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When members of Greensboro's Charity League Woman's Club get together to play bridge, they do it for fellowship and fun, but their No. 1 goal is to raise money for a scholarship given each year to a deserving high school senior at Northwest High School, the chosen school for several years.

In 1959, under the leadership of LaRue Wright, the bridge marathon was first organized as a means of raising money for scholarships for Guilford County students to attend college, according to Charity League's history.

That first year, only $300 was raised for the scholarship fund.

Club members have continued for almost five decades to sponsor a bridge marathon, which now earns $1,000 annually. Through their annual dues, all members contribute to the scholarship fund. Club members have a great interest in promoting educational opportunities for young people.

Also, $100 is given each year to a deserving student from Northwest High School to represent the club at the District 4 scholarship contest.

This opens the door for a student to enter the General Federation of Woman's Clubs of North Carolina's Sallie Southall Cotton scholarship contest. The final winner from the competition of nine represented districts receives $5,500 per year for four years to attend the college of their choice.

The club began on Feb. 15, 1956, when five young women met at the King Cotton Hotel to discuss the possibilities of forming a new club, as they had aged out of the Junior Woman's Club.

On March 16, 1956, this organization was named The Charity League of Greensboro, and the club charter was written by Mrs. Henry Zenke.

With 23 young women signing the charter on March 19, 1956, CLWC became an affiliate of the General Federation of Woman's Clubs.

The original charter specified: "Membership is open to any woman of high ideals and standards of conduct who is willing to assume responsibility in the club's planning and execution of the programs and activities relating to the civic, cultural, education and social life of the commonwealth - to promote the unity of fellowship among women."

Now an honorary member, the only original charter member still with the club is Ruby Duncan.

Marty Dixon, a member since 1969, has served the club as president on three different occasions. She also served as president of District 7 in 1980-82 and served on the state group's board of trustees from 1997 to 2002.

"I have been a strong supporter of the scholarship award program as it opens the door for students needing help in order to follow their dreams of a college education," Dixon said. "When I was district president, the Greensboro Junior Woman's Club gave the first donation to begin a scholarship fund for the district winner."

An avid bridge player, Dixon has taken great interest in the scholarship program with the club. She said Alma Purser, Nancy Carter and Charlotte Decker are among those who have served the club as bridge marathon chairwomen.

Purser and Carter are the backbone of the bridge marathon and will again serve the club in this capacity this coming club year.

Another person who has made many great contributions to the club and currently serves as scholarship/education chairwoman is Wanda Russell, who joined the club in 1997 and became co-president with Frances Johnson in 2000-01. She served as president through 2004.

A retired teacher who taught secretarial science in both the county schools and at GTCC for 24 years, Russell said she joined the club because she thought it would be a good way to meet new people and to participate as a community volunteer.

Russell has served as District 4 vice president and as chairwoman of the district's scholarship committee and Artfest, an arts and crafts contest for the mentally handicapped. This fall she will once again serve as scholarship chairwoman of District

Four.

"I'm not sure how many students have profited from our scholarship program," Russell said, "but since the club was organized, I'm sure over 40 students have benefited."

The club has a long history of making significant contribution to civic and welfare organizations in Greensboro. Each year the club budgets about $1,700 for community projects and charities, such as Urban Ministry, Share the Warmth, Salvation Army, Operation Smile, CARE, Boys and Girls Home, the Sallie Southall Cotton Scholarship Fund and many others.

Members have served at the voting booths for kids during the fall elections and made monetary donations to Clara House for abused women and to the Ben Chavis Library.

For years they regularly donated children's books to the Greensboro Police Department to distribute to deserving children.

The Charity League Woman's Club will start meeting again in September and will meet through May 2009.

The meetings are held at the Cardinal Country Club at noon on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

To nominate a person or organization making a difference in the lives of others in Guilford County, contact Peggy Longmire at 288-9040 or e-mail her at rlongmire@triad.rr.com