The Junior League Asks: What Else Did Famous League Members Do?

March 21, 2011 - PRLog -- New York – In celebration of Women’s History Month, The Junior League is Tweeting one accomplishment a day in March of a celebrated Junior League member or individual League – and the results may surprise you.

Says Delly Beekman, President of The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (http://www.ajli.org/), “The Junior League has always attracted women who are committed to making change in their communities and the world around them.  This collection demonstrates the breadth of achievements possible, both as League members and as civic leaders in their own right.”

1.   Before becoming the first woman to join the US Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor served as President of the @juniorleaguephx.

2.   Eleanor Roosevelt began her path to humanitarian work as a @JuniorLeague volunteer serving immigrants in New York’s Lower East Side.

3.   1st Commanding Officer of Women’s Army Corps during WWII, Oveta Culp Hobby, was also a @JuniorLeague of Houston member.

4.   @JuniorLeague of Brooklyn petitions Board of Education to provide free meals in schools, setting a model for School Lunch Program.

5.   Actress Margaret Hamilton, The Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch of the West, got her acting start as a @JLCleveland volunteer.

6.   Before winning a Pulitzer Prize, Eudora Welty’s work appeared in her @JuniorLeague’s magazine.

7.   What else do Former First Ladies and literacy advocates Barbara and Laura Bush have in common? @JuniorLeague membership.

8.   Among Congresswoman and @Junior League member Ruth Baker Pratt’s accomplishments: co-sponsoring act creating Books for the Blind program.

9.   The @JuniorLeague of St. Louis was founded to support women’s suffrage.

10.   Add @jlpamp volunteer to child actress, UN Delegate and US Ambassador Shirley Temple Black’s accomplishments.

11.   Before becoming Plano, TX’s longest serving female mayor, Pat Evans was a @JLPlano volunteer.

12.   First @JuniorLeague President, Dorothy Whitney Straight is credited as one of the founders of the New School in New York City.

13.   First woman mayor of Orlando, Glenda Hood, began her road to public service as a @JLGOrlando volunteer and president.

14.   Among members honored by @JuniorLeague of Los Angeles for a lifetime of community service is Former First Lady Nancy Reagan.

15.   North Carolina Senator Kay Hagan credits her @JuniorLeague experience for preparing her for politics.

16.   JL of Milwaukee’s Catherine Cleary was the first woman to serve as director of General Motors and AT&T.

17.   The bill establishing a National Women's History Museum was drafted by Congresswoman and New York @Junior League member Carolyn Maloney.

18.   Equal Rights Amendment supporter and popular former First Lady Betty Ford was also a @JuniorLeague of Grand Rapids volunteer.

19.   Ohio’s first Congresswoman, Frances P. Bolton, was also a @JLCleveland volunteer.

20.   @JuniorLeague volunteer Margaret Chase Smith was the longest-serving female US Senator.

21.   Credit @JuniorLeague of Toledo’s 1965 Fate of a River documentary with leading to passage of local clean water laws in #Ohio.

22.   First female mayor of Phoenix, Margaret Hance, picked up some experience governing as a @juniorleaguephx president.

23.   Bet you didn’t know Oscar-winning actress Katharine Hepburn was a @JuniorLeague member.

24.   @JLAustinOrg member Carole Keeton Strayhorn was the first woman mayor of #Austin.

25.   New York @JuniorLeague member Sarah Palfrey Cook Danzig is known for her two-time Wimbledon wins.

26.   @JuniorLeague was among the many prominent women’s groups that lobbied for passage of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994.

27.   Civic leader Doris Matsui has served her community as a @JuniorLeague volunteer and Congresswoman.

28.   Mary Pillsbury Lord went from family welfare work to @JuniorLeague of NY President to Chair of Women's Army Corps to UN Delegate.

29.   Recognized by New York City with a playground named in her honor, Mary Harriman Rumsey is best known as the founder of the @JuniorLeague.

30.   Louisiana State Senator and former first woman mayor of Lake Charles, Willie Mount, is a @JuniorLeague member.

31.   Before educational TV programs like Sesame Street existed, Junior Leagues created their own local educational kids' programs.

About The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.

Founded in 1901 by New Yorker and social activism pioneer, Mary Harriman, the Junior Leagues are charitable nonprofit organizations of women, developed as civic leaders, creating demonstrable community impact.

Today, The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) is comprised of more than 155,000 women in 292 Junior Leagues throughout Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States.  Together, they constitute one of the largest, most effective volunteer organizations in the world.  


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The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.