The Junior League: ‘Happy 75th Birthday’ to Leagues in Columbus, GA; Morristown, NJ; Peoria, IL

Founded in the depths of the Great Depression, they continue to create lasting community impact through volunteer-driven solutions to society’s problems
By: The Association of Junior Leagues International
 
June 21, 2011 - PRLog -- New York  – The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc., one of the largest, most effective women’s volunteer organizations in the world, today announced that three Junior Leagues – in Columbus, GA, Morristown, NJ and Peoria, IL – will each celebrate their 75th anniversaries this year.

Delly Beekman, AJLI President, said, “What is striking about the formation of these three Leagues was their optimism and civic determination in 1936, at the height of the Great Depression.  Like Mary Harriman, our founder, they found light in darkness, value in voluntarism and a commitment to creating lasting community impact at a time when our country, and many millions of her people, were struggling.  That spirit lives on today in 292 independent Leagues in four countries.”

The Junior League of Columbus (http://www.jlcolumbus.com/) currently counts over 750 dedicated women as active and sustaining members. Its active members give over 7500 hours of volunteer service to the community each year. The League has also contributed over $1 million dollars to the community since their founding.  Over the years, the League and its members have has been instrumental in many worthwhile projects that make the Columbus community a better place. Some of those projects include: opening the first pediatric wing at the old City Hospital, equipping children's playrooms at the Medical Center, helping the Historic Columbus Committee get started, working to save the Springer Opera House and many other locally significant historic structures from the wrecking ball, providing significant funding to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Medical Center, equipping the children's Transformations Gallery at the Columbus Museum and helping establish the local Ronald McDonald House.

The Junior League of Morristown (http://www.jlmnj.org/) has over 125 active members and 200 Sustaining members committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the Morris area community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Since their founding, they have made vital improvements to the Morris Area by working with other Leagues to initiate legislation for children’s issues, helping establish charities and providing workshops for the homeless. Their consignment store, the Nearly New Shop, in operation since 1962, continues to provide a vital service to the community by providing reasonably-priced clothing and housewares. Their new focus area is “Children’s Health and Wellness,” with additional projects this year involving Family Services of Morris County, Neighborhood House and the Dover Community Children’s Museum.  

The Junior League of Peoria (http://www.juniorleagueofpeoria.org/) is an organization of more than 400 active and sustaining members committed to promoting voluntarism and to improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The League’s purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.  Throughout its history, the League has played an integral part in the development, improvement and support of the Peoria community. Long recognized as one of the premier training organizations in the Peoria area, the League provides trained volunteers who donate thousands of hours each year to research community needs and initiate projects or expand current services. Over the last 70 years, the League has established more than 50 community projects.  Financial support garnered through the League's annual fundraisers is returned to the Peoria community through training, research, advocacy and the sponsorship of its projects.

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.  For more information, visit http://www.ajli.org/

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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.
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Source:The Association of Junior Leagues International
Email:***@ajli.org
Zip:10038
Tags:Ajli, Association Of Junior Leagues, Junior League, Columbus, Peoria, Morristown, Voluntarism
Industry:Lifestyle, Non-profit
Location:New York City - New York - United States
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