Community Research & Project Development Open House

Submitted by Holli Armstrong, Done in a Day Chair

Looking for more ways to give back to the community, the Junior League of Columbia hosted an open house earlier this month for local nonprofits to learn more about how they can get involved with the League. There were new faces and old friends representing in attendance for an energizing and engaging event hosted by JLC’s Community Research and Project Development (CRPD).

The highlight of the open house was the unveiling of the Community Enrichment Grant Program Request For Proposal (RFP). As a reminder, this new RFP program is made possible due to excess funds that the League has available to invest back into the community funding projects that align with the League’s mission. For our community partners, the sky really is the limit with this grant program. Attendees were encouraged to think big, really BIG, and to imagine what they never thought possible. Because of your support and the League’s sound fiscal management, we are going to make dreams come true and life better for children living in the Midlands when these grants are awarded. The application deadline is September 15, and more information can be found online.

During the open house, we also brainstormed NEW…BOLD…FRESH community projects for the Done in a Day (DIAD) committee to tackle this year. A record 28 DIAD applications for potential projects were submitted. For our members, this means more diverse and creative volunteer opportunities. If you know of a community partner that DIAD could help, please let them know the application deadline is mid-August. An updated application will be posted on our website later this month.

By the way, did you know the League can step in and help out an organization in a pinch? Our community assistance funds provide immediate funding assistance to address  urgent needs. If you hear of an organization that needs our help and has a mission that aligns with JLC, please encourage them to submit an application online.

Epworth Children's Home Provisional Project

Submitted by Active Ambra McGuinn (Member of the 2012-2013 Provisional Class)

Joining the Junior League of Columbia has been such a blessing to me in many ways. This year was my provisional year and as part of the process, I was placed  on a team to do a provisional project. Each provisional was asked to list our top three project choices, and I knew from the start that the Epworth Children’s Home project would be a great fit for me since I have a passion for helping and working with children. About three years ago, my family and I started volunteering with Epworth Children’s Home on Sundays and we absolutely fell in love with the children. Seeing kids that had so much joy and laughter even though they had been put through so much just brought joy to my heart! 

When I was told I would be working on the Epworth project, I was excited and immediately began thinking of all the ways I could help to make this project the best it had ever been. Luckily our provisional group was amazing and all had the same goal in mind - - making this a day for the children to always remember.

The purpose of the Provisional Project was to spread education to the children about healthy living through a day filled with excitement. During the day, we promoted healthy living by feeding everyone a meal with sandwiches, fruit and bottled water. We also created an educational piece for  the children to learn about the different types of foods that are good and bad for your body. Last, we presented fun physical activities to show the children that working out can be extremely enjoyable!

Our team spent a lot of time meeting and planning for the big day. We divided our big group up into three groups to get more accomplished. My small group  worked on the food and nutritional piece; another small  group worked on the activities for the day; and one group worked on the decorations, t-shirts and goody bags for the children, including  toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, healthy snacks and much more.

The day of the provisional project, we  paired the girls up in to four different groups giving them different colored shirts. Then we had a healthy lunch together and really got to know the girls. After lunch, we went to the gym to learn about nutrition and how it is so important to eat the right kinds of foods. Everyone then joined in for a fun Zumba workout. The girls had a ball and did not want to stop! Once we all cooled down from the Zumba workout we headed right over to the obstacle course. After a long, exciting day, the girls all huddled up for lots of hugs!  

I have to say that my provisional project was probably one of the best experiences that I’ve had during my time with JLC. Looking back on that day, I knew I wanted to continue to volunteer with Epworth Children’s Home. I hope that I can continue to bring excitement and love to these children for a very long time. Thank you Junior League of Columbia for allowing me to be a part of such an amazing experience!

Check out the pictures from the event!

 

The JLC Goes to Washington

Submitted by Carla Moore, President of JLC

Last Wednesday, I had the enormous honor of representing the JLC on Capitol Hill for the Association of Junior League’s “Hill Day” in conjunction with its 2013 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. Immediate Past President Mary Kay Owens and I left Columbia in the early hours of May 15 to travel to DC to call on members our Congressional Delegation. I am proud to say that the JLC was one of about 24 Leagues (there are 293 internationally) participating in this important event.

Mary Kay and I were fortunate to meet with a senior staff member in the office of Congressman James Clyburn when the Congressman was called home to SC for an emergency. The staff member said she had asked to take the meeting with us because she knew and respected the League. We did our best to recruit her for the Washington, DC League!

Next, we had an exceptional meeting with Congressman Joe Wilson. Congressman Wilson and his staff spent a great deal of time with Mary Kay and me talking about the impact of the JLC and how we might be a resource to his office. We were delighted to learn that Congressman Wilson’s mother was a past member of the JLC.

Our final appointment for the day was with Senator Tim Scott’s health care staff member. Ironically, her mother was a former member of the JLC. We had a great conversation about healthy children and opportunities for collaboration with the Senator’s office.

On Friday, along with President-Elect Ginny Hairston, we joined our friends with the JL of Greenville and Anderson for a brief meeting and photo with Senator Lindsey Graham. As you might imagine, the Senator had a lot going on so we felt very lucky to have a few moments of his time.

The collective voice of the Junior Leagues was definitely heard last week on Capitol Hill. I am so proud that Columbia took part.

Healthy Kids in Transition Had Fun in the Sun!

Yesterday afternoon, some Junior League of Columbia members and I had a wonderful time lending a hand at the Family Shelter on Two Notch for a Healthy Kids in Transition Activity, organized by Kim Toogood. The children enjoyed two different bounce house obstacle courses, a balloon artist and an interactive Mother's Day craft station.

The JLC donated a new basketball hoop, new basketballs, two high chairs, a baby carrier and gave each child a gift bag complete with the Junior League's book on the ABCs of Healthy Eating, a toothbrush and healthy treats.  Following the activities, we served the children a healthy dinner.

The families were very appreciative! Thank you to Kim Toogood and the Healthy Kids in Transition Committee!

Post by: Sarah G Wood

2012-2013 Junior League of Columbia Award Recipients

On Thursday, May 2, the Junior League of Columbia celebrated the 2012-2013 year at The Palmetto Club. This annual event is a time where JLC honors and recognizes the League members and friends who have dedicated themselves to our mission and vision. We are honored to recognize the following League members and friends of the League! Congratulations!

President's Award

This award recognizes an Active member in good standing who continues the tradition and vision of making the JLC a better organization through outstanding "in-League" service to the JLC.

Ginny Stout Hairston

Katharine Heath Manning Perry Award

This award recognizes an Active member in good standing who has excelled in community voluntarism and activism, through her Junior League placement and through extensions of her JLC work and training.

Pamela Adams

Nancy Mayer Dunbar Leadership Award

This award recognizes an Active member in good standing who has exemplified successful leadership qualities.

Mary Frances Jowers

Friends of the League Award

This award recognizes community organizations or individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the JLC and its stated purpose.

Franklin Jones and Amanda Payne

Kinsey Black Jones Memorial

This award recognizes an outstanding recent Active member (a first, second, or third-year Active) who has advanced the volunteer ideals of the JLC by epitomizing superlative service in