The following is a press release from the Junior League of Westchester on the Sound.
The Junior League is an international organization of women devoted to working together to improve the communities in which they live. The Junior League was originally founded in New York City in 1901 by Mary Harriman to help improve the lives of those living in settlement housing, with the first project at the College Settlement on Rivington Street in today’s Lower East Side of Manhattan. By 1921, Mary’s league was emulated in over thirty locations across the United States, and even went international with the creation of a Junior League in Montreal, Canada.
To date, there are 292 Junior League chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom. Today, the Junior League is an organization of professional women working together to continue Mary Harriman’s vision of improving their communities.
The is proud to share a tradition of working to improve communities with so many other women worldwide.Similar to other Junior Leagues, the mission of JLWOS is to, “promote volunteerism, develop the potential of women, and improve the Sound Shore communities, through the effective leadership of trained volunteers.” Women currently in JLWOS devote their time to a variety of community service activities in the Sound Shore area.
Current projects include:
- Career Connections (New!) – helping women in need gain skills for professional advancement.
- Catching Joy (New!) - teaching kids the value of volunteerism.
- Done in a Day Projects – working with community partners.
- Project Madres (New site in New Rochelle!) – working with Spanish speaking immigrant women to improve self esteem and confidence.
- S.M.A.R.T. Girls – mentoring young girls at the Boys and Girls Club in New Rochelle.
- Sound Shore Medical Center Health Initiative – promoting health awareness.
Over the past year, JLWOS added an astounding total of 50 new members. New members worked on projects to help them connect with one another as well as the greater Sound Shore Community. This fall’s class of 18 women worked to give The Guidance Center located in New Rochelle a facelift. They added a fresh coat of paint, made the library corner more inviting and added a beautiful mural along the staircase.
The women who joined in the Spring of 2010 worked at the Sound Shore Medical Center in New Rochelle to redecorate a pediatric waiting room. All of the women were able to establish a unique bond with both their fellow classmates, as well as with the community through their efforts to help improve the lives of others. If you are over the age of 21 and interested in joining the JLWOS, please attend one of our information sessions:
Wednesday Jan. 18, 2012
174 Larchmont Ave., Larchmont, NY
7:30 p.m.
Tuesday Jan. 24, 2012
New Rochelle Public Library
1 Library Plaza, New Rochelle, NY
7:30 p.m.
