University Park Women’s Club, formed in 2001, is a not-for-profit 501(C)(7) social organization which offers activities and promotes friendships among women residents and members of University Park Country Club in Sarasota, Florida. From that first year of 89 members, our membership has grown to over 425.

We hold four luncheons each year (October, December, April and June) and a Fashion Show in February. Each of these events is also a General Meeting where club business is presented to the General Membership. Annual dues for each club year, September 1 – August 31, cover our operating expenses.

The club has many activities for members. Our social events encompass a wide variety of venues and often are planned to include spouses or partners. And that is just the beginning of the activities offered to our membership. There are many “special interest groups” that our members enjoy together as they share common interests in books, movies, play reading, memoir writing, art and design, gardening, birds, wine and food—the list goes on!

We have supported a variety of organizations through the years, currently Women's Resource Center and the Bradenton Police Care - Gift Card Program. Past years have included Hope Family Services, the Just for Girls Elementary, SPARCC (Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center), Mothers Helping Mothers, PACE (Practical Academic Cultural Education), Manatee Children’s Services, Food Bank of Manatee, Children’s Guardian Fund, Habitat for Humanity, and many others. 

A warm welcome to the University Park Women’s Club. It is my privilege to be the 2023-2024 President of the Club. We are an energetic and active group of women who continue the legacy of the Club’s founding in 2001 by a small group of women. These women were eager to bring together the women of the community, in the spirit of friendship and inclusion, to socialize and be of service to each other and the wider community.

Today our Club has a membership of 400+ and is growing every day as the word is spread of how our members have created and maintained a wide breath of activities to meet the needs of the diverse interests and lifestyles of our members.

Our Women’s Club offers activities that will pique your interest. The Special Interest Groups, which number 20 and growing offer opportunities for women to get together informally to enjoy similar interests such as birds, reading, making gourmet dinners, play reading, wines, games, fiber arts, art and design, and more.

Our Social Committee plans excursions, special events, dinners, Happy Hours, etc. These activities change and grow as we listen to the needs of our members. Regularly scheduled luncheons with thought-provoking speakers in varied venues throughout the wider community are a UPWC tradition. “The Fashion Show”, a grand lunch event, is a much sought after invitation. You will see many of the members on the runway as models. This event will be our major fundraiser this year and it will be held at the beautiful Westin Hotel in Sarasota.

Our mission to improve the welfare of others is fostered by the Outreach Committee. Fundraising endeavors for 2023-2024 are the Women’s Resource Center that provides a multiplicity of services to working women. Our focus will be on their scholarship program. We also will be contributing to the Police Care, Publix Gift Card Program that provides financial support for needy families. Fundraising for 2023-2024 reached a high of $20,000.00.

It is my pleasure to be a member of this organization of caring, generous, and energetic women and we welcome you to join us.

Carol Shabe, President

University Park Women’s Club