The League Life: Special Anniversary Edition 2026

125 YEARS OF DEVELOPING WOMEN TO DO A WORLD OF GOOD™ AROUND THE WORLD

CONTENTS

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Remarks on our organization's past and future from AJLI President Alice Glenn.

HISTORY FEATURE

A history of AJLI's official publications.

LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT

Where it all began - the story of our first League.

COVER STORY

A journey through 125 years of community impact and League milestones.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

FEATURE

How Leagues have used advocacy and legislative efforts to improve their communities.

BOOK TALK FEATURE

Looking back on the significance of cookbooks in League work.

ASSOCIATION FEATURE

Our shared history of collective impact.

The Junior League has a long history of publications dating back to as early as January 1911. The first Junior League publication was the Junior League Bulletin , in which our founding League of The City of New York defined the organization “as an organization of the young society women of New York whose objects are, first to promote, among its Members, an interest in all kinds of charitable and social effort. Second to bring the Members in touch with already organized philanthropies so that they may find the sphere of usefulness best fitted to their individual capacity.” As our organization changed, so did our publications, and over the course of the magazine's 83-year history, we see a variety of titles, from the Junior League Magazine to the Junior League Review , which is where its run ended in 1994.

We are pleased to revive these efforts to further unite our growing international organization, celebrate our Leagues and their Members, and provide insights and resources to advance Members’ civic leadership skills. Read more about the history of Junior League publications on page 5.

EDITORIAL STAFF

Jacquelyn Bauman, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Nicole Bergman, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Melody LaRose, Content Editor

Inés Sucre, Managing Editor

Elizabeth McIntyre, Graphic Designer

The New York Junior League, Contributing Writer

Articles in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Association of Junior Leagues International.

Dear Members,

This special edition of The League Life celebrates 125 years of the Junior League Movement, a milestone that stands as a testament to the enduring importance and impact of our Mission. For more than a century, The Junior League has been grounded in a powerful belief: when women are equipped with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to lead, they become powerful forces for change in their communities.

The Junior League emerged at a time when opportunities for women’s leadership were limited. From the beginning, Members challenged those boundaries, creating a structured, values-driven space where women could lead through service, collaboration, and civic engagement. What began as one woman’s bold idea in New York City has grown into the global movement that unites us today.

Throughout our history, Junior League Members have consistently stepped forward in moments of uncertainty and change. Across generations, Leagues have addressed critical community needs related to education, health and wellness, food insecurity, historic preservation, and civic leadership development. These efforts reflect not only a deep responsiveness to local needs, but also a long-standing commitment to advancing women’s leadership. Time and again, The Junior League has demonstrated that when communities face complex challenges, trained and purpose-driven women are uniquely positioned to respond with compassion and courage.

The need for The Junior League has not diminished over the past 125 years. In fact, as the world grows increasingly complex and unpredictable, communities everywhere are navigating rapid change, deep divisions, and unprecedented challenges. In moments like these, the Junior League Mission is not simply relevant, it is essential. While the world around us continues to evolve, our path forward remains firmly rooted in service, leadership, and the enduring power of women coming together to create change.

This anniversary is not only a celebration of how far we have come, but a reaffirmation of why our work matters. Within this special edition of The League Life , we honor the legacy of the women who built this movement, highlight the impact being made in communities today, and look ahead to the future we are shaping together. As you turn these pages, may you see yourself reflected in our shared history and be inspired by the role you continue to play in carrying the Junior League Mission forward.

Alice Glenn

The Association of Junior Leagues International President, 2024-2026

Dear Junior League Members,

Milestones invite us to pause, but they also challenge us to move forward with intention. As we commemorate this moment in our organization’s life, I am filled with both pride in what we have accomplished and excitement for what lies ahead. The Junior League endures because of Members like you who recognize the value in women’s leadership, service, and one another.

The world our founders could not have imagined is the one our Members are navigating every day. Expectations of volunteer leaders are higher. Time is more precious. Community needs are more complex. And yet, women continue to seek meaningful ways to connect and contribute to something larger than themselves.

As we look ahead to the next five years, AJLI and League Leaders are putting a renewed emphasis on growth – not simply in size but in strength, relevance, and impact. This means focusing on experiences that enrich your overall Member experience, reengaging our Sustainers, and providing more support to the volunteers carrying out our Mission. I also encourage you to see this as an opportunity for your own growth, as this effort asks all Members to imagine a stronger future for both themselves and their Leagues.

As you explore this special edition of The League Life , I hope you feel proud of what you have helped build and inspired by what lies ahead. Every contribution strengthens our Movement, whether through leadership, service, mentorship, or simply being present for your League. The years ahead will be defined by how we support each other and continue to evolve while remaining true to our values.

Your feedback has never been more important to the future of the organization. I welcome your questions and ideas and can be reached at ceo@ajli.org .

Thank you for your dedication to the Junior League Mission. I am grateful to share this moment with you and confident in what we can accomplish together.

Melanie Schild

The Association of Junior Leagues International CEO

The Junior League magazine, under its different titles, is more than a magazine — it is the voice of the Junior League Movement, its training ground and connective tissue. It has embodied the League’s Mission by informing, inspiring, and equipping women to become leaders who transform their communities.

When the Junior League Movement began in the early 1900s, local Leagues were working independently to address issues of child welfare, literacy, and public health. The magazine served to connect and unite the Leagues by highlighting successful volunteer initiatives, sharing best practices in community projects, and disseminating training materials.

Early Years

In January 1911, the then ten-year-old New York Junior League launched the Junior League Bulletin, a monthly newsletter to inform Members of volunteer training opportunities, social issues, and organizational matters. Editors were thrilled by the early response. Even before its launch, subscriptions arrived from 500 New York Members and various new Leagues, signaling immediate success for the publication.

Starting with its very first issue, the Bulletin encouraged readers to suggest helpful resources for volunteers, and two issues later, this initiative evolved into a proposal for a recurring book review column authored by the Members themselves. Continuing its efforts to appeal to Members and diversify its content, the Bulletin added features such as poetry contests, general interest articles, and literary quizzes.

Since its 1911 debut under Helen Morgan, the Bulletin has been led by a line of formidable women within the League. Key figures include Harriet Alexander, who led the first Junior League Conference in 1912, Grace Henry, who paused her tenure for war service in 1917, and Mary Jay Schieffelin, who led the publication before becoming AJLA president.

A Growing Movement Transforms the Bulletin

Following a request from delegates at the 1914 conference held in Chicago to expand the Bulletin beyond New York to all Junior Leagues, The Junior League National Bulletin was launched in October.

City Editors from all Leagues contributed columns about the work of their Leagues. The New York League continued to manage the publication, and its editor would remain a New York League Member.

The Association of Junior Leagues of America was established by 32 Leagues in 1921 in part to take over publication of the Bulletin. Though the management of the publication was given to professional staff, the role of editor remained in the hands of League Members, including Grace Henry who continued as Bulletin editor after the founding of the Association of Junior Leagues.

Its new trademark Juventus Potestas, introduced in the November 1923 issue, proclaimed the power of youth. In that same issue, future First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Ruth Pratt, a prominent Republican and the first woman elected to the House of Representatives, argued for their political beliefs.

Edith Lindley, editor since 1924, explained the Bulletin’s decision to cover the arts and discussions of social and political issues: "We are not necessarily advocating a change of tactics at the moment but merely suggesting that the time may come when we will be forced into the position where we might have to take a definite stand one way or the other in order to render the most intelligence service to our community."

A Mainstream Magazine of Youth Opinion

By 1927, the publication had outgrown its newsletter roots to become a mainstream magazine sold in newsstands. It broadened its scope with arts and political commentary and changed its name to The Junior League Magazine. In its first issue under its new name, the Magazine announced the publication of the Anthology of Junior League Poetry, a collection drawn from “years of high quality of verse appearing in The Junior League Bulletin [which] commanded critical attention.”

Following the 1927 Annual Conference, the Magazine announced the launch of the Association’s Junior League Bureaus, established as information centers to provide Leagues with constructive, experience-based suggestions for planning arts lectures and civic welfare projects, among others.

The Magazine Forges Ahead

The Junior League Review expanded to publish themed issues, news articles, fiction, and opinion pieces for and by Junior League Members. Every issue showcased the skills and leadership growth of Junior League Members—women who were learning to organize, fundraise, advocate, and manage large community projects.

It often published case studies and stories about League-led projects, including about establishing children’s museums, advocating for juvenile justice reform, supporting literacy and education programs, and launching community health initiatives. These stories helped Leagues across the country learn from successful volunteer models, amplifying their impact and aligning with the goal of improving communities through effective action.

In December 1994, the Junior League Review ended its run.

After a thirty-year pause, the Magazine that once united Junior Leagues in the early 1900s has been revived as The League Life, our 21st-century digital magazine. Today’s League Life continues to connect to our Mission by featuring stories about modern volunteerism, connecting over 100,000 Junior League Members worldwide through shared learning and storytelling, and celebrating the ongoing empowerment of women as changemakers in their local communities.

AJLI gives access to Junior League history, covering decades of the magazine, through the AJLI Digital Collections and for the general public through the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library at Harvard.

Decades of Change: A History of the Magazine's Titles

1911-1914: Junior League Bulletin

1914-1916: Junior League National Bulletin

1917-1927: Junior League Bulletin

1927-1975: Junior League Magazine

1976-1994: Junior League Review

2023-Present: The League Life

A History of the Junior League of The

City of New York

BY THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, NY

Where It All Started

Just after the turn of the twentieth century, Mary Harriman, a 19-year-old Barnard College student, recognized a need for community action within the Settlement Movement of New York City. In 1901, with nine of her friends, Harriman established the New York Junior League for the Promotion of Settlement Movements. The Settlement was created to combat poverty and provide direct relief to immigrant families living in the tenements. Within the first year, 80 women would join the League, eager to be involved in improving the social conditions of their city.

The Early Years

The residents of the New York College Settlement on the Lower East Side became the first beneficiaries of The Junior League, who created four volunteer committees to administer programs on arts, literature, flowers, and music.

The early years of The Junior League included the membership of prominent members of society, including Eleanor Roosevelt, an early and influential Member. In 1903, at the age of 19, she joined the League, serving as a dance teacher for young girls living in a Lower East Side settlement house. Recognizing the need for increased awareness of the conditions of in the tenements, she invited her future husband, would-be president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, to accompany her while she volunteered. Later, both she and her husband would go on to credit the New York Junior League (NYJL) for inspiring their national social improvement work.

In 1910, the League held one of its first fundraising events, a performance of “Captain Junks of the Horse Marines” at the Waldorf-Astoria. A New York Times article from February of that year reports that the performance raised between $3,000 and $4,000 in benefit of college settlements – an amount the equivalent to $100,000 today.

The following year, NYJL opened the Junior League Hotel for Working Women, a 274-room hotel for young career women in New York City. The hotel charged $4$7 per week and included a laundry room, sewing machines, typewriters, a library, and a terrace for residents. Many other Leagues would go on to open similar establishments, providing affordable housing to working women across the country.

By 1912, the Junior League Movement had rapidly expanded, with new Leagues forming in Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Portland, OR. That year, NYJL hosted the first InterLeagues Conference to bring together representatives from each League.

The Junior League in US History NYJL has consistently been a frontline force addressing community needs as major historical events shaped the world before them. During WWI, NYJL Members found new ways to provide for their community, and for the nation.

Over the four-year course of the US’s involvement in the war, 21 NYJL Members would serve in France with the Overseas Unit of the YWCA. Stateside, volunteers assisted the Red Cross auxiliary, canvassing for pledges and selling Liberty Bonds.

When the women’s suffrage movement gained prominence, NYJL Members, who were also members of the Woman Suffrage Party of New York, gathered signatures from women who wanted the right to vote. By November of that year, New York State voters ratified the amendment granting voting rights to women.

In the 1930s, with the Great Depression affecting all aspects of society, the New York Junior League created the Employment Bureau committee to help find paying jobs for people in need.

A decade later, in response to WWII, NYJL stepped up to provide critical services In 1941, it launched a War Relief Unit, dedicating volunteers to preparing surgical dressings and knitting sweaters for Allied soldiers, providing extra assistance on Red Cross mobile units, selling war bonds, and even providing their headquarters as an official air raid shelter. Some volunteers served as “Navy Godmothers” for men stationed on Landing Ship Medium (US Navy amphibious assault ships), wrapping holiday gifts and ensuring correspondence was maintained with servicemen’s next-ofkin.

