Altrusa "Leaders in Service"

Altrusans at Work

Since its charter in 1982, Altrusa Club of Gig Harbor's members have made a major impact on our community. You can find them at work for schools, business, health and safety, and the arts.

Check Presentation - Altrusa of Gig Harbor presents the initial $30,000 payment of their $1000,000 pledge at groundbreaking for the community's new Boy's & Girl's Club Hope Center. The $100,000 will equip a community kitchen that will permit groups and organizations to cater large groups for meals as well as serving the daily needs of local children. Shown here with the ceremonial check and the members of the club and the board of the Boy's & Girl's Club of South Puget Sound.

	The Crowd - Sixty-five members, former member and community supporters joined the club in celebrating their 25th Birthday, and in honoring Lois Peyton, one of the club's founding members, who has established a fund within the Altrusa Gig Harbor Foundation to benefit the club's effort to equip the new Boy's & Girl's Club. The fund raised nearly $3,000 at the dinner. Melanie Dressel, President and CEO of Columbia Bank and one of the top five members in banking for the past three years, was the keynote speaker.


The Peninsula Youth Orchestra - An ongoing commitment of funding and support by the Altrusa Foundation has helped this local teaching orchestra to grow from a few students to close to 100 students in multiple skill levels. The organization continues to develop into a stable and well-respected teaching and performing organization, and Altrusa continues to help the orchestra with funding for student scholarships. Program graduates are continuing on to build careers in their chosen musical specialties.


	A.S.K. - Altrusa Serving Kids - Altrusa's members keep in touch with the needs of youth and education on the peninsula by gathering school supplies for children whose families cannot afford to purchase them and by helping to provide a welcome to educators into the community each fall.

	The Gig Harbor Boys' & Girls' Club - Along with a Community Center complex has been a dream of community leaders for several years. Working with other organizations and leaders, Altrusa Foundation has committed to raising $1000,000 to fund, equipping a central community kitchen for the complex.

		The Altrusa Foundation - Enables supporter of Altrusa's commitment to the community to make tax-deductible donations to the programs and projects supported by the organization.

More Projects

Altrusa founded the original Peninsula Adult Education Program, providing literacy education services to adults with low literacy skills, in 1989.

Downtown Beautification. Altrusa funded and placed cement benches at downtown Gig Harbor intersections for pedestrian seating.

Adopted a Family Support. Altrusa annually supports local families in need at holiday time, directly through the local Basket Brigade program.

Community Activities. Altrusa participates in community celebrations such as the Maritime Gig.

Altrusa helped found and operate the original Health and Safety Fair that takes place each spring.

Harborfest Tour of Homes - Saturday December 13th

Supporting the work of Altrusa of Gig Harbor and Altrusa Foundation, the Harborfest Tour of Homes has become an eagerly awaited part of annual holiday celebrations in the Harbor. Tickets are $20.00 in advance at John L Scott and Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce, or $25.00 at the door. For more information or to reserve your tickets call 253-858-0088. A self guided tour from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. of festively decorated Gig Harbor area homes celebrates the holiday season with an enjoyable look at the picturesque Gig Harbor community. Click here to get a flyer that you can print out and share that has all the Harborfest information.

	Committed to the ideals that have made Altrusa a force for good throughout the world since 1917: Patriotism, Efficiency, Service.

	A Network of friends with a mission and purpose that binds them together for a greater goal: caring for the community, its children and its needs.
Virginia Hardy		Rhonda Hauter

	Awards and Achievements

Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Month Award

Chamber of Commerce Club of the Year

Maritime Gig Parade: Best Service Organization Float

Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award for non-profit service clubs

District Twelve Altrusa International Mamie L. Bass Award 2nd place,
PYO Service Project, Governor's Planning and Membership Awards


Join Us!
Altrusa is an energetic, friendly and purposeful group of citizens, who invite you to join them in their efforts to serve and improve our community. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. Committees and the Foundation meet outside regular meetings. For more information, call our information line at: 253-858-0088 or write Altrusa International of Gig Harbor Attn. Membership, P O Box 1394, Gig Harbor, WA 98335.


2008-2009 Officers
President	Dyane Nauman
1st Vice President	Shawn Contento
2nd Vice President	Shirley Hansen
Secretary	Anna Shumaker
Treasurer	Nancy Hohenstein
Director	Virginia Hardy
Director	Esther Ellickson
Past President	Pat Jones


Foundation Board		Gig Harbor 2008-2009 Board
President	Shirley Hansen
Vice President	Pat Jones
Secretary	Shelly Morris
Treasurer	Virginia Hardy

Altrusa International		City of Gig Harbor

	District Twelve Altrusa International Gig Harbor


*Meet Gig Harbor's Altrusans:*
	Professionals who are dedicated to improving their community though altruistic service to the people and organizations that make this a special place to live and work.