AAUW FUND
Each year, our Greater Whittier Area Branch of AAUW recognizes members who provide leadership and contribute to the success of the programs and goals of the branch. We’re proud to announce our two outstanding AAUW Fund Named Gift Honorees for 2024-2025 are Carole Duff and Pat Dudley.
Thank You,
Sheryl Crockey, AAUW Fund VP
Our AAUW Fund Named Gift Honoree, Carole Duff, is a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, where she earned her BA degree. After graduation, Carole was hired by the Los Angeles Unified School District, where she was employed as an elementary teacher at Ford Boulevard Elementary School in East Los Angeles for 37 years beginning in 1972. She taught 1st – 3rd grades until she retired in 2009. During this busy time of teaching, she married her husband, Mel, and they raised their sons, Chris and Ryan. Carole and Mel will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary on June 28.
Greater Whittier Area-AAUW has been fortunate to enjoy Carole’s loyal friendship since she joined in 2013. She has been an outstanding member who is willing to help in many ways by contributing her efforts toward the success of our branch. She has served as an appointed Coordinator for at least six years for Dining for Dollars, securing locations and organizing each event. She contacted various restaurants in our general area willing to donate a percentage of their profit to our Myra Long Scholarship Fund. She set the date, designed the flyer and coupons, wrote the information to include in the newsletter, made announcements at branch meetings, and sent thank-you notes. As a result, she raised a great deal of money to benefit scholarships for the Myra Long Fund.
Carole also sends Branch Newsletters to those who request copies by postal mail. She participates in branch activities by regularly attending monthly meetings, Morning Book section discussions, plus volunteering for the Math/Science Conference and Meet and Greet for potential new members.
Besides generously contributing her time and talents to AAUW, Carole has also volunteered with other community groups. She tutored for the Whittier Literacy Council in 2013 and 2014. She has been a member of YAGC (the Whittier Year Around Garden Club) since 2013, where she accepts various responsibilities. In all projects, it’s a pleasure to work with Carole, who always treats everyone with kindness, concerned empathy, thoughtfulness, and consideration. She completes her tasks by being consistently conscientious, intelligent, dependable, and organized with attention to details that produce a successful outcome.
Thank you, Carole, and Congratulations on your well-deserved award.
AAUW FUND (cont.)
Our AAUW Fund Named Gift Honoree, Patricia Dudley, is a graduate of Western Michigan University, earning a BA as a History Major and Sociology Minor. She also completed her Michigan Secondary Credential.
After moving to California, Pat was hired by the El Monte City School District. She completed her California Multi-subject Teaching Credential and earned her MA from the University of Redlands.
Pat taught 19 years and was an Administrator (Vice Principal, Principal, and District Office Administrator) for 21 years prior to retiring.
In California, Pat met Kenneth and they’ve been married 52 years, living in Whittier for most of those years.
After retiring, Pat’s new passion became volunteering, which was her mom’s when Pat was growing up. Pat joined AAUW in 2010. She was attracted by its focus on supporting women and girls with educational goals, scholarships, the Math-Science Conference, and Tech Trek for which she volunteers.
Pat is often involved in whatever tasks are needed, like serving on the 2025 nominating committee.
Pat’s intelligence, creativity, independent thinking, and organizational skills have benefited AAUW Reads DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). She developed an educational program for our members to learn the dynamics of this area of study through awareness segments and activities such as book reading and discussions.
Ever since Pat has joined our branch, she has been a key contributing member who helps us thrive. Not only does she attend meetings regularly, but she has been a committed, supportive member of the Myra Long Scholarship Fund Committee as a Director.
Besides her dedication to AAUW, Pat has a fondness for other volunteer organizations such as PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization), Delta Kappa Gamma (teacher group), and CalRTA (California Retired Teachers Association). Extremely dear to her heart has been one of her first volunteer organizations – The American Cancer Society Office, located inside PIH Health Hospital in Whittier. She was able to apply her expertise as an educator and facilitator for Writing Wellness Workshops, and American Cancer Society spokesperson, and in the infusion center and the wig bank, completing more than 2,951 volunteer hours at PIH.
It’s no wonder that Pat has been recognized, respected, and admired for her willingness to give of herself in service to others. She was selected as the AAUW Fund Named Gift Honoree for 2013-2014, as well as the Las Distinguidas Award for 2023-2024.
The well-deserved awards now include the 2024-2025 AAUW Named Fund Gift Honoree.
Thank you, and Congratulations to Patricia Dudley!