A Legacy of Impact

For its 125-year history, the New York Junior League has been a catalyst for significant impact through its dedication to community programs and initiatives.

Work on Behalf of Children

A major focus of the League since its founding has been the wellbeing of children. One of the earliest initiatives benefiting children was the 1912 creation of the Trouping Committee (now the Culture and the Arts programs), which entertained children with plays and musical performances at settlement houses, public playgrounds, and hospitals. Many other Junior Leagues would adopt this model, with performances for children being a program for a vast majority of Leagues throughout the twentieth century. To learn more about the pioneering work of Junior Leagues in establishing children’s theaters, visit the exhibit on the topic in the AJLI Digital Collections.

In 1917, NYJL volunteers launched and supported a kindergarten class at City Hospital. The Department of Education, recognizing the value of this effort, would shortly thereafter take over the class.

Early into the 1920s, NYJL assumed responsibility for the Prospect Hill Baby Shelter, a home for infants and young children whose mothers could not care for them. Prospect Hill Baby Shelter would go on to become the Junior League Shelter for Children and would operate until 1933, with volunteers caring for 20 infants at a time.

After the closure of the Junior League Shelter for Children in 1933, the League continued to fill the gaps in childcare with the NYJL Housekeeper Service, a program that sent volunteers into the homes of children who needed care while their mothers were either hospitalized or working. Before the service was transferred to the Children’s Aid Society in 1937, NYJL provided care to 259 children.

In 1934, NYJL began producing radio broadcasts for hospitalized and homebound children. This type of project would go on to be replicated by numerous Leagues across the Association, bringing entertainment and education to children around the country, with some League radio programs winning prominent national awards for their productions.

Another NYJL entertainment initiative, eventually replicated by many other Leagues, was the NYJL’s Players Glee Club and their puppet performances for youth during WWII. Puppeteers created their own puppets and scripts and performed in settlement houses and hospital wards to maintain morale during the war. Later on, in the 1970s, NYJL would also use puppets to comfort children at several area hospitals, explaining their surgical procedures in easy-to-understand ways and making them feel at ease.

In the mid-1950s, NYJL launched another initiative on behalf of children that would spread to Leagues across the Association –the “Please Touch Exhibit.”

In 1956, NYJL’s Museum Committee partnered with the Museum of the City of New York’s Education Department to create an interactive history learning opportunity for schoolchildren. Since then, other Junior Leagues have spearheaded hands-on museum experiences for their communities, with many helping establish dedicated children’s museums.

On its 75th anniversary in 1976, the League celebrated by donating funds to the Early Childhood Development Center at New York Medical College, which was on the brink of closing its doors. Supported by the League’s efforts, this institution continued its work educating parents and improving the emotional social, and cognitive abilities of children for many years .

For its 90th anniversary, NYJL’s Shelter Task Force launched its signature project – Pelham Fritz Apartments. Along with the Children’s Aid Society, the League purchased and renovated three abandoned buildings to fulfill critical housing needs for members of their community. The Pelham Fritz Apartments opened its doors in 1990 to serve as transitional housing for homeless families.

Contributing to Medical Care

In the early days of its history, the NYJL launched many initiatives to benefit patients who needed significant medical care.

In 1917, the NYJL established the first volunteer program in an NYC hospital outpatient department at Bellevue Children’s Clinic, and at the start of the 1920s, the League also helped open Bellevue Hospital’s Occupational Therapy Department, providing materials for children to relieve the monotony of long hospital stays.

Between 1937 and 1944, the NYJL Hospitals Library Committee offered “bibliotherapy” to patients from 11 NYC hospitals, ultimately distributing 90,000 books to 50,000 patients annually throughout the duration of this program.

To honor 95 years of service, NYJL funded the construction of a stateof-the-art health facility through its Community Health Access Model Program (CHAMP). At $1 million, it was the League’s largest contribution to the city to date. After four years of construction, CHAMP opened its doors in 2000, providing critically needed health education services on topics like asthma, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, smoking cessation, and infant care. Today, the center helps over 12,000 community members annually.

Addressing Public Health

As the nation became increasingly aware of substance abuse rates in the 1970s, NYJL turned its focus to the prevention and treatment of drug use.

In 1972, the League partnered with the PROBER Office of Community Information (NYC) to produce a resource for those battling addiction and alcoholism, helping them locate treatment facilities and providing information on substance abuse.

In response to rising rates of sexually transmitted infections, in 1978, NYJL sponsored PSAs about venereal disease and ran hotlines to answer questions about STIs.

As the AIDS epidemic spread, NYJL Teens and AIDS committee, along with the Conference of Peer Educators (COPE) created and implemented a public awareness campaign. The League also partnered with Children’s Friends for Life to assist with programs helping children with HIV/AIDS and their families.

Supporting the Elderly

The New York Junior League has always found a way to provide care, assistance, services, and resources to all members of its community – from the young to the elderly. In 1973, NYJL published the first issue of Senior Summary, a large-print publication catering to the needs and interests of older New Yorkers. Senior Summary ran for 20 years and received a Certificate of Merit from the NYC Mayor’s office.

The late 80s saw NYJL pioneer charitable work in Alzheimer’s awareness.

In consultation with the Alzheimer’s Resource Center, a division of the Department for the Aging of the City of New York, NYJL published Alzheimer’s Disease: Early Warning Signs and Diagnostic Resources and launched a subway poster campaign to promote awareness.

Supporting Women and Children Domestic violence against women and children has long been a focus of League work across the Association, and the New York Junior League is no exception. In 1978, NYJL teamed up with the League Aid Society Community Law Offices in East Harlem to help domestic violence survivors obtain uncontested divorces, allowing those in dangerous situations to extricate themselves safely from their partners. This program, Helping Abused Spouses to Escape (HASTE), ran for 22 years, helping countless women and children escape abuse.

That same year, NYJL also launched a comprehensive, multimedia rapeawareness program to heighten awareness and encourage victims to report assualts to authorities. The campaign featured television and radio PSAs, bilingual bus and subway posters, and collateral materials for school children. Thanks to the program, NYC saw a dramatic increase in reported cases and was able to improve and increase medical services for rape victims.

The campaign ran again in 1987 and NYJL, along with Mayor Ed Koch and Police Commissioner Benjamin Ward, held a press conference at City Hall, launching a city-wide “Arm Yourself with Awareness” rape awareness campaign.

In 1995, NYJL volunteers partnered with Victim Services to provide temporary emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence through Project Debby. Volunteers would recruit hotels to donate unused rooms for one to three nights for women and children in need of a haven until permanent arrangements could be made. NYJL volunteers would also help victims check in, get settled, and provide them with necessary donated goods.

The following year, NYJL joined other Leagues in bringing the “Silent Witness” exhibit to its city and honoring victims by attending a vigil on the steps of City Hall. The “Silent Witness” demonstration included life-sized cutouts to represent the over 200 women killed by domestic violence and featured prominent speakers, including Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Governor Pataki.

Public Policy and Advocacy

Since the early 1920s, NYJL has championed public policy and advocacy., starting in 1921 with the creation of a dedicated Legislative Committee “to study all laws relating to the welfare of women and children in the state and city.”

Building on early 20th century advocacy work, the League formalized its public policy impact in 1987 by co-founding the New York State Public Affairs Committee (NYSPAC) with 17 other NY-based Leagues.

A major accomplishment followed in 1996, when the NYJL’s Advocates for Public Policy (APP) committee successfully pushed for the Scald Burn Bill to reduce injuries to children via hot water temperature regulation.

At the turn of the millennium, NYJL’s Advocates for Public Policy (APP) joined forces with the Junior League of Brooklyn and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer to help pass the Clinic Access and Anti-Stalking Act in New York State in 2000. This legislation remains a major success for domestic violence advocates.

To improve indoor air quality, the APP supported Intro 552, which aimed to remove toxic cleaning products from NYC buildings, including public schools. Intro 552 was signed into law in December 2005.

In 2006, after a two-years collaborative effort between NYSPAC and NYJL APP, Governor Pataki signed legislation to enact Timothy’s Law, which established mental health parity in health insurance coverage. Building on this success, NYJL’s APP and NYSPAC urged the NY State Assembly and Senate to enact a strong, comprehensive human trafficking law. Signed into law by Governor Spitzer in May 2007, the bill criminalized human trafficking, established punishment for traffickers, and secured services for victims.

After four years of committed advocacy on behalf of victims of human trafficking, NYJL’s APP celebrated a victory when Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act into law, alongside seven other bills in the Women’s Equality Act. In legislative sessions from 2011-2015, NYJL’s APP advocated in support of protecting trafficking victims, particularly sexually exploited children and for harsher penalties against those who prey on them.

Responding to Tragedies

When the devastating terrorist attack of September 11 struck the heart of New York City, NYJL knew they had to act. Three NYJL Members lost their lives in the attack, and to honor them and all the lives lost on that day, League Members worked for weeks at Nino’s restaurant serving meals to rescue workers. Alongside the Junior League of Brooklyn, NYJL established the Disaster Relief Fund and sponsored a Disaster Relief Fund Benefit that raised nearly $300,000.

Continuing its long-standing history of responding to New York’s most critical needs, the NYJL established the NYJL Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Fund in 2012 to support the tristate area ravaged by the storm . This project raised much-needed funds that were ultimately donated to help the Caffrey-Conroy Learning Center in the Rockaways refurbish its learning center. The NYJL also helped with the clean-up efforts following Hurricane Sandy by joining forces with Catholic Charities to help Rockaway residents clear debris from houses, streets, and yards hit by the hurricane.

LEAGUE IMPACT TIMELINE

1900 s

1901

The Junior League of the City of New York, NY, is founded by Mary Harriman and Nathalie Henderson.

1907

The Junior League Movement expands for the first time with the establishment of the Junior League of Boston, MA.

1908

JL Boston, MA, Sewing Circle gives its first charitable donation of $100 to the Instructive District Nursing Association (IDNA).

1910 s

1912

JL City of New York, NY, hosts the first conference of Junior Leagues “to meet together as a body to discuss various methods and ideals.”

1914

JL St. Louis, MO, participates in the National American Suffrage Association’s golden jubilee convention, less than three months before Congress passed the 19th Amendment.

1915

JL Portland, OR, establishes a sewing room for jobless women to teach them employable skills.

1910 s

1916

JL Oranges and Short Hills, NJ, initiates a recycling program and establishes the Emergency Committee in response to war service demands.

1919

JL Milwaukee, WI, founds the Curative Workshop (now Curative Care Network) for restoration therapy. In its first year of operation, Curative provided 240 treatments to 28 pediatric patients. Today, they serve thousands of clients every year.

1920 s

1920 s

1922

JL Syracuse, NY, starts the first prenatal clinic in Syracuse, recognizing a critical need for maternal health services and access to care for expectant mothers.

1922

JL Racine, WI, partnered with the Community Welfare Fund (now United Way of Racine County) to establish a boarding home for children in need.

JL Denver, CO, opens the Junior League House, also known at the Preventorium. This building was established to care for children exposed to tuberculosis.

1923

JL San Francisco, CA, opens the Junior League House – a temporary residence for children awaiting placement in foster homes.

1924

JL Indianapolis, IN, equips and decorates an occupational therapy clinic for the dedication of Riley Hospital.

JL Greater Princeton, NJ, launches its first League project – a baby shelter where small children could temporarily be housed and cared for when mothers were too ill to care for them at home. It served 450 children before its closing in 1934.

JL Seattle, WA, initiates the Braille Library for the Blind. The League also owned and operated the only Braille stereotyping machine in the west, making books for the blind that were distributed throughout the country.

1925

JL Reading, PA, opens The Junior League House, a settlement house in its area.

It is hard to quantify the impact of The Junior League. With a 125-year legacy and over 295 individual Leagues across six countries, the reach of this organization is varied and wide-reaching. In the pages ahead, you’ll find a snapshot of the many ways Junior Leagues have strengthened their communities, an inspiring glimpse into the remarkable work of the women who make this movement what it is.

1920 s

1927

JL Richmond, VA, establishes the Memorial Child Guidance Clinic Therapeutic Workshop to provide art, music, and carpentry classes for children with behavioral problems. It is the first program of its kind in the country.

1928

JL Oranges and Short Hills, NJ, opens the Occupational Therapy Workshop.

JL Roanoke Valley, VA, starts a health school, hiring a dietitian to teach underprivileged children the value of a healthy diet.

1930 s

1930

JL Rockford, IL, opens the KenRock Community Center, providing community-oriented services to over 58,000 citizens annually.

1931

JL Augusta, GA, raffles off an airplane ride with Amelia Earhart as a fundraiser.

