How the Lexington Women’s Club has supported the community for over 75 years

Editor’s Note: As Lexington celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Herald-Leader and kentucky.com each day throughout 2025 will share interesting facts about our hometown. Compiled by Liz Carey, all are notable moments in the city’s history — some funny, some sad, others heartbreaking or celebratory, and some just downright strange.

For more than 75 years the Lexington Women’s Club has worked to make the city a better place to live.

On March 12, 1948, a group of young women met at the home of Mrs. H.T. Greathouse to organize the Lexington Younger Women’s Club. Within a month, the group was given a charter with the Kentucky Federation of Women’s Clubs, and each of the original 20 charter members was allowed to extend membership to one friend.

With 40 members, the group set to work in 1948 and 1949. The club officially became known as the Lexington Women’s Club in 1950.

The club’s goal since its inception has been to “promote social, educational and cultural growth,” and it has done that through its improvement projects.

Starting in 1948, the club organized a clothing bank at the Ashland School, and helped dress 175 school children the first year. Since then, the project has grown, and the Clothing Center has moved downtown, helping to clothe more than 70,000 children, the organization said.

The organization also sponsors scholarships for nontraditional female undergraduate students at a Kentucky public university, and for a high school senior from Fayette County who has exemplified community service through their volunteer work.

Its signature event, Bids for Kids, is its biggest fundraising event and features a luncheon, a fashion show, a bake sale, vendor tables and lots of shopping live and silent auctions of items donated by local businesses. Funds raised from the event go toward the Clothing Center, scholarships and other projects.

Have a question or story idea related to Lexington’s 250-year history? Let us know at 250LexKy@gmail.com.