In 1934 a group of women in the Windsor-Essex region got together and formed what was then known as the “Mothers Club.”
Now 90 years later and since renamed “The Hour a Day Study Group,” it is still going strong and on Saturday at the Amherstburg Freedom Museum, a display was featured to honour the group.
It was all part of the annual “Ribs and Ragtime” fundraising event which was held at the museum on King Street.
“This is one of our biggest fundraisers. We have a number of folks, I’d say about 60 percent that are here who have been to our events. You get a chance to support your local community,” said Museum president Monty Logan.
There were several political dignitaries in attendance including Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue, Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb and Windsor-Tecumseh Member of Parliament Irek Kusmierczyk.
“The Hour a Day Study Group” became heavily involved in social justice, advocacy, activism and education and over the years have provided financial support to deserving students to help further their educational pursuits.
“It’s been a great organization,” said Logan who was a past recipient of the group’s generosity.
They started with the financial support in 1946 and along the way the club has been active in promoting the rights of young women of colour and at one time helped a black woman to get admitted into a nursing training program.
“Ribs and Ragtime” is just one of the fundraising events that help to keep the doors open at the museum.
Logan said that the museum has several sources of revenue, including grants and notes that it is important that the non-profit organization does not get all its funding from one source.
Nearly 200 people showed up on Saturday to support the museum and he said it was estimated the night would raise close to $10,000.
Asked what would happen if the fundraisers were not successful, he said, “we would find alternative sources. We try and not have just one source. We try and make sure that one particular source is not more than 10 per cent of our budget.”
Next up for the Amherstburg Freedom Museum is Emancipation Celebration Dinner and Dance Aug. 2 and the Walter Perry Golf Classic Aug. 10.
The museum is open six days a week, visit their website for more information or call 519-736-5433.
New display highlights event at Freedom Museum
By Fred Groves
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