In response to unemployment during the Great Depression, JL Cincinnati, OH, Members fed 1,000–1,500 men a day at the Cincinnati Opera while the League’s Legislative Committee

1930 s 1930 s

produced monthly reports on emerging economic relief legislation that would later inform what became the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

1932

The Children’s Theatre of Charleston opens thanks to funding and support from JL Charleston, WV.

JL Mobile, AL, forms a dental clinic to provide oral health services to the community.

JL Birmingham, AL, establishes a Salvage Station to collect clothes, household and other items for those affected by the Great Depression.

1933

JL Raleigh, NC, began hosting the North Carolina Governor’s Inaugural Ball, a fundraising and community celebration honoring newly elected state leaders and generating proceeds that support local nonprofit programs — a tradition the League continues to uphold today.

1934

JL Lancaster, PA, purchases and restores James Buchanan’s Wheatland home, preserving a piece of national history.

In partnership with the Asheville Rotary Club, JL Asheville, NC, establishes an Orthopedic Home.

JL Stamford-Norwalk, CT, establishes the Stamford Hospital Book Wagon to provide enrichment to hospitalized members of the community.

JL Montgomery, AL, works with area health care professionals to open specialized health clinics for the public, including prenatal, tonsil, dental, and tuberculosis care, as well as services for children with disabilities.

1935

JL Greensboro, NC, partners with Greensboro Daily News to write a weekly column with the aim of helping the community understand the Mission and work of The Junior League.

1936

JL Miami, FL, founds the Children’s Service Bureau of Dade County, Inc., which assisted in foster placement for children. The program would go on to assist Cuban children during Operation Pedro Pan when many parents, fearing the Communist regime in Cuba, sent their children to Miami.

1938

JL St. Joseph, MO, starts the Family and Children’s Bureau, which is now known as Family Guidance.

JL Rhode Island donates funds to establish a Young People’s Theater.

JL Duluth, MN, forms the Duluth Mental Hygiene Clinic to provide mental health support for children. The organization still exists, now known as the Human Development Center.

1930 s

JL Akron, OH, establishes the Child Guidance Center (now Child Guidance & Family Solutions).

1939

JL St. Petersburg, FL, helps create the Children’s Service Bureau to aid, neglected, and justice system-involved children.

JL Charlotte, NC, establishes the Medical Social Service Department at Memorial Hospital.

1940 s

1940

JL Boise, ID, partners with the Salvation Army to create the Booth Memorial Home for unwed mothers.

1941

JL Greater New Haven, CT, establishes the Central Volunteer Bureau to correlate wartime and social agency needs with the abilities and interests of volunteers.

1942

JL Cleveland, OH, forms the Education Committee, which later became the State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC), with the eight other Ohio Leagues, to endorse a bill concerning licensing of Practical Nurses.

1943

JL El Paso, TX, establishes Goodwill Girl’s Club out of a wartime need for a recreational program for teenage girls. This early effort would result in an ongoing citywide recreational program with the City of El Paso and the public school system.

1940 s 1950 s

JL Indianapolis, IN, establishes the Central Avenue Day Care Center in cooperation with the Indianapolis Emergency Day Care Services, Inc.

1944

In partnership with the Rotary Club of Sacramento, JL Sacramento, CA, founds the Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento, an organization providing a spectrum of services for youth in crisis.

1945

JL Eastern Fairfield County, CT, established a community cancer detection center to expand access to early screening and preventive care for women.

1947

JL Tulsa, OK, helped establish the Clubfoot Clinic at St. John Hospital to expand specialized care for children.

JL Evanston-North Shore, IL, receives a Peabody Award for the Radio Group, “Books Bring Adventure” program broadcast to 48,000 children.

JL Amarillo, TX, starts a Parks and Recreation program to provide supervised play in five city parks.

1948

JL Des Moines, IA, assists in the establishment of Living History Farms, a 500-acre open-air museum.

1949

JL Jackson, MS, opens the Carver Branch Library, the first Jackson public library available to African Americans.

JL Flint, MI, created a Cerebral Palsy Nursery to support young children with specialized care.

JL Winston-Salem, NC, founds the Arts Council, the first locallyestablished arts council in the nation.

1950

JL Hartford, CT, partners with the Film Caption Bureau and the American School for the Deaf to add subtitles to films.

JL Miami, FL, founds the Junior Museum of Science, the first science museum in Miami.

1951

UNESCO recognizes JL Mexico City, Mexico's Braille printing press as one of the two most important centers in Latin America.

1952

JL Williamsport, PA, launches the “Golden Age Club” for seniors to have opportunities for connection and support.

1954

JL High Point, NC, established the Center School for Exceptional Children to expand access to specialized education.

JL Binghamton, NY, coordinates the Community Ambassador Program, a program that sponsors high school students to visit foreign countries. When students return, arrangements are made for them to speak to community groups about their experiences.

1955

JL Greater Springfield, MA, founds The Junior Workshop, a pre-school for children with disabilities.

JL Great Lakes Bay Region, MI, contributes to the establishment of a Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip Clinic,

1950 s

expanding access to vital specialized care for children and families in the region.

1956

The Dede Wallace Center, the first mental health center of its kind, is built on the property of JL Nashville, TN’s headquarters.

1957

JL Pittsburgh, PA, helps to start a Traveler’s Aid booth at the Pittsburgh Airport, which provides information to travelers.

1959

JL Greenville, SC, gives $5,000 towards the first Greenville County Art Museum in Gassaway Mansion.

1960 s

1960

JL Baton Rouge, LA, and the Quota Club establish the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation to provide support to adults and children with communication challenges.

JL Fort Worth, TX, Community Research Committee provides vital research that assists in the creation of the Child Welfare Unit through the State Department of Public Welfare.

JL Mahoning Valley, OH, holds the Children’s Arts Festival at Butler Art Gallery.

1961

JL Shreveport-Bossier, LA, establishes

1960 s 1960 s

the Speech Correction Center (now the Alexander Speech Center) for children with aphasia.

JL Norfolk-Virginia Beach, VA, cosponsors the Tidewater Conference on the Handicapped, which led to the creation and funding of the Rehabilitation Center.

1962

In partnership with the Visiting Nurses Association, JL Lehigh Valley, PA, funds, launches, and staffs a Homemaker Service Program for families with an ill primary caregiver.

1963

JL Eastern Fairfield County, CT, develops Project YOU (Youth Opportunities Unlimited), which was nominated for a Lane Bryant Award and featured in LIFE Magazine.

JL Phoenix, AZ, helps establish a Cystic Fibrosis Clinic at Good Samaritan Hospital.

JL Santa Barbara, CA, helps develop the Child’s Estate, a community project that would later become the Santa Barbara Zoo.

1964

JL St. Louis, MO, launches Junior Kindergarten in a joint venture with the YMCA. Junior Kindergarten assisted disadvantaged children prepare for public school. This program became the role model for the federal Head Start program.

1965

As Dutch Elm Disease devastates tree-lined streets, JL Sioux City, IA, participates in Project PEACH (Planned Environmental Action Can Help), a community effort to help stymie the fungus and beautify the city for future generations.

JL Lynchburg, VA, helps found

the Lynchburg Sheltered Industries, an organization that provides employment to people with intellectual and physically disabilities.

JL South Bend, IL, restores the library at the County Historical Society, remodels an exhibit, and develops docent programs and traveling exhibits.

1966

JL Minneapolis, MN, begins offering music therapy to a variety of groups, from schools to nursing homes.

JL Hampton Roads, VA, and the Warwick Rotary Club fund the establishment of the Junior Nature Museum and Planetarium.

JL Columbus, GA, helps establish the Historic Columbus Foundation to preserve historical sites throughout the city.

1967

JL Albany, NY, establishes Albany’s Volunteer Bureau, which matches Capital Region organizations with volunteers. The bureau becomes one of 30 Volunteer Action Centers in the United States.

JL Summit, NJ, establishes the Summit Speech School to provide oral education for children deafened due to a 1960s epidemic of maternal rubella.

JL Oklahoma City, OK, initiates establishment of the Oklahoma City Arts Council.

1960 s

1968

JL Toledo, OH, launches the Special Grandparent Program (now the nationwide Foster Grandparents Program)which enlisted older adults to support long-term hospitalized children through friendship.

1969

JL San Antonio, TX, created a volunteer Docent program at the San Antonio Zoo to strengthen public education.

JL Oakland-East Bay, CA, publishes Oakland, The Mellow City , a compilation of student art and literature.

1970 s

1970

JL Omaha, NE, assists in the creation of Girls Inc. of Omaha, an organization still in existence today.

With assistance from JL Lake Charles, LA, the Family and Youth Counseling Agency is established to provide affordable and professional support through programs and services dedicated to advocacy, counseling, and education.

JL Dayton, OH, donates an Adolescent Unit to Dayton Children’s Hospital in honor of the Leagues’ 50th anniversary.

Alongside the Honolulu Police Department and Family Court, JL Honolulu, HI, founds Hale Kipa, a runaway shelter.

1971

California Leagues found their State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) to develop and promote legislation benefitting women and children.

JL Albuquerque, NM, establishes KIDS

1970 s

(Kindergarten in Demand Statewide) to advocate for state laws creating kindergartens statewide.

JL Charlotte, NC, opened the Charlotte Drug Education Center to expand community drug prevention education.

1972

JL Fort Smith, AR, assists in establishing the Child-Family Guidance Center, known today as the Western Arkansas and Guidance Center, a community health facility that provides wide range of coordinated health care services to treat mental, emotional, behavioral, and substance use disorders.

JL Richmond, VA, founds the Learning Disabilities Council, piloting the Language Education Assistance Program (LEAP) in Richmond public schools.

JL Stark County, OH, wins the Goodwill Award for its Handicapped Handbook, a Canton area guide for people with physical disabilities.

1973

JL Oranges and Short Hills, NJ, provides funding for the restoration of the Eastlea Group Foster Home, a home for troubled girls.

JL Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula, CA, begins Environmental Volunteers, a League project that would go on to become an

1970 s

independent nonprofit serving over 260,000 children and inspiring a love of science and nature.

1974

JL Salt Lake City, UT, helped found the Rape Recovery Center, identifying a critical need for survivor-centered services.

In partnership with Moody House and the Methodist Retirement Communities Facility, JL Galveston County, TX, launches Galveston Island Meals on Wheels, which has delivered more than 500,000 meals to the elderly and homebound since its inception.

JL Peoria, IL, launches YES (Youth Emergency Services) through the Florence Crittenden Home and Youth Services System, where the League provided emergency care and shelter to runaway girls.

1975

The Houston Museum of Natural Science unveils a Diplodocus dinosaur brain, acquired with the support of JL Houston, TX.

JL Greater Lakeland, FL, founds the Learning Disabilities Center (now Learning Resource Center of Polk County), offering personalized supplemental education programs and consulting services for parents.

1976

JL Eugene, OR, spearheads the creation of Relief Nursery, an organization that’s grown from a small respite program to a comprehensive child abuse prevention program.

In partnership with the Arts Council of Corpus Christi, JL Corpus Christi,

1970 s

TX, sponsors Bayfest, a three-day music festival celebrating the unique cultural and ethnic diversity of their city.

Children’s Workshop, a program started by two JL Grand Rapids, MI, Members to care for children while their mothers volunteered, becomes a licensed preschool.

With the support of Jack Turner from USC Upstate, JL Spartanburg, SC, begins the Lawson’s Fork Creek Project, which would become the River Birch Trail – Spartanburg’s first paved trail.

JL Columbus, OH, assumes stewardship of the Kelton House Museum & Garden, preserving this historic Underground Railroad site and transforming it into a center for education and storytelling about life in 19th-century Ohio.

1977

JL Waco, TX, created a Musical Therapy Troupe to perform for older adults in nursing homes.

JL Oranges and Short Hills, NJ, in collaboration with St. Barnabas Medical Center, opened an Alcohol Information Center.

JL Great Falls, MT, revitalized Paris Gibson Square as a community cultural center.

1978

JL Monterey County, CA, begins a collaboration with the Soledad Correctional Training Facility to host a picnic for incarcerated individuals in rehabilitation to engage them in restoring historic buildings in the area.

1970 s

JL Toronto, ONT, creates and distributes “Toronto with Ease,” a guidebook to Metropolitan Toronto establishments for older adults and people with disabilities.

1979

JL Ogden, UT, establishes the Family Support Center, a 24/7 nursery offering “no questions asked” drop-off care for hours at a time, providing a safe haven to overwhelmed parents to prevent abuse.

