The Swans Club of the Inland Empire
About the Swans Club
The Swans Club pledges Time, Talent, and Resources to affect a more profound impact on the education, social, and ethical aspirations of the youth.
In the Clubs 63 years, The Swans have presented over 650 young women, awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships, and provided hours of service to non-profit organizations.
Our Debutante Program seeks to promote self improvement through education and service to others by focusing on the following:
- Community Service
- Finer Womanhood
- College Readiness
- Career Development
Our Mission
Mrs. Theresa Mays Swans Club President
Our mission is to provide higher educational standards and aspirations among youth, promote cultural enrichment and appreciation within the community, and provide civic and charitable service whenever and wherever possible or deemed necessary
Our Story
It was a time of change. Bobby Whitehead and Shirley Foster, black women who lived and worked in San Bernardino, had a dream of working with the black youth within the community. Their idea was to promote higher education goals, instill community service beliefs, and develop social and cultural appreciation with racial pride and self-esteem. Along with seven other women, who share their dream, on a June evening in 1960, the Swans Club was formed and the Debutante Program was born.
The original program called for young ladies to not only perform community service, but to solicit community support, write research papers on finer womanhood, and attend classes on grooming etiquette and deportment. The Swans Club has made modifications to the program to keep it relevant to the young women of today. The current program has added workshops and presentations by various speakers that address such topics as resume writing, interview techniques, networking skills, public speaking, college requirements, and scholarship information. However, the core of the program remains the same, and The Swans Club continues to promote self improvement, through the education and service of others.
The Swans Club currently has 14 members, seven of whom are past Swan's debutantes themselves, and ten members who have presented daughters, nieces or granddaughters through the debutante program. Although, time causes many things to change, the idea of helping others reach their goals through service to those in need, in the community, lives on. The Swans Club is proud of its years of service to the community, and is looking forward to the next 60 years with eager anticipation