By Tiffany Merlo Phelps
mail@floridanewsline.com
The Ponte Vedra Woman’s Club (PVWC) began in 1970 with 15 local members who united for a charitable cause. They simply wanted to give back.
Today there are 136 members, but the sentiment remains the same.

“We want to help small and local charities to ensure that the donation will make an impact,” said PVWC President Anne Urban.
Oftentimes, the charity will outgrow PVWC (a two-year commitment is made to each charity selected), and that is just the way club members like it.
Back in 1970, members selected Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) in St. Augustine as the focus. Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind is now a “legacy charity” and will always be supported. In addition to FSDB, the PVWC also selects four other organizations every two years to support through an application, screening and voting process.
Ponte Vedra Woman’s Club members come from all over the greater Jacksonville area, including both St. Johns and Duval counties. Selected charities also originate from both counties. The selected charities from June 2022 – May 2024 were Betty Griffin Center, BEAM, Hugs Across the County, Port in the Storm and FSDB. Last year’s charities received $10,000 each.
Other charities that PVWC has supported in the past include Mission House, St. Augustine Youth Services, Gabriel House of Care, Rethreaded, Beaches Habitat for Humanity, Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach, Haiti Relief Fund, St. Francis House, St. Gerard Campus, Youth Crisis Center, and Expanding Your Horizons.
Urban said the club is both social and philanthropic in nature. Luncheons with informational speakers are held in addition to “Purely Social” events, which are planned on off nights to give restaurants business during slower times.
“It is the best way to meet people with common interests, and everyone has a servant heart,” said Urban, who lived for 30 years in Ponte Vedra Beach and now lives in Fruit Cove. She has been a member since the 1990s and works in the hospitality industry, owning three different companies. She became president of PVWC in 2023 (it is also a two-year term), noting that PVWC is currently at an all-time high for fundraising, membership, and attendance. Urban would like to reach 150 members before the end of the fiscal year.
Urban said members are diverse in age, race, financial background, and career paths. Most of all, everyone is welcome. Most members live in Ponte Vedra Beach, Nocatee and the beaches area. As for the charities, Urban said members are especially passionate about any organizations that assist victims of domestic violence.
“We like to help women and children start a new life without having to worry about the basic necessities,” she said. “We are very passionate about charities that involve helping children.”
Vice President of Charities Melissa Ford said PVWC looks for charities that provide services in the areas of food, shelter, education, and well-being. Each year, up to three scholarships are also awarded to local high school graduates based on academic achievement, financial need, and volunteer/extracurricular activities, she said.
The Ponte Vedra Woman’s Club will host a “Dine for a Cause” event June 17 – 23 for the first time, an event that the organization hopes to make a twice a year fundraiser according to Parker Alter, the club’s vice president of ways and means. Different restaurants will be featured each day with a fixed menu, giving chefs a chance to get creative and to showcase what they choose, Alter said. A percentage of the sales will go back to PVWC to support local charities. The event is open to the public, and reservations should be made through the individual restaurant.
Alter, who is a Realtor, joined PVWC two years ago and said the PVWC feels like a second home.
“This is a group with a great sense of community and a strong desire to give back to the community,” she said. “We also love to be social.”
Ford, who is retired, agreed.
“Although we have very different viewpoints, we share a passion for giving back to our community and helping others,” said Ford, who moved to Ponte Vedra Beach from New York City three years ago.
[Author’s note: For more information about becoming a member ($50 annually), to be a beneficiary, or to make a donation, visit pontevedrawomansclub.com.]
Photo courtesy Anne Urban
The Ponte Vedra Woman’s Club hosted a Masquerade Ball in February as a fundraiser for their mission of raising money for local charities.