JL Morristown, NJ, funded the establishment of the Jersey Battered Women’s Shelter for survivors of domestic violence.

1980 s

1980

JL Tucson, AZ, helps open St. Luke’s Home, an assisted living facility for older adults with limited financial means.

JL Scranton, PA, purchases and restores the Historic Tripp Family Homestead, the oldest standing home in Lackawanna County, owned by the area’s first settler.

JL Buffalo, NY, designs and develops Co-Care, a drop-in childcare facility for children of alcoholic parents.

1980 s

JL Sarasota, FL, establishes a countywide program called Partnerships and Alliances Linking Schools (PALS) to recruit, train, and recognize volunteers for Sarasota County Schools.

In collaboration with KATV Channel 7, JL Little Rock, AR, creates the pioneering consumer advocacy program, Seven on Your Side.

1981

JL Harrisburg, PA, helps found the Museum of Scientific Discovery (now part of the Whitker Center).

JL Wichita Falls, TX, helps establish Wichita Falls Crimestoppers which has led to the recovery of over $4 million in stolen property, over 5,000 arrests, and 8,479 cases cleared.

JL Lubbock, TX, helps open the Family Guidance Outreach Center in response to an increasing number of child abuse and neglect cases in its region.

1982

JL Bristol, TN, sponsored Discover 1982, an enrichment program for gifted children at King College.

JL Tyler, TX, helps found Hospice of East Texas to provide comfort and support to people nearing the end of their lives.

JL Chicago, IL, partners with the Education Resource Center, Columbia College, and Loyola University to found Express-Ways Children’s Museum, which would later become the Chicago Children’s Museum.

1983

JL Annapolis, MD, launches Operation Shoplift to educate school children on the ramifications of theft and to keep juveniles from getting involved in shoplifting.

JL Tuscaloosa, AL, led fundraising efforts to open The Junior League Gallery in the historic Bama Theatre,

1980 s

a community art space that showcases local and regional artists.

JL Gaston County, NC, publishes and distributes their Child Day Care Fly Sheet, as well as opens an Adult Day Care Center – addressing the needs of community members from young to old.

JL Odessa, TX, launches APGO (As Parents Grow Older) to provide education and resources for those with aging parents.

1984

JL Cobb–Marietta, GA, alongside community partners, helped open a shelter through the Center for Children and Young Adults.

JL Knoxville, TN, in partnership with the Knoxville Chamber and United Way of Greater Knoxville, helped create Leadership Knoxville, an organization that continues to operate today.

JL San Angelo, TX, helps found Sonrisas Therapeutic Riding, a facility that uses horses for healing and empowerment for people with physical, emotional, and mental disabilities.

JL Calgary, AB, completes a fouryear Women’s Oral History Project, interviewing prominent area women about their community involvement.

1985

JL Champaign-Urbana, IL, establishes Emergency Food and Family Service, which develops into the Women’s Emergency Shelter of Champaign County.

JL Bergen County, NJ, in partnership with the Special Services School District of Bergen County, established the Toy Library for the Handicapped to adapt donated toys for children with disabilities.

1980 s

1986

JL Huntington, WV, created a task force on child abuse that later became TEAM for West Virginia, a charitable organization providing support services and advocacy for child abuse victims.

JL Los Angeles, CA, is the first League to establish an AIDS project, a hotline and corporate Speaker’s Bureau.

The JLs Topeka, Wichita, and Johnson & Wyandotte Counties, in partnership with the Kansas Children’s Service League, established Kansas Action for Children, a statewide child advocacy organization.

JL Cedar Rapids, IA, opened the Science Station, a community science and technology museum.

JL Montclair-Newark, NJ, helps establish Essex County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to promote the welfare of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment

1987

JL Charleston, SC, partners with the National Council of Negro Women, Delta Sigma Theta, and the AME Church to launch a media campaign on adolescent pregnancy.

JL DeKalb County, GA, helps establish the Women’s Resource Center for Battered Women in DeKalb County.

JL Las Vegas, NV, creates the AdoptA-Bear Project (now Holiday Bear) to provide holiday magic to children in atrisk schools. Since its inception, more than 100,000 gifts have been given to over 9,000 underprivileged children.

1988

JL Elizabeth-Plainfield, NJ, begins its partnership with Healthy Families Elizabeth to provide holiday joy for over 200 children.

1980 s

1989

JL Fayetteville, NC, launches TOTS (Tots of Teens) to assist teenage mothers in completing their education.

JL Spokane, WA, donates a 26-ton Radio Flyer wagon sculpture to the city.

JL Alexandria, LA, develops Louis Latchkey, a kids calling card project providing after-school contact for latchkey kids, co-sponsored and operated jointly with the YWCA.

JL New Orleans, LA, partners with the Preservation Resource Center and Shell to launch “Rebuilding Together,” a project that renovates homes for low-income, elderly, and/or disabled homeowners.

1990 s

1990

JL Washington, D.C., received a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to open a developmental daycare for homeless children and their families and launched Bright Beginnings, a Head Start program that continues to operate today.

JL Morgan County, AL, funds the Youth Enrichment Program at Carrie Matthews Recreation Center.

JL the Emerald Coast, FL, launches the Amanda the Panda Project

1990 s 1990 s 1990 s

designed to help educate parents of newborns on safety issues.

JL Texarkana, TX, helps establish the Children’s Dental Clinic to provide free services to children in need.

JL Monmouth County, NJ, launches the Hand-In-Hand Infant/Toddler Center to support teen mothers at Long Branch High School.

1991

JL Lafayette, LA, launches the Homework Hotline, a live, callin, peer-facilitated homework assistance program on Acadiana Open Channel.

JL Fresno, CA, procured the original Bloodmobile for the Central California Blood Center to expand blood collection and donation efforts across the region.

JL Lansing, MI, brings Ele’s Place to its community, a healing center for grieving children and teens.

1992

JL Baltimore, MD, launched “Tuesdays at the Library,” an afterschool program providing homework help and enrichment activities for elementary school children.

JL Monroe, LA, participates in Shots for Tots to expand vaccination access in its community.

1993

JL Fort Wayne, IN, spearheads the establishment of Erin’s House for Grieving Children.

JL Lincoln, NE, develops programs and educational tours of the Lincoln Children’s Zoo for schoolaged children.

JL Florence, SC, published The Parent’s Manual , an accessible guide connecting families to education, recreation, social, and medical resources after four years of research on infant mortality.

JL Ocala, FL, partners with DCF and Children’s Home Society to build the Family Visitation Center and Haven House.

JL Panama City, FL, established the After School Assistance Program (ASAP) in the Pana Villa Apartments through the Panama City Police Department to support children and families and address juvenile crime and rising dropout rates.

JL Memphis, TN, is instrumental in opening Hope House Memphis, an organization created to improve the quality of life for individuals and families affected by HIV and poverty.

JL Riverside, CA, helps establish the Riverside General Hospital Pediatric Playground.

1994

JL Reading, PA, assists in the establishment of Beacon House (now Opportunity House) and Second Street Learning Center, offering essential services to vulnerable and transient populations in the region.

JL Wilkes-Barre, PA, Members accompanied mothers experiencing homelessness from the Catherine McAuley House on a holiday shopping excursion to provide support, dignity, and practical assistance.

1995

JL Kalamazoo, MI, is invited to participate in the White House Dialogue on Maternal and Child Health.

JL Sioux Falls, IA, establishes a local CASA program to provide advocates for victims in court proceedings.

JL Kingston, TN, bakes and delivers pies to Angel Food East, a nonprofit providing meals for HIV/AIDs patients and their families.

JL Bronxville, NY, founds the Bereavement Center of Westchester and launches The Tree House, a special program for children grieving the loss of a parent or sibling. It is one of the first grief centers created solely for children and their families in the United States.

1996

JL Jacksonville, FL, partners with the Cultural Council to launch the Cultural Arts Network Volunteers and Students (CANVAS) program, a model employment program for atrisk youth based in the arts.

JL Johnson City, TN, places volunteers at Watauga Mental Health Center in such areas as the Child Abuse Review Team, Traces, and Therapeutic Nursery.

1990 s

JL San Jose, CA, co-hosts the 1996 State Farm US Figure Skating Championship, raising $572,908.

JL London, England, launches Holiday Hampers, delivering supplies to over 1,000 families annually through 14 community partners.

JL Tampa, FL, launches Tampa’s Kids Connect, a project which hosts events that give prospective adopters and foster children an opportunity to meet and form a forever family.

1997

JL Macon, GA, assists in the formation of the Teen Parent Center to provide information and services to teen parents.

JL Tacoma, WA, hosted its Decorators’ Showhouse and Garden Tour at Lakewold Gardens with keynote speaker Martha Stewart; the three-day event raised $118,000 for League programs.

JL Wilmington, NC, helps found DREAMS of Wilmington, a youth development organization providing equitable access to arts education.

JL Saint Paul, MN, establishes the Minnesota chapter of Silent Witness. They are one of a number of Leagues to march on Washington with lifesized figures representing women murdered by domestic violence to increase awareness of the issue.

1998

JL Northern Virginia, VA, implements a homeless database system in 15 area homeless shelters.

1990 s

1999

JL Salt Lake, UT, hosts the CARE (Community Assistance Resource Event) Fair, an event for families needing routine medical, dental, and vision services.

JL Northwest Arkansas, AR, completed a community needs assessment that identified domestic violence as a critical issue and partnered with The Children’s Safety Center of Washington County, EOA Children’s House, Peace at Home Family Shelter, and NWA Women’s Shelter to address its causes and impacts.

2000 s

2000

JL Fort Myers, FL, helped establish Our Mother’s Home and the Harlem Heights Foundation.

JL Bryan–College Station, TX, launched its signature project, Stuff the Bus, providing thousands of children in their communities with essential school supplies each year.

JL McAllen, TX, partnered with the community to plan and build RioScape, a million-dollar Discovery Park at the International Museum of Art and Science (IMAS).

JL Collin County, TX, initiated the Collin County Council on Family Violence (CCCFV) and continues to play a leadership role in managing the Council.

JL Colorado Springs, CO, provided funding and project implementation

2000 s

assistance to launch Court Care, a program that offers quality child care for individuals with courtrelated business.

JL Orange County, CA, partnered with Casa Teresa to mentor homeless pregnant women and new mothers, supporting their transition back into the community.

2001

JL Pueblo, CO, launches the Book Swap community project where children bring in an old book to ‘swap’ it with a new one.

JL the Palm Beaches, FL, helps establish and build Quantum House, a supportive home for families of children receiving serious medical treatment in Palm Beach County.

2002

JL Boca Raton, FL, establishes the Grant Library, providing comprehensive tools for nonprofits to research potential funding opportunities.

JL Schenectady & Saratoga Counties, NY, establishes Operation Back-ToSchool to provide school supplies to elementary school students.

2003

JL Pasadena, CA, establishes Girls Rock! to provide developmental learning experiences for middle school girls.

2004

JL Lexington, KY, funds a training grant for the Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency of the Bluegrass, Inc. to provide training on the prevention and detection of sexual assault in nursing homes.

JL Portland, ME, in partnership with Maine Behavioral Healthcare, developed the Trauma Intervention Program to connect individuals and families affected by trauma or tragedy with immediate support services.

JL Huntsville, AL, completes a multiyear project to build a shelter for runaway teens. The shelter now houses one of the League’s longtime partners, Harris Home for Children.

2005

JL Athens, GA, in partnership with Family Promise of Athens, established the Costume Closet to collect new and gently used Halloween costumes for low-income children.

2006

JL Ann Arbor, MI, partners with the University Center for the Child and Family to develop Strong Moms, Strong Girls: Creating Healthy Female Relationships.

JL Greater Covington, LA, launches Girls Health Day, a health and wellness fair for girls aged 8-14 and their mothers or guardians.

2007

JL Springfield, MO, establishes Isabel’s House, the Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks, a 24/7 residential care facility for children from at-risk homes.

2008

JL Napa-Sonoma, CA, provides the first seed funding to Museum-OnThe-Go, expanding outreach across the county and supporting access to early STEAM education.

JL Beaumont, TX, assists in founding the Southeast Texas Family Resource Center.

2009

JL Pelham, NY, spearheads the Memory Box Project, compiling and

2000 s 2010 s

distributing memory boxes to local hospitals to be given to parents who experience the loss of an infant.

JL Fort Collins, CO, launches the Career Closet, providing professional attire to underprivileged communities looking to enter or advance in the workforce.

