Education & Libraries

WCV’s 100+ year history is interwoven with the Vista Library, and these projects are very special to our group.

Bubbles and Books

Bubbles and Books started in early 2025 when one of our officers read about another GFWC club that left books in laundromats for customers to take. WCV is now in three Vista laundromats, where a shelf full of Spanish and English children’s books was installed in each one. The books are free for the taking and members replenish the shelves on a regular basis.

Scholarships

Vista senior high school students are eligible to be awarded scholarships funded by WCV. In 2025, WCV awarded 17 scholarships worth $16,000 to students going to 4-year and 2-year colleges and trade schools. A generous $5,000 donation from a local foundation allowed us to reach more students than ever before.

Book Club

WCV holds a monthly book club at a popular Mexican restaurant on third Wednesdays. The books are selected by a rotation of members organized by the Book Club Section Chairman. There is always lively discussion at this event. In December, the section holds a brown paper book swap.

Raffle

At each general meeting, WCV raffles off a basket of goodies to raise money for scholarships.

Hugh O’Brien Youth (HOBY) Leadership

This program, which was founded in 1958, brings high school sophomores together for three days in the summer for impactful seminars – to inspire
and develop a global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation. This year, we sponsored a student who will attend the HOBY seminar. At the seminar, students develop plans for participating in their community to accomplish a significant goal or self-directed program. They implement their plans when they return to their schools and communities. Earlier this year, last year’s participant presented a talk on what it meant for her.

Classroom Volunteers

Members help local schools and literacy centers with reading, math, art, music, and science. One member of our club devotes every Monday to volunteering in her granddaughters’ classes at their elementary school working with a group for reading, or math, or even art projects. Another member at a different school volunteers in her children’s classes and helps with their fundraisers. A third member of our club works at a local neighborhood school – every week she helps a boy from Ukraine improve his reading, writing and speaking. And a fourth member spends 5 hours a week at a literacy center leading ESL lessons for an adult learner.

Donation Day 2025

Bella Mente Academies received money from WCV during Donation Day 2025.