Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Kappes.
Hi Cheryl, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story: I retired from Honeywell Aerospace after 32 years in 2005. In March 2007, I became the owner-operator of the Country Maiden in Historic Catlin Court. I discovered the GFWC Glendale Woman’s club in December 2013, and I was hooked. I became GFWC Glendale Woman’s Club President in April 2020, and sold my store property in June so I could devote my time on the General Federation Women’s Clubs (GFWC). With Arizona’s literacy scores still in recovery mode, we developed a variety of literacy programs to attack this problem. We are our doing our part to “Change lives through literacy, one book at a time!” 1) In 2022 we developed a program with Habitat for Humanities to deliver a little library with at least 25 books, to every home they deliver in Maricopa County. As of February 2026, we have delivered over 60 little libraries. 2) In the summer of 2022, we discovered Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) and by December 2022, the 1st 200 books arrived in Glendale. Glendale’s DPIL program delivers one quality-age appropriate book to children aged 0 to 5 at no cost to the family. As the local affiliate we are responsible for ~50% of the cost. For just $31.20 each child receives books monthly, for an entire year! Our community has joined in our efforts; attending fundraisers, approving grant requests and sending in donations. Glendale City Council Members have supported the program since the beginning, and with the most recent donation of $15,000 from Government Employees Health Association, Inc., we are proud to say over 2800 families in Glendale Arizona are receiving books every single month. As of February 2026, over 75,000 quality-age appropriate books have been delivered directly to the homes of program participants.
3) In 2024, we introduced the Reading to Daisy and Maxx program. This literacy program encourages everyone to read aloud to the phone. Working with the consortium of literacy experts, the reader’s voices are captured on tape (like a voice mail), then reformatted for delivery to animal shelters. The audio is played in the shelter at night, which calms down the dogs who are scared, frightened and don’t understand why they not at home. Research studies have scientifically proven, children’s voices have a calming effect on dogs. This program is a win-win for the reader and for the dogs. Reading aloud improves literacy, comprehension and language skills. The shelter animals become more relaxed, happier, and adoptable. In 2025, we added options for schools to get participate, and further expanded the program to offer community service hours for anyone reading, dialing the number, entering their unique ID, and reading to “Daisy and Maxx.”
4) Thank you letters to Vets is our newest literacy program. Introduced in October 2025, we encourage everyone to write thank you letters to Vets, which we then deliver to Veterans throughout the community. Especially for our youngest participants, we have a phone based learning system. Just dial the number and the recording assists the caller in the writing a thank you letter process. We delivered the 1st letters to Veterans at Glendale’s Veteran’s day celebration
To Learn more about all of our literacy programs visit. https://glendalewomansclub.com/literacy-programs
Back to our Club’s history. We are honored to still be going strong, 125 years of continuous, active volunteer service to our community. First formed from a standpoint of literacy, the self culture club was organized in 1901, women coming together to help educate themselves and to make their community better. In 1902, the joined the General Federation Women’s Clubs, (GFWC). Formed in 1890, GFWC clubwomen are dedicated to community improvement through volunteer service. As the club membership in Glendale grew, it was no longer able to meet at their homes, the clubhouse was built, and in the fall of 1913, it opened its doors, there is 114 years of history behind that red door. Our club is a leader i our state, 5 of the 13 available state awards for our community service were awarded to our Club in 2025. Out of 2600 clubs in the nation, our club had two Top 10 projects in the nation (13 categories have the top 10 list) and one Club Creativity award for our Arts & Culture murals project. We hope to lead the efforts to get the DPIL program available statewide (funded at the state level – following California, Oklahoma, and so many others). Glendale City Councilmember Lupe Conchas is a strong supporter of our programs and will be taking advantage of his new appointments to further this cause. https://www.yourvalley.net/glendale-independent/stories/glendale-councilor-conchas-earns-spot-on-league-of-cities-committee,661672 Please let me know if you need anything else to spread the good works of our club.
thanks Cheryl Kappes Club President 623-937-9915
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We have Opportunities and Challenges. Opportunity: We have an exciting opportunity to lead the charge, get books before 5 in every home in Arizona with children aged 0-5. Challenge: We are constantly recruiting to keep our club membership strong. And, funding Glendale’s Imagination Library program is a full time job, one much better solved at the legislature level. By the way, 10,000 children are currently on a wait list for the Imagination Library program in Maricopa County. Glendale’s current DPIL program cost was $76k in 2025; far more then our Club women have ever dreamed was possible. It is only though successful grants and community donations, that we have kept the program strong for 3 years. We need all the help we can get.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a leader in the GFWC Arizona organization. We are most proud of the work we have accomplished with Arizona Women’s History Alliance, getting the Francis Munds Statue installed at Wesley Bolin Plaza (our name is on the statue as a major contributor). I am so proud of what our clubwomen did in the past, and today, I am looking forward to what we will do in the future. This is going to be a year to remember with GFWC Arizona state convention in Phoenix (April 17-19-2026), GFWC International Convention, Scottsdale at the Westin Kierland (June 26-29, 2026), GFWC South Central Region convention Mesa Holiday Inn (October 29-31). This is a great year for women to to learn about the benefits of membership in GFWC! www.gfwc.org
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
For a volunteer community service organization, it is clear to me. We invite you to get involved, find your passion in the world of GFWC!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.glendalewomansclub.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlendaleWomansClub/
- Youtube: You tube @glendalewomansclub6772