Thirteen Georgia Leagues participate in the Georgia Million Minute Read initiative. The aim of the project is to read for a million minutes to children throughout the year.

In collaboration with the Community Foundation of Broward and the United Way of Broward, JL Greater Fort Lauderdale, FL, creates FLITE (Florida Independence, Training & Education) Center, offering comprehensive access to services for youth aging out of foster care.

2010 s

2010

JL Columbia, SC, hosts its first JLC Healthy Kids Fair, providing free vision, dental, and BMI screenings for underserved children.

JL Lufkin, TX, launches its signature project, Back to School Bonanza, providing backpacks, school supplies, uniforms, and shoes to school-aged children in need.

Laura Bush speaks at “In the Spotlight” Speaker Series for JL York, PA. Other speakers at various iterations of this event include Colin Powell, Katie Couric, Sidney Poitier, Margaret

Thatcher, Her Majesty Queen Noor, Bill O’Reilly, and Walter Cronkite, among many others.

JL Greater Orlando, FL, establishes HIP (Healthy, Informed, Playful) Kids to address the immediate and longterm critical health and nutritional needs of children living in a food desert.

JL Rochester, NY, helps establish Home Start Hope, an organization that supports women and children in their transition from homelessness to independent living.

2011

JL Worcester, MA, launches Food 4 Thought, a self-sufficiency seminar series for young women.

JL Kingsport, TN, launches Children Exceeding Expectations, a program offering free schooling for children with cancer and severe immune deficiency disorders.

JL Las Cruces, NM, hosts KidFit!, a kid’s fitness expo offering free games and activities to children in the community and promoting physical activity and healthy eating.

JL Long Beach, CA, launches LUNAFEST, a film festival for short films by, for, and about women.

ACR 53 Perinatal Depression Awareness Act is co-sponsored by JL Los Angeles, CA.

For its 90th anniversary, JL Dallas, TX, Members build a home through Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity. The home benefited a client served by JL Dallas partner agency New Friends New Life, which provides support to formerly trafficked women and girls.

2012

JL Gwinnett and North Fulton Counties, GA, hosts Ladies Night Out at Emory John’s Creek Hospital – a combination social and health

2010 s

event that provides free screenings and doctor consults alongside food, vendors, and raffles.

JL Quad Cities, IA/IL, hosts I AM Strong Mudventure Race, offering women an opportunity to bond and support one another through a fun, but physically challenging exercise, while collaborating with area businesses to support local charities that positively impact their community.

JL of the Space Coast, FL, begins its signature project, Fueling Families, focusing on eradicating poverty and food insecurity in Brevard County.

JL Springfield, IL, launches its Capacity Building Grant Program, providing funds to people and startup organizations to defray the cost of management training, governance, and leadership of the applicant organization. To date, the program has distributed over $76,000.

2013

JL Norman, OK, hosts Paws for Parks, a project that includes park beautification and provides an onsite veterinarian to offer microchipping for pets.

JL San Joaquin County, CA, hosts its first FESTIVALE, a promreplacement party for special needs students, serving between 200400 students aged 18-22 enrolled in San Joaquin County Young Adult Programs.

JL Savannah, GA, launches its signature project Fit Kids Fest to promote healthy habits to local children.

2010 s 2010 s

JL San Diego, CA, hosts its first annual human trafficking awareness rally to educate people on how they can make a difference in human trafficking at a local level.

2014

JL Pensacola, FL, launches Healthy Halloween, a free community event offering families a safe, health-focused alternative to traditional trick-ortreating. The event serves around 150 children annually, who may otherwise miss out on Halloween festivities due to illness or hospitalization, including pediatric patients at Ascension Sacred Heart.

JL Central Westchester, NY, launches its signature project Best Start to prepare children for the Family Services of Westchester Head Start program.

Alongside the Arlington Independent School District, the Churches of Arlington, Arlington NAACP, the Salvation Army North Texas Youth Education Town, and the Gene & Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation, JL Arlington, TX, launches the AISD Back to School Kick Off. This event provides backpacks and school supplies, as well as haircuts, dental exams, and vision screenings to schoolchildren and youth.

In partnership with AMP, JL Waterloo Cedar Falls, IA, launches Suitcases to support teens aging out of foster care with starter home essentials.

2015

JL Longview, TX, hosts its inaugural Poverty Conference at LeTourneau University aimed at raising awareness of the impacts of poverty and collaborating with community leaders on solutions.

JL Greenwich, CT, launches the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Support Group, designed for young women diagnosed with breast cancer in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.

2016

JL Billings, MT, hosts its first annual Montana Women’s Leadership Conference to empower women to become mindful leaders in the community.

JL Westchester on the Sound, NY, opens the Westchester Children’s Museum at Playland Park in Rye.

JL Richardson, TX, reaches a landmark 50,000 children served via their Don’t Wait to Vaccinate clinic, a partnership with Richardson Methodist Medical Center and the City of Richardson.

JL Madison, WI, hosts CyberWise, a free community outreach event for parents about keeping kids safe online, presented by former NCIS Special Agent Heather Ryan.

JL Long Island, NY, donates more than $30,000 to the Town of Oyster Bay for an inclusive playground at Haypath Park in Old Bethpage.

JL Orange County, NY, receives the Corporate Bell Award from the Mental Health Association.

JL Bakersfield, CA, begins a partnership with the Bakersfield Homeless Center, providing homeless children residing at the center with a one-of-a-kind birthday party.

JL Atlanta, GA, helps pass the Safe Harbor Act, which extends the statute of limitations for child sex victims.

JL Greater Elmira Corning, NY, establishes a teen hangout space at the Southside Community Center.

2017

JL Martin County, FL, partners with House of Hope to launch the Golden Bridges to Success program, a series of educational opportunities geared toward developing life skills not necessarily addressed by public schools.

2010 s

JL Charlottesville, VA, partners with Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline to support girls in the English Language Learner Program at Greenbrier Elementary.

JL Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, launches League Lockers, a program that provides kids and teens with school supplies, snacks, hygiene items, and other essentials that remove barriers to learning.

JL Wheeling, WV, revitalizes the Janie S. Altmeyer Playground, swapping outdated equipment with more sustainable materials and adding two additional ADAcompliant attractions.

2018

JL the Shoals, AL, hosts the Special Olympics Banquet to honor local Special Olympians and provide them with encouragement for their competitions.

JL Murfreesboro, TN, partners with the Tennessee Equality Project for Boro Pride, a free event celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.

JL Champlain Valley, VT, partners with Spectrum Youth and Family Services, a nationally recognized leader in helping youth aged 12-26 and their families turn their lives around.

JL Poughkeepsie, NY, holds its first Girls Empowerment Day to introduce high school-aged girls to civic awareness and advocacy.

In partnership with other community partners, JL North Little Rock, AR, helps the North Little Rock School District establish Book Express, a mobile library to maintain literacy advancement during school breaks.

2010 s 2010 s

JL Anniston-Calhoun, AL, launches G2: Girls Graduate Mentorship Program at Anniston High School to provide mentoring for ninth grade girls and improve graduation rates in their community.

JL Greater Winter Haven, FL, launches Project Stork, an initiative that provides supplies and resources to new mothers in need.

JL Gainesville-Hall County, GA, launches the Diaper Bank of North Georgia, distributing its one millionth diaper by 2025.

JL Yakima, WA, launches the Young Women’s Leadership Summit in alignment with their Girls Initiative: Inspiring Girls, Empowering Leaders. This summit aims to provide a safe space for middle school girls to collaborate on issues and increase self-esteem.

In collaboration with Abilene ISD’s Department of Homeless Services, JL Abilene, TX, launches the Homeless Youth Project to address issues of health and hygiene, food insecurity, clothing, and necessary resource access for homeless youth.

In collaboration with the Austin Independent School District, JL Austin, TX, launches Kids in Cool Shoes, a program to provide new, well-fitting athletic shoes to students at local elementary schools in high-need areas.

2019

JL the Woodlands, TX, founds InSTEP, a program dedicated to impacting the lives of youth and teens in the community by providing services and helping teens develop resilience, life skills, and self-worth.

JL Kansas City, MO, hosts its first C3KC, a collaborative conference that brings together the civic, corporate, and nonprofit communities to spark change in their community.

JL Manatee County, FL, hosts Field Day Adventure, a social event for children and their families grieving the loss of a parent, sibling or guardian.

JL Harlingen, TX, launches GEMS (Girls Education Mentoring Series), a program for middle school girls designed to create a sense of support and sisterhood and to foster leadership skills.

Following a mass shooting in Midland and Odessa, JL Midland, TX, launches Stop the Bleed and Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events training alongside the Midland Fire departments and other community members.

JL Golden Isles, GA, launches Confidence Closet at Correll Teen Center to provide menstrual items with dignity to those experiencing period poverty.

2020 s 2020 s 2020 s

2020

JL Daytona Beach, FL, builds an outdoor classroom for the PACE Center for Girls to accommodate social distancing precautions during COVID-19.

JL Lawton, OK, starts a new partner project with Marie Detty New Directions Women’s Shelter and Marie Detty Parker Pointe Girls Home, providing mentoring services and volunteer assistance to fulfill program needs.

JL Tallahassee, FL, launches Mighty Meals (now Big Bend Bites) to assist in the fight against childhood hunger and food insecurity.

JL Durham and Orange Counties, NC, partners with Root Causes to aid in its mission of changing the food system through education, outreach, community service, and advocacy.

2021

JL Moore County, NC, creates Life Books for children in foster care, allowing social workers to keep memories, mementos, and records and building a positive identity and understanding of their histories.

JL Indian River, FL, hosts its first Women, Wealth, and Health Fair to provide financial literacy and health resources to women in their community.

In honor of its 100th anniversary, JL Louisville, KY, awards $200,000 in grants to community organizations.

JL Greenville, NC, hosts its first annual Volunteer Expo, connecting community members with up to 70 local nonprofits and organizations seeking volunteers, board members, and project support.

JL Anderson County, SC, partners with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department to launch its signature

Seats for Safety Program, providing over $13,000 in car seats annually to families in need.

In partnership with Calvin A Hunsinger School, JL ClearwaterDunedin, FL, launches Calvin’s Closet, a project that provides students with access to food, clothing, and hygiene products.

JL Greater New Bern, NC, launches its Prom Boutique to provide new and gently used prom dresses to underprivileged girls in their community.

JL the Eastern Panhandle, WV, launches Fresh Start: Box of Basics, a program that supplies young adults and teens who face food insecurity with a kitchen supply kit as they enter adulthood. The boxes contain basic cookware and pantry staples, as well as a cookbook with simple, affordable recipes.

2022

JL Greater Alton, IL, launches the Fostering Wishes Program, granting a ‘wish’ each month to teens in foster care, organizing Parent’s Night Out events for foster families, and coordinating with local organizations to identify the needs of the foster care community.

JL Evansville, IN, launches its Mobile Food Market to address the needs of those located in food deserts.

JL Jackson County, OR, launches the Bee Strong project, a program that provides domestic survivors who need to flee in a hurry with a pre-packed bag of essentials to get through the first few days, such as a cell phone, gift cards for food, water and snacks, baby and child supplies, and more.

JL Leesville, LA, partners with the Leesville Mayor's Women's Commission on “Love the Boot,” a city cleanup initiative.

JL Reno, NV, provides a $15,000 donation to the Volunteers of America Family Shelter, supporting the construction of a playground for residents.

The JL Grand Strand, SC, installs a Little Free Library, which has provided its community with more than 1,300 free children’s books.

2023

The Junior League Movement expands into a new continent with the admission of JL Nairobi, Kenya.

JL Owensboro, KY, hosts Free Laundry Day, an initiative that aims to support individuals and families in need by alleviating the burden of laundry costs, promoting dignity and access to clean clothing.

JL Bell County, TX, works with the Bell County Paralegal Association to put on a special event for National Adoption Day, ensuring children going through Child Protective Services (CPS) have a memorable day as they gain their forever families.

JL Nairobi, Kenya, partners with Toto Care Box to combat infant mortality in Kenya’s slums.

2024

The Junior League Movement expands further into Europe with the admission of Junior League La Côte d’Azur, France, into AJLI.

JL Olympia, WA, launches Club Moxie, a place for young women from sixth grade to age 20 to come together and participate in sessions covering topics such as consent, self-defense, healthy relationships, social media safety, and more.

JL Victoria, TX, hosts Embracing Resilience: Survivors Speak Out, an event for sexual assault survivors to share their resilience and healing through stories, poetry, and art.

