Altrusa Service Projects

Anna H. Settle Leadership Award

Virginia “Ginny” Smith

2025 Anna H. Settles Community

Leadership Award Winner

Altrusa International
This award was presented to Ginny Smith at the 2025 International Convention in Quebec City, Canada, for her extraordinary service to our community. This award is presented to only one recipient selected from clubs both in the United States and abroad. Ginny serves as service chair for Altrusa International of Lexington (KY).
 
Service- Co-Chairs: Ginny Smith and Julianne Little
 
Birthday boxes
 
 
BIRTHDAY BOXES FOR BRECKINRIDGE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
 
Altrusa partners with the Marco Shemwell Foundation to shop for and assemble Birthday Boxes for children at Breckinridge Elementary and other local elementary schools. They are filled with items, such as cake mixes, frosting, candles, birthday cards and small gifts. This allows parents/caregivers the opportunity to provide their child with a birthday celebration that otherwise would not be possible assuring every child gets to celebrate their special day. 
 
Marco Shemwell was a precious four-year-old boy who loved life. In September 2018, he suffered a tragic accident which resulted in his death. Not long after, his parents started the foundation to honor his spirit, joy and positivity by creating an instrument of positive change. To date, they have provided materials for more than 6,000 celebrations.
BRAINS AND BELLIES
 
Altrusa members meet throughout the school year with single parents, who are pursuing secondary educational goals, and their children. During each 90-minute activity, Altrusans share a meal with the participants, read books, lead related themed games and crafting/art activities, and give each child gift books of their own.
THURSDAY’S CHILD GRADUATION PARTY
 
This is a collaborative project designed for foster youth, within our community who are living in foster care or have aged out of foster care and transitioning to independence. This is a celebratory graduation event hosted by caring adults for a milestone accomplishment that traditionally is recognized with a party.
NEW OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL FOR WOMEN (NOSW)
 
Our work with the New Opportunity School for Women seeks to offer additional support and encouragement to their participants by hosting a welcome reception for their traditional residential session by providing dinner with interactional and expressive art activities for participants and NOSW staff. Altrusa also sponsors and leads an annual winter NOSW Book Club with their Graduates. 
 
THOMSON HOOD VETERANS CENTER 
 
Altrusa gives back to veterans residing at the facility by participating in activities throughout the year in order to continue to honor and recognize the men and women who served this country and maintain our longstanding relationship with the residents and staff. And last fall, with the help of a grant from Altrusa International, we helped THVC restore their library, with new large-print books, audio books, carts for the three floors and two comfy chairs to sit in and more.
DICTIONARY PROJECT
 
In partnership with the Fayette County Public Schools System, Altrusa annually gives a dictionary to each third-grade student in select elementary schools.  Altrusan's participate in a presentation held in an assembly with the school’s principal or designee(s), the third graders and their teachers.  Altrusans share how a dictionary is used to "learn to read and read to learn," invite the students to “explore the magic of words” and assist the students in how to use their new dictionary by together looking up “words of the day.”