • 1978-1979 Phyllis Dorociak Melichar

  • 1979-1980 Cheryl Lunn Plaza

  • 1980-1981 Nancy Marek Solomon

  • 1981-1982 Linda Mieszczak Nutting

  • 1982-1983 Thea Ostrowski Marhoul

  • 1983-1984 Dawn Leoni Ostrowski

  • 1984-1985 Laura Johnson Sechen

  • 1985-1986 Sue Sellers MacDonald

  • 1986-1987 Diane Stahl Harris

  • 1987-1988 Catherine Salvino Maciejewski

  • 1988-1989 Patricia Berberet Sabia

  • 1989-1990 Linda Finnegan Larmon

  • 1990-1991 Diane Favaro Powers

  • 1991-1992 Lauren Diegel Vacek

  • 1992-1993 Lani Weidlich Anderson

  • 1993-1994 Nancy Todhunter Hejna

  • 1994-1995 Candice Forte Grace

  • 1995-1996 Ann Bregehorn Mega

  • 1996-1997 Dodi Davidson-Krug

  • 1997-1998 Michelle Leone Hejna

  • 1998-1999 Ina IIczuk Wilhelm

  • 1999-2000 Sarah Liddell Thompson

  • 2000-2001 Jennifer Newman White

  • 2001-2002 Luann Raasch Stirek

  • 2002-2003 Jean Gibson

  • 2003-2004 Terri McKinsey

  • 2004-2005 Sheila Flanagan Gentile

  • 2005-2006 Kelly Bartz Navarro

  • 2006-2007 Cynthia Belletini Vitek

  • 2007-2008 Jennifer Croxall Pacourek

  • 2008-2009 Jo Ann Armich Zaper

  • 2009-2010 Lisa Kurtzon Hennelly

  • 2010-2011 Alicia Kelly Shereck

  • 2011-2012 Sandy Suris Briolat

  • 2012-2013 Meaghan Mahony Mathews

  • 2013-2014 Alyson Scanlon

  • 2014-2015 Charlie Opila Zia

  • 2015-2016 Alyson Scanlon

  • 2016-2017 Elizabeth Brodhay Kos

  • 2017- 2018 Susan Zidlicky

  • 2018-2019 Jill Mateo

  • 2019-2020 Ashley Prosser

  • 2020-2021 Kelly Rehmer

  • 2021-2022 Sarah Magner

  • 2022-2023 Ellen Casey