2020 s 2020 s 2020 s

JL Gainesville, FL, hosts The Amazing Give, a 12-hour event to raise money for local nonprofits through a single online donation platform. The 2025 iteration of this event would go on to raise $1.2 million for 118 local nonprofit programs in one day of giving.

JL Birmingham, MI, provides renovations to shelter facilities at HAVEN.

JL Lower Columbia, WA, launches Confidently You, a night of empowerment and wellness for middle school girls.

In partnership with the Ronald McDonald House, JL Columbia, MO, establishes a Family Room at MU Children’s Hospital.

2025

On the eighth anniversary of Hurricane Maria, JL Puerto Rico partnered with LimPiaR to lead a community coastline cleanup effort.

JL Auburn-Opelika, AL, designs Emmas Roome, a sensory room for the Exceptional Foundation of East Alabama, a social and recreational services organization for adults and children with intellectual disabilities. The room is completed as a New Member Project and is named after one of the Member’s daughters.

JL Douglas County, GA, donates and installs a washer and dryer at a local elementary school to provide hygienic services to children in need.

JL Albany, GA, unveils a NICU Library at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital to provide families with children’s

books to read to their babies during their stay.

JL Brownsville, TX, runs the Dollars and Sense clinic to support and prepare children for lifelong successful financial decision making.

JL Oxford, MS, hosts a donation drive collecting underwear and socks for the OPD Community Response Team and feminine hygiene products for Period@UM.

In partnership with members of the Houston County Bar, and other community leaders, JL Perry, GA, volunteers at Summerhill Community Living Center’s Pretty in Pink: Ms. Summerhill Pageant, a beauty pageant for senior citizens.

JL Greater Mankato, MN, hosts a community town hall on the state of childcare in their community to identify areas to make improvements.

In partnership with Columbia Fire and Rescue, JL Maury County, TN, establishes a Safe Haven Baby Box in their community.

JL Covington County, MS, renovates the Discovery Garden alongside Green Thumb Garden Club.

JL Howard County, MD, partners with Columbia Care Community to support local families in need by grocery shopping and delivering food directly to households facing food insecurity.

In partnership with MOG and Thalian, prominent women’s Mardi Gras krewes and social organizations,

JL of the Wiregrass, AL, hosts the 2025 Annual Witches Ride, a charity biking event to support children’s advocacy programs. With their participation, the League is able to provide $35,000 in funding to the Exchange Center and Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center.

JL Grayson County, TX, launches Happy Feet, a program for underprivileged children to pick out a new pair of shoes.

JL Prince George’s County, MD, hosts its first ever Fall Cleaning FUNDrive, collecting gently used clothes, shoes, toys, and household items to be distributed to programs that uplift women and strengthen families.

A LEGACY OF WOMEN LEADING CHANGE

BY JACQUELYN BAUMAN, AJLI DIRECTOR OF CONFERENCES & MEETINGS

In celebrating 125 years of the Junior League Movement, we honor our Mission to advance women’s leadership and strengthen communities. Throughout its history, the Movement has evolved beyond hands-on service or financial contributions to become a powerful force for leadership development, collaboration, and long-term community impact.

Though not always obvious, Junior Leagues have driven a number of social advancements through their initiatives, public policy, and advocacy work.

Beginning in the early twentieth century, Junior Leagues worked to level the social landscape and improve the lives of women across the United States. In the fall of 1914, at the first meeting of the Junior League of St. Louis, a group of young women rallied for women’s suffrage. At the 1916 Democratic Convention in St. Louis, the League joined other suffragists in a demonstration of over 7,000 women, successfully pressuring the Democratic Party to endorse women’s suffrage. Three years later, in March of 1919, the St. Louis League participated in the National American Suffrage Association’s golden jubilee convention. The 19th Amendment was passed three months later and in July 1919, Missouri became the 11th state to ratify it.

In 1920, other Leagues in the organization took up the charge to continue the work, as chapters such as the Junior League of Philadelphia, organized training events to help prepare women for their new voting responsibility.

During the 1930s, Leagues began taking a more active role in advocacy work with the creation of the first State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) – a coalition of Leagues dedicated to advocating legislation on the local and national level. Ohio pioneered this strategy by launching the Education Committee, in which the eight Buckeye State-Leagues joined forces to endorse a bill concerning the licensing of Practical Nurses. California and New Jersey followed suit in the 1960s and 70s to promote legislation benefitting women and children. Currently, eight SPACs enable Leagues to educate and take action on public policies relevant to the Junior League Mission.

Continuing the tradition of public policy and advocacy work on behalf of their communities, AJLI formed the Legislative Network in 1979. Comprised of individual Leagues, SPACs, and a regional council, the Legislative Network’s initial focus was health services and welfare reform for children.

To advance these priorities, they advocated for the Child Health Assurance Program (CHAP), a House bill proposed by Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA).

CHAP sought to expand, strengthen, and improve the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program and Medicaid services to low-income children and pregnant women. In the Summer of 1979, the Chairman of AJLI’s Child Advocacy Program, Jacquelyn Bates, submitted testimony to subcommittees of the House and Senate to advocate for the passing of this bill.

Despite passing in the House on December 11, 1979, CHAP failed to make it through the Senate. While it never became law, CHAP signaled the growing public demand for laws protecting children, reinforcing AJLI’s long-standing commitment to child welfare and health reform and energizing continued efforts.

A year later, AJLI’s Legislative Network championed the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980.

This landmark legislation reformed state-run foster care and adoption systems by mandating periodic reviews of the status of children in foster care and establishing federal assistance programs to encourage adoption of children with special needs.

The sitting Chairman of the Public Policy Committee, Meredith Hallowell, gave testimony before the Subcommittee on Public Assistance and Unemployment Compensation of the House Ways and Means Committee on March 12, 1981. Prior to her appearance, changes were proposed to the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act that would have negatively impacted the reforms and program subsidies. Hallowell opposed these changes, urging adequate funding for the programs to ensure their success.

Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) expressed his gratitude for, and highlighted the importance of, AJLI’s testimony in defense of the Child Welfare Act in 1981 and again in 1982.

“None have been so steadfast in their defense of children in need as the Association of Junior Leagues of America,” Moynihan stated in a March 13, 1982, Senate Congressional Record. “They have been quietly tenacious in their pursuit of fairness for those who cannot pursue it themselves…They deserve recognition and deep thanks.”

“ With their active assistance, Congress enacted the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980,” he continued. “The Junior League was the only national organization to testify against the administration’s attempt to repeal [the Act] and consolidate the programs it reformed…Spurred by the sensible protests of the Junior League, Congress …did not repeal the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980. ”

Not to be pigeonholed into one focus area, while the Legislative Network was securing protections for children, the Association at large was also seeking to provide safety and security for women and families affected by domestic violence. At the 1981 AJLI Annual Conference, a group of Leagues offered a position statement on domestic violence to be adopted by the Association, officially establishing domestic violence as a core public policy priority of the Association.

In 1983, AJLI was among a group of organizations to submit testimony calling for the introduction of national legislation addressing domestic violence. Following the introduction of the bill and the start of the Attorney General’s hearings, Maureen Hughes, a member of AJLI’s Board of Directors and past president of the Albany, NY, League, was called as a lead witness.

In the fall of 1984, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act – the first piece of national legislation dedicated to assisting victims of domestic violence – was passed, and in Winter of 1985, with the support of the Association and other groups, six million dollars in funding was granted for the implementation of the Act.

Individually, Leagues have been instrumental in advancing legislation to help improve the lives of members of their communities. From environmental protections to domestic violence awareness and protections to children’s welfare and beyond, Leagues have been at the forefront of making the world a better place through advocacy.

During the 1960s, water and air pollution fears spurred the rise of the environmental movement. The Northwestern Ohio Natural Resources Council approached the Junior League of Toledo to produce a film about the pollution of the Maumee River, a major tributary of Lake Erie. In November 1965, Fate of a River: Apathy or Action was released, receiving acclaim from press and civic leaders alike. Following the film’s reception, the Junior League of Toledo was invited by the Subcommittee on Natural Resources of the United States House Committee on Government Operations to testify at a September 1966 hearing on water pollution. The hearing helped pave the way for the Clean Water Act of 1972. Years later, the 2002 documentary Fate of a River: Revisited highlighted the progress made in cleaning up the Maumee River Watershed since the release of the 1965 film.

In the 1970’s, the Junior League of Bronxville began working with the Westchester County Department of Probation to develop court assistance programs for abused spouses.

The Yonkers Court Assistance Program for Abused Spouses, initiated and run by the Bronxville League, served victims of domestic violence who came to Family Court by providing protection, counseling, and assistance with issues of support, custody and visitation. These services were provided by volunteers, probation officers, and court personnel. The program also lobbied for funding on behalf of the Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit and sought to educate and garner support from members of the public and government agencies.

In 1993, the Junior League of Mexico City launched “Recyclable by Nature ( Reciclable por Naturaleza ),” an initiative designed to raise awareness about the city’s waste management crisis and to galvanize urgent action from citizens and policy makers.

In the years that followed, the Junior League of Mexico City would partner with government agencies on this issue, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and other community partners. By 2004, “Recyclable by Nature” had successfully processed 25 million milk and juice cartons and formed the basis for Mexico City’s first recycling law. This law, passed by the Legislative Assembly of Mexico City, mandated the sorting and separation of garbage and recyclables prior to collection.

After Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita devastated New Orleans in 2005, the Junior League of New Orleans came together with concerned Louisiana women and numerous community partners to form the Women of the Storm. The aim of this group was to garner attention to the needs of New Orleans, South Louisiana, and the Gulf coast. When the British Petroleum (BP) Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 wreaked havoc on their region, the Women of the Storm expanded its focus toward holding corporations responsible for funding state-led restoration efforts in the wake of disasters. Throughout its tenure, the Women of the Storm have successfully moved Congress to pass laws that supported homeowner recovery after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, provided a fair share of offshore oil revenues to Louisiana, and ensured that 80 percent of fines following the BP oil spill went to Gulf Coast states to support economic and environmental recovery. Today, Women of the Storm continues to work toward coastal restoration, fulfilling infrastructure needs, and rebuilding the Gulf Coast region.

Junior League advocacy work thrives today through individual League programs and our eight SPACs in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio, as well as our two Public Affairs Committees in Denver and St. Louis.

Throughout its tenure, the Women of the Storm have successfully moved Congress to pass laws that supported homeowner recovery after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, provided a fair share of offshore oil revenues to Louisiana, and ensured that 80 percent of fines following the BP oil spill went to Gulf Coast states to support economic and environmental recovery.

JUNIOR LEAGUE COOKBOOKS JUNIOR LEAGUE COOKBOOKS

BY JACQUELYN

Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis once said, "Food brings people together on many different levels. It's nourishment of the soul and body; it's truly love."

Scrolling through any social media platform for more than five minutes reveals the impact food still has on our society, as within a few posts you are sure to see a recipe video, a snapshot of friends and families over a meal, or an image of a delicious dish.

Food has been a centerpiece of many Junior League initiatives throughout our 125-year history. From providing meals or groceries to neighbors in need, to advancing crucial advocacy work around food insecurity, to educating our youth on healthy eating habits, food has served as a cornerstone of the impact Junior Leagues have made in their communities.

And, of course, it is impossible to write about Junior Leagues and food without chronicling the history of the many wonderful Junior League cookbooks!

For decades, Junior Leagues across the Association have written well-researched and regional cookbooks compiled from Members’ recipes. League cookbooks were among the first successful fundraising strategies Leagues used to raise funds for their community work and showcase their regional pride. Although there were previous collections of recipes created by Junior League Members across our organization in the early twentieth century, the first recorded Junior League cookbook was published in 1930 by the Junior League of Los Angeles under the title of Junior League Recipes.

Since then, more than 200 cookbooks have been published by over a third of our Junior Leagues. The Junior League cookbook that has the current longest run of continuous publication is the Junior League of Charleston’s Charleston Receipts , first printed in the 1950s and with editions still in print today.

“Junior League cookbooks have served the organization in so many ways,” explains AJLI CEO Melanie Schild. “Not only did they serve as a massively successful fundraising opportunity for many of our Leagues, but they also provided a hugely effective vehicle for relevance and visibility.”

Junior League cookbooks have been published around the country over an extensive period, and from a bird’s eye view, they serve not just as fundraising tools but also as historical documents, tracing the culinary landscapes of America over the course of the twentieth and twentyfirst centuries.

Each book creates a record of what people liked to serve their families, how they entertained company, and prove that there are as many different kinds of home cooking as there are home cooks.

