Pictured above left to right: Jane Baldwin, Ann Russell, Jennifer Ritchey, Kara Whitlatch. Not pictured: Diane Dawley, Kate Qualman
The mother daughter team of Bexley High School alumnae, Jane Baldwin, ‘59 and Kara Hardesty Whitlatch, ‘91 are chairing this year’s Bexley Women’s Club House & Garden Tour.
The event is returning in full force on Sunday, June 5, 2022 and will feature interior and exterior tours of six beautiful Bexley, two spectacular private gardens, an urban park and other sites of interest.
“We have a great planning committee with a lot of BHS alumni including Ann Russell ’63, Jenny Richey ’69, Dian Dawley ‘84 and Kate Qualmann ‘02,” said Jane, “as well as many, many more Bexley alumni (and even some current high school students) who volunteer as house captains and volunteer docents to ensure this lovely event runs smoothly.”
The House & Garden Tour, and supporting the Bexley Women’s Club, has been a family affair for Jane and her daughters for many years. All of the Hardesty sisters, Jill ‘84 Kacy ’97, Heather ‘86 and Kara have participated in the club in some way over the years. “One year, I remember when we did the fashion show, my sisters and I were all models – it was so fun!” said Kara.
As a past-president of the Women’s Club, which was founded in 1937, Jane is quick to point out the many benefits of membership including opportunities to connect, have fun, make new friends and serve the community. For the past 15 years the House & Garden Tour has been the club’s largest fundraiser, with the proceeds going to scholarships for deserving high school students. As of 2021, the Bexley Women’s Club had awarded approximately 915 scholarships totaling over $570,000 to high school seniors living in Bexley. The club also works with partners like the YMCA Family Shelter, Bexley’s own Developmental Assets Resource Network (DARN), & Operation Buckeye to fulfill its social service mission.
This tour will offer free transportation aboard the Bexley BEAT shuttle bus as well as free parking and bicycle parking at each location. Columbus School for Girls will host food trucks and musicians, and plein air artists will be at sites around the tour. Tickets can be purchased in advance online for $25 until midnight June 4, 2022 at Eventgroove or at the following Bexley businesses from May 23rd until noon on June 4: Graeter’s Ice Cream (2282 E. Main Street) and Johnson’s Ice Cream (2728 E. Main Street). Tickets will also be available online on the day of the event for $30 or at the main entrance of Columbus School for Girls (65 S. Drexel).