Navy Wives Clubs of America

Navy Wives Clubs of America

Abbreviation	NWCA
Formation	June 3, 1936
Founder	Mary Paolozzi
Founded at	Long Beach, California
Type	Non-Profit
Purpose	To promote a friendly, sympathetic relationship among the families of personnel of the United States Armed Forces. To extend relief assistance to needy families from all ranks of the Armed Forces and the civilian community. To foster a spirit of fellowship among its members and the civilian community. To maintain and grant charters to local clubs adhering to the purposes, principles and policies of our federation.
Membership	Spouses of Enlisted and Officer personnel of the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Associate Membership is given to other branch spouses and civilian members.
National President	Cris Icenhower
National Vice President	Darlene Carpenter
Affiliations	United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard
Website	Twitter: twitter.com/NationalNWCA Website: www.navywivesclubsofamerica.org

The Navy Wives Clubs of America (NWCA) is a national non-profit organization of enlisted and officer United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard spouses whose purpose, by federal charter, is to support the Constitution of the United States, promote a friendly relationship between spouses of enlisted United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, or United States Coast Guard personnel, or those in the Reserve components of those branches, and to perform charitable activities as provided by the constitution or bylaws of the organization.^[1]

History

NWCA was first chartered in 1936 in Long Beach, California, and was granted a federal charter in 1984.^{[citation needed]}. In 2017 members of NWCA voted to allow male spouses of enlisted and officer armed service members and retirees to become regular members. In 2018 members of NWCA voted to rename the organization and to establish a DBA under Navy Wives Clubs of America and to name it Military Families Worldwide, this is currently being conducted. The NWCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.^[2] The official motto of the NWCA is: "They also serve, who stay and wait."^[2]

Membership

Active membership is open to spouses of enlisted personnel serving in the United States Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the active reserve units of these services. Spouses of enlisted personnel who have been honorably discharged, retired or have been transferred to the Fleet Reserve on completion of duty and widows of enlisted personnel in these services are also eligible for membership.

Associate membership is open to Army, Air Force, officer spouses, and those who have the same aims and goals of the organization but may not qualify for Active membership.

Volunteer activities

NWCA Chapters all across the country participate in the annual Wreaths Across America event where thousands of wreaths are laid at veteran's cemeteries in tribute and remembrance.^[3]

Scholarships

The NWCA National Scholarship Foundation

Thirty scholarship opportunities for the children of Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine personnel are awarded annually by the NWCA.

Mary Paolozzi Member's Scholarship

This scholarship is only for members of NWCA.

The NMCCG Scholarship

This scholarship is only for SPOUSES (not children) of the enlisted Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard who are continuing their education.

Judith Haupt Member's Child Scholarship

This scholarship is given to a child of an NWCA member who does NOT carry a military ID card usually because he/she has reached the adult age.

Pauline Langkamp Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is given to a child of an NWCA member who does NOT carry a military ID card usually because he/she has reached the adult age or has married.