The value of Junior League Cookbooks has even been recognized by one of the most prominent organizations in the culinary world – the James Beard Foundation. In 1999, the James Beard Collection Foundation added ninety-two Junior League Cookbooks to its collection. In 1996, the first Junior League Cookbook was nominated for one of the prestigious James Beard Awards with True Grits: Tall Tales and Recipes from The New South by the Junior League of Atlanta receiving nomination for the Foundation’s Regional American Award. Just five years later in 2001, the Junior League of Boca Raton’s Savor the Moment won the Entertaining and Special Occasions Award from the James Beard Foundation.

It is undeniable that Junior Leagues in the 2020s look very different from Junior Leagues of yesteryear; the landscape and opportunities for women have changed greatly from the many decades since our founding. Through most of the early twentieth century, women were largely barred from entering or advancing within the workforce, leaving women to perfect the art of hosting and homemaking. Today, women have gained more equal footing to contribute economically to their households and our society at large. Where few – if any – women in our early Leagues would have been employed during their time in the organization, now most of our Members are working at least one job, often while also maintaining the home and volunteering.

In the 1970s, around the time of the second-wave feminism movement, there was backlash in some parts of the country against women’s groups selling cookbooks to raise funds; doing so was perceived as reinforcing the tradition of women in the home. But just as the nature of Junior League Members has transformed over the years, so too has the relevance of Junior League cookbooks. Where it once served as a resource to refine a person’s cooking and affirm or solidify value as a host or homemaker, today they remind us that food is a vehicle for connection. Although the dawn of the digital age has caused a decline in sales of print media like magazines and cookbooks, the need for camaraderie and learning about our community over a meal remains steady. In this time of widespread disconnection and mental overload, convening over food continues to be one of the most effective ways to unwind, commune, and find solace in community. The Junior League Cookbooks act as a venue for us to sit at each other’s tables, even when living far apart.

JULIA CHILD FUN FACT

Before becoming a world-famous chef, Julia Child returned home to Pasadena after college and joined the Junior League of Pasadena in 1935. At the time, she was also living in New York City and working as a copywriter for W. & J. Sloane while still hoping to become a novelist. Through The Junior League, she gave back to her community by contributing to the League’s magazine and helping create children’s plays — an early reflection of her creativity, storytelling, and love of bringing people together.

BY NICOLE BERGMAN, AJLI VP OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

On October 18, 2026, The Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) will proudly celebrate 105 years of uniting, strengthening, and advancing the Junior League Movement. This milestone honors more than a century of collaboration, leadership development, and community transformation driven by women committed to meaningful service.

The Association was formally established in 1921, as Junior Leagues throughout the Association recognized the power of working together to share best practices, strengthen training, and amplify impact. What began as a growing network of local Leagues inspired by Mary Harriman’s founding vision evolved into a broader organization dedicated to supporting and connecting Leagues while preserving the movement’s core Mission of developing women Leaders and improving communities through trained volunteer action.

From its earliest years, the Association helped create structure, professional standards, and shared learning across Leagues. Among its first responsibilities was managing the publication of The Junior League Bulletin , first published in 1911. Conferences, publications, and collaborative forums enabled Members to exchange ideas, refine leadership development practices, and elevate the quality of volunteer service. As the movement expanded internationally, the Association provided cohesion and consistency while allowing each League to remain responsive to local community needs. This balance remains essential to The Junior League model today.

How the Association Began

In 1921, delegates at the Annual Conference resolved to form a unified Association with a shared name, constitution, and governing structure. Later that year, representatives gathered in New York and formally created the Association of Junior Leagues of America, electing Dorothy Whitney Straight as the first President of the board.

When Dorothy Straight assumed the presidency, she was a 34-yearold World War I war widow with three children under the age of nine, following the death of her husband in France. Despite these personal responsibilities, she brought clarity, structure, and vision to a growing network of Leagues, helping transform a loosely connected group of local organizations into a coordinated national movement. Previously, she had served as President of the Junior League of the City of New York, where she oversaw the development of the Junior League House for working women and championed education, organization, and lifelong civic engagement.

In 1927, Winthrop B. Palmer reflected on her impact, writing: “It was the genius and creative imagination of Dorothy Whitney Straight that consolidated the little group of local societies into a National Organization that doubled its size, power, and potentiality in ten years.”

Under Dorothy’s early leadership, the Association strengthened collaboration among Leagues through conferences, shared training standards, publications, and centralized support. This foundation continues to shape how the Association connects, supports, and advances the Junior League Movement today.

A Century of National Leadership and Community Impact

Throughout its history, AJLI has served as a catalyst for large-scale impact by mobilizing Leagues around critical social issues and initiatives. Junior Leagues have advanced child welfare policies, education reform, public health, historic preservation, civic engagement, and volunteerism by convening hundreds of Leagues and tens of thousands of trained volunteers to address complex challenges with both local insight and collective coordination.

The Association has strengthened the movement’s collective voice through programs aligned around shared priorities. Woman to Woman united more than 100 League communities in a comprehensive effort addressing alcohol abuse among women and families, demonstrating the power of coordinated education, advocacy, and grassroots engagement. Kids in the Kitchen expanded this work by empowering children and families to build healthy eating habits and active lifestyles through hands on learning and volunteer leadership.

More recently, AJLI has continued to evolve its leadership through innovative initiatives that reflect today’s needs.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

International Find the Good Day, launched in September 2023, mobilizes communities worldwide to recognize positive moments and find the good within their own communities, while highlighting the historic impact Junior Leagues have created and strengthening pride in membership and service.

Every Woman. All Things., launched in October 2025, is the Association’s most recent transformative initiative. Created to reclaim well-being and reimagine a future where role strain, role conflict, and burnout are no longer the cost of being everything to everyone, the initiative challenges outdated expectations and advances systemic change through advocacy, awareness, and grassroots activation. By encouraging women to prioritize well- being, meaning, and mutual support, Every Woman. All Things. expands what is possible not only for individuals, but for every woman and all the lives she touches.

Looking

Forward to the Next Chapter

As AJLI celebrates its 105 years, the Association stands grounded in legacy while actively shaping the future. The principles that guided the earliest Leaders remain central today, including education, collaboration, volunteer leadership, and community driven impact.

The future of the Junior League Movement is one of innovation, inclusivity, and expanded influence. With growing emphasis on advocacy, systems change, digital engagement, and cross sector partnerships, AJLI is positioned to amplify women’s voices and strengthen communities in new and transformative ways.

This anniversary is not only a celebration of what has been accomplished. It is a call to continue building what comes next. Powered by a global network of passionate women and guided by more than a century of proven leadership, The Association of Junior Leagues International moves forward with confidence, creativity, and unwavering commitment to Developing Women To Do a World of Good™.

1. Junior League representatives seated at the Annual Conference in the 1950s, with a map to the right illuminated by lights representing the Leagues in attendance across the Association.

2. Junior League Members smile together at the 1969 Annual Conference in Coronado, CA while waiting for dinner to be served.

3. Attendees gather for the 2025 Organization Development Training (ODT) in Chicago, IL.

4. Members of the Junior League of San Diego, CA work with children through the Kids in the Kitchen initiative, teaching healthy eating and nutrition skills.

5. Representative of the Junior League of Nairobi, Kenya carry their League flag during the procession at the 2024 Annual Conference.

6. Front cover of the Junior League Magazine highlighting the audience of Junior League representatives at the 1961 Annual Conference.

Dorothy Payne Whitney

(Mrs. Willard Straight), 1921–1922 Junior League of the City of New York, NY

Mrs. Arthur Swann, 1922–1924 Junior League of the City of New York, NY

Mrs. Charles S. Brown, Jr., 1924–1926 Junior League of the City of New York, NY

Mrs. Carleton H. Palmer ,1926–1928 Junior League of Brooklyn, NY

Mrs. Foskett Brown, 1928–1930 Junior League of Nashville, TN

Mrs. Roger S. Sperry, 1930–1932 Junior League of Waterbury, CT

Mrs. John G. Pratt, 1932–1934 Junior League of New Orleans, LA

Miss Elizabeth P. Taylor, 1934–1936 Junior League of Little Rock, AR

Mrs. Peter L. Harvie, 1936–1938 Junior League of Troy, NY

Miss Helen W. Leovy, 1938–1940 Junior League of Pittsburgh, PA

Mrs. George V. Ferguson, 1940–1942 Junior League of Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN

Mrs. Linville K. Martin, 1942–1944 Junior League of Winston-Salem. NC

Miss Cecil Lester Jones, 1944–1946 Junior League of Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Ralph Jones, 1946–1948 Junior League of Fairmont/Charleston, WV

Miss Dorothy Rakemann, 1948–1950 Junior League of Boston, MA

Mrs. James M. Skinner, Jr., 1950–1952 Junior League of Philadelphia, PA

Mrs. Deleslie Allen, 1952–1954 Junior League of Rochester, NY

Mrs. Robert L. Foote, 1954–1956 Junior League of Chicago, IL

Mrs. Frank S. Hanna, 1956–1958 Junior League of Saint Joseph, MO

Mrs. George W. Vaughan, 1958–1960 Junior League of Los Angeles, CA

Mrs. H. Edmund Lunken, 1960–1962 Junior League of Cincinnati, OH

Miss Barbara G. Johnson, 1962–1964 Junior League of Baltimore, MD

Mrs. Warner Marsden, 1964–1966 Junior League of Pasadena, CA

Mrs. David A. Whitman, 1966–1968 Junior League of Boston, MA

Mrs. Milo Yalich, 1968–1970 Junior League of Colorado Springs, CO

Mrs. William H. Osler, 1970–1972 Junior League of Harrisburg, PA

Mrs. Rufus C. Barkley, Jr., 1972–1974 Junior League of Charleston, SC

Mrs. Robert C. Poole, 1974–1976 Junior League of Albuquerque, NM

Susan Reid Greene, 1976–1978 Junior League of Buffalo, NY

Alice H. Weber, 1978–1980 Junior League of Toledo, OH

Margaret M. Graham, 1980–1982 Junior League of Washington, D.C.

Anne B. Hoover, 1982–1984 Junior League of Fort Wayne, IN

Carole P. Hart, 1984–1986 Junior League of Greater New Haven, CT

Virginia T. Austin, 1986–1988 Junior League of Oklahoma City, OK

Maridel Moulton, 1988–1990 Junior League of Oakland-East Bay, CA

Suzanne Bond Plihcik, 1990–1992 Junior League of Greensboro, NC

Mary Burrus Babson, 1992–1994 Junior League of Chicago, IL

Nancy Evans, 1994–1996 Junior League of Cedar Rapids, IA

Carol Kleiner, 1996–1998 Junior League of Colorado Springs, CO

Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker, 1998–2000 Junior League of Buffalo, NY

Deborah Brittain, 2000–2002 Junior League of Northern Virginia

Christine Benero, 2002–2004 Junior League of Denver, CO

Pam J. Newby, 2004–2006 Junior League of Oklahoma City, OK

Sandi Kemmish May, 2006–2008 Junior League of Fort Wayne, IN

Debbie Brown Robinson, 2008–2010 Junior League of Houston, TX

Delly Beekman, 2010–2012 Junior League of Monmouth County, NJ

Toni Freeman, 2012–2014 Junior League of Charlotte, NC

Ellen Rose, 2014–2016, Junior League of the City of New York, NY

Carol Scott, 2016–2018 Junior League of Pasadena, CA

Laurel Lee-Alexander, 2018–2020 Junior League of Monterey County, CA

Bett Williams, 2020–2022 Junior League of Columbia, S.C.

Dona Ponepinto, 2022–2024 Junior League of Tacoma, WA

In 1921, the Leagues joined forces as an association, which is today known as The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. Here are all the past AJLI Presidents who led the Association and direction of The Junior League from 1921 to 2024 from left to right. Click here to learn more about them on our website.

