6-15-99 Club facts for kids

The 6-15-99 Club was a group formed in the 1890s to help people who were struggling in New York City. It grew very quickly, setting up branches in stores, factories, and banks. Members who had jobs were asked to donate a small amount of money each day, usually between one and two and a half cents. Important people like William De Hertburn Washington and other well-known businessmen from Manhattan hoped to raise about $13,000 every day. Famous figures such as Isidor Straus, Oswald Ottendorfer, and former New York City mayor Franklin Edson supported the 6-15-99 Club's efforts.

How the Club Started and Grew

In February 1894, the 6-15-99 Club planned to open a special store on 14th Street near 5th Avenue. This place was meant to be an office where people looking for work could find jobs. The jobs included things like fixing furniture and simple carpentry. If someone needed these services, they could ask at the 14th Street store or at the main office at 145 Broadway. The club also planned to open another store on 125th Street. By April 1894, the 6-15-99 Club had grown to have 270 different branches.

Helping People Find Work

By early 1894, the 6-15-99 Club had helped many women find jobs making good quality clothes for children. Large stores bought these clothes, which meant that some of the club's work helped pay for itself. The club also had a free job placement service. In just one week, this service found work for 105 people who needed jobs.

Other Groups Helping in New York City

In 1894, the 6-15-99 Club was one of several well-known groups trying to help people who were very poor. Other groups included those organized by Tammany Hall, New York City officials, and employees. There was also the World's Bread Fund, the New York Herald's Free Clothing Fund, the Christian Herald Fund, and the New York Tribune Coal and Food Fund.

Questions About the Help Provided

A magazine called the Journal of Social Science looked at these different aid groups in 1894. It wondered if they were truly effective, saying they were "managed as their founders wished." The journal also pointed out that New York City did not increase the money it gave to its Board of Charities and Correction in 1894, except for a small amount for coal. However, the journal reported that the city usually had over $2.4 million available that could have been given to people in need. If this money were shared among the 50,000 people who qualified for help, each person would have received about $48.30. This calculation included many homeless people who were struggling that year.