DIANE FLANAGAN President-Elect, 2025-2026 Junior League of Charleston

CECE GASSNER Governance Committee Chair, 2025-2026 Junior League of Boise

KATHY OAKS Governance Committee Vice Chair, 2025-2026 Junior League of Lubbock

KATHRYN KOESSEL

At-Large Director, 2023-2026 Junior League of Minneapolis

CECE GASSNER

Governance Committee Chair, 2025-2026 Junior League of Boise

ALICE GLENN President, 2024-2026 Junior League of New Orleans

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DANIELLE WILBERG Vice President, 2024-2026 Junior League of Champaign-Urbana

MICHELLE ECKMANN Treasurer, 2025-2027 Junior League of Las Vegas

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MELISSA ALLEN At-Large Director 2023-2026 Junior League of London

DR. SUZANNE KIM DOUD GALLI At-Large Director, 2025-2028 Junior League of Washington

ANITA DUEÑAS At-Large Director 2024-2027 Junior League of Fort Myers

JENNIFER PORTER At-Large Director 2024-2027 Junior League of Tulsa

DR. PAULETTE EVANS Secretary, 2024-2026 Junior League of Charlotte

BLAIRE G. HERVEY At-Large Director, 2025-2028 Junior League of Portland, OR

GRACE SEMONES At-Large Director, 2023-2026 Junior League of Alexandria

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

KATHY OAKS Governance Committee Vice Chair, 2025-2026 Junior League of Lubbock

MERILOU GONZALES At-Large Member, 2025-2027 Junior League of Milwaukee

SURAYYAH F. COLBERT At-Large Member, 2025-2027 Junior League of Washington

MARCELLA HERRERA At-Large Member, 2025-2027 Junior League of The Woodlands

KATHRYN DUFFIN At-Large Member 2024-2026 Junior League of St. Louis

CARA TURANO At-Large Member, 2025-2027 Junior League of Portland, OR

DR. KAREN THOMPSONJACKSON At-Large Director, 2025-2028 Junior League of Tuscaloosa

DR. SANDRA THOMPSON At-Large Director, 2024-2027 Junior League of Orange County, CA

LESLIE FISHER At-Large Member 2024-2026 Junior League of Las Cruces

ALEX ZUCCO At-Large Member, 2024-2026 Junior League of Sacramento

AJLI OPERATIONS

ACCOUNTING & ADMINISTRATION MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

COMMUNITY IMPACT & INITIATIVES

LEAGUE OPERATIONS & MEMBER ENGAGEMENT

LEAGUE SUCCESS

LEAGUE LIST & ANNIVERSARIES

Celebrating 125 Years

The City of New York, NY.........................1901

Boston, MA................................................ 1907

Brooklyn, NY.............................................. 1910

Portland, OR............................................... 1910

Baltimore, MD............................................ 1912

Chicago, IL.................................................. 1912

Cleveland, OH............................................ 1912

Philadelphia, PA......................................... 1912

San Francisco, CA...................................... 1912

The Oranges and Short Hills, NJ............. 1913

Washington, D.C........................................ 1913

Detroit, MI.................................................. 1914

Kansas City, MO.......................................... 1914

St. Louis, MO............................................... 1914

Celebrating 110 Years

Atlanta, GA.............................................. 1916

Milwaukee, WI........................................ 1916

Racine, WI............................................... 1916

Albany, NY................................................... 1917

Chattanooga, TN.........................................1917

Saint Paul, MN.............................................1917

Wilmington, DE..........................................1918

Buffalo, NY...................................................1919

Denver, CO...................................................1919

Omaha, NE...................................................1919

Poughkeepsie, NY........................................1919

Cincinnati, OH...........................................1920

Dayton, OH.................................................1920

Eastern Fairfield County, CT....................1920

Syracuse, NY................................................1920

Celebrating 105 Years

Duluth, MN...............................................1921

Hartford, CT............................................1921

Knoxville, TN...........................................1921

Lincoln, NE..............................................1921

Louisville, KY...........................................1921

Montclair-Newark, NJ..............................921

Greater Princeton, NJ.............................1921

Rhode Island............................................1921

St. Joseph, MO..........................................1921

Sioux City, IA............................................1921

Tacoma, WA.............................................1921

Birmingham, AL.........................................1922

Dallas, TX.....................................................1922

Indianapolis, IN...........................................1922

Kingston, NY...............................................1922

Little Rock, AR............................................1922

Memphis, TN...............................................1922

Nashville, TN...............................................1922

Orange County, NY.....................................1922

Pittsburgh, PA.............................................1922

Portland, ME...............................................1922

Greater Springfield, MA............................1922

Charleston, SC...........................................1923

Charleston, WV...........................................1923

Columbus, OH............................................1923

Elizabeth-Plainfield, NJ..............................1923

Honolulu, HI...............................................1923

Greater New Haven, CT...........................1923

Stamford-Norwalk, CT..............................1923

Tulsa, OK.....................................................1923

Winston-Salem, NC...................................1923

Colorado Springs, CO..............................1924

Evanston-North Shore, IL.......................1924

Jacksonville, FL...........................................1924

Lancaster, PA..............................................1924

Lexington, KY.............................................1924

Minneapolis, MN........................................1924

New Orleans, LA........................................1924

Reading, PA.................................................1924

San Antonio, TX.........................................1924

Seattle, WA..................................................1924

Columbia, SC..............................................1925

Grand Rapids, MI.......................................1925

Norfolk-Virginia Beach, VA.......................1925

Santa Barbara, CA......................................1925

Spokane, WA................................................1925

Wichita, KS..................................................1925

Worcester, MA............................................1925

Celebrating 100 Years

Akron, OH...............................................1926

Charlotte, NC..........................................1926

Houston, TX............................................1926

Los Angeles, CA.......................................1926

Montgomery, AL.....................................1926

Pasadena, CA...........................................1926

Savannah, GA..........................................1926

Toronto, ONT.........................................1926

Asheville, NC...............................................1927

Miami, FL....................................................1927

Richmond, VA..............................................1927

Boise, ID.......................................................1928

Flint, MI.......................................................1928

Greensboro, NC.........................................1928

Oklahoma City, OK...................................1928

Roanoke Valley, VA.....................................1928

Tampa, FL....................................................1928

Augusta, GA................................................1929

Harrisburg, PA............................................1929

Lynchburg, VA.............................................1929

San Diego, CA............................................1929

Williamsport, PA........................................1929

Fort Worth, TX..........................................1930

Mexico City, Mexico...................................1930

Raleigh, NC.................................................1930

Rockford, IL................................................1930

Celebrating 95 Years

Des Moines, IA..........................................1931

Greater Elmira Corning, NY...................1931

Mobile, AL................................................1931

St. Petersburg, FL....................................1931

Binghamton, NY..........................................1932

The Mahoning Valley, OH........................1932

Schenectady and Saratoga Counties, NY.. 1932

Bergen County, NJ......................................1933 El Paso, TX...................................................1933 Huntington, WV..........................................1933 Rochester, NY..............................................1933

Shreveport-Bossier,

Greenville, SC.............................................1947

Greater Orlando, FL..................................1947

Texarkana, AR/TX......................................1947

Albuquerque, NM.......................................1948

Bronxville, NY.............................................1948

Lansing, MI..................................................1948

Long Beach, CA..........................................1948

Galveston County, TX...............................1949

Wyandotte & Johnson Counties, KS......1949

Springfield, IL.............................................1950

Westchester on the Sound, NY.................1950

Celebrating 75 Years

Spartanburg, SC......................................1951

Birmingham, MI..........................................1952

High Point, NC............................................1952

Wilmington, NC.........................................1952

Ogden, UT....................................................1953

Lubbock, TX................................................1954

Celebrating 70 Years

Abilene, TX..............................................1956

Baton Rouge, LA......................................1956

Calgary, AB..............................................1956

Hampton Roads, VA................................1956

San Angelo, TX............................................1957

Kingsport, TN.............................................1958

Greater Fort Lauderdale, FL...................1959

Fresno, CA...................................................1959

Greenwich, CT............................................1959

Fort Smith, AR...........................................1960

Tallahassee, FL...........................................1960

Tyler, TX.....................................................1960

Celebrating 65 Years

Evansville, IN...........................................1961

York, PA....................................................1961

Eugene, OR.................................................1962

Long Island, NY..........................................1962

The Palm Beaches, FL..............................1962

Riverside, CA..............................................1962

Monterey County, CA................................1963

Albany, GA..................................................1964

Midland, TX................................................1964

Bakersfield, CA...........................................1965

Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula, CA....................1965

Summit, NJ...................................................1965

Celebrating 60 Years

Monmouth County, NJ...........................1966

Lake Charles, LA........................................1967

San Jose, CA................................................1967

Pensacola, FL..............................................1968

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA..........................1968

Wichita Falls, TX........................................1968

Billings, MT.................................................1970

Celebrating 55 Years

Las Vegas, NV............................................1971

Orange County, CA..................................1971

Champaign-Urbana, IL..............................1972

Clearwater-Dunedin, FL...........................1972

DeKalb County, GA...................................1973

Lafayette, LA...............................................1974

Greater Lakeland, FL.................................1974

Owensboro, KY...........................................1974

Alexandria, LA.............................................1975

Gainesville, FL.............................................1975 Huntsville, AL.............................................1975

Celebrating 50 Years

Cobb-Marietta, GA.................................1976

Sarasota, FL.............................................1976

Springfield, MO......................................1976

Tuscaloosa, AL........................................1976

Greater Alton, IL........................................1977

Fayetteville, NC..........................................1977

Odessa, TX...................................................1977

Pueblo, CO..................................................1977

Gaston County, NC...................................1978

North Little Rock, AR...............................1978

Reno, NV......................................................1978

Athens, GA..................................................1980

Bristol, TN/VA............................................1980

Kalamazoo, MI...........................................1980

Richardson, TX..........................................1980

The Space Coast, FL.................................1980

Celebrating 45 Years

Charlottesville, VA..................................1981

Longview, TX...........................................1981

Quad Cities, IA/IL...................................1981 Yakima, WA..............................................1981

Annapolis, MD............................................1982

Arlington, TX..............................................1982 Monroe, LA.................................................1982 Norman, OK................................................1983

Victoria, TX.................................................1983

Boca Raton, FL...........................................1984

Collin County, TX......................................1984

Daytona Beach, FL.....................................1984

Johnson City, TN........................................1984

Harlingen, TX..............................................1985

London, England........................................1985

McAllen, TX.................................................1985

Northern Virginia, VA.................................1985

Sioux Falls, SD.............................................1985

Celebrating 40 Years

Fort Collins, CO......................................1986

Fort Myers, FL.........................................1986 Lawton, OK.............................................1986

Manatee County, FL...............................1986

Ann Arbor, MI.............................................1987

The Emerald Coast, FL.............................1987

Bell County, TX..........................................1988

Bryan-College Station, TX.......................1988

Morgan County, AL....................................1988

Florence, SC...............................................1989

Ocala, FL.....................................................1989

Douglas County, GA.................................1990

The Woodlands, TX..................................1990

Celebrating 35 Years

Gwinnett and North Fulton Counties, GA.....1991

Anderson County, SC...............................1992

Anniston-Calhoun, AL..............................1992

Greater Winter Haven, FL........................1992

Madison, WI................................................1993

Olympia, WA................................................1993

Gainesville-Hall County, GA...................1994

Indian River, FL..........................................1994

Jackson County, OR...................................1995

Las Cruces, NM...........................................1995

Murfreesboro, TN.......................................1995

Napa-Sonoma, CA......................................1995

Celebrating 30 Years

Lufkin, TX...............................................1996

Auburn-Opelika, AL..................................1998

The Flint Hills,

Celebrating

Celebrating 5 Years

Howard County, MD.................................2022 Leesville, LA................................................2022

Kenya............................................2023 Oxford, MS.................................................2023 Brownsville, TX.........................................2024

Cheyenne, WY............................................2024

Covington County, MS.............................2024

La Cote d’Azur, France.............................2024

Greater Mankato, MN...............................2024

Puerto Rico, PR.........................................2024

JUNIOR LEAGUE COOKBOOK

FEATURED RECIPE

To celebrate 125 years of the Junior League Movement, we've included a cake recipe from the very first published Junior League cookbook.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Junior League of Los Angeles

Ingredients:

Cake:

2 cups sifted Swans Down cake flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon soda

½ cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 egg yolks, beaten lightly

4 tablespoons Ghirardelli’s ground

chocolate

1 ¼ cups milk

2 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Frosting:

½ cup butter

2 cups powdered sugar

2 tablespoons cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons Ghirardelli’s ground chocolate

Instructions:

Cake:

Sift flour once, measure, add baking powder and soda, and sift three times. Cream butter thoroughly, add sugar gradually, and cream together until light a fluffy; add egg yolks and chocolate, then flour and milk alternately, a small amount at a time; beat after each addition until smooth; add vanilla, fold in egg whites. Bake in greased pans in moderate oven for 30 minutes.

Frosting:

Cream butter, add sugar and cream alternately a little at a time, beating each one in thoroughly; then add vanilla and chocolate and beat until light and fluffy. Be sure cake is cold, then put layers together and cover entire care with the frosting.

Click here to view this recipe as a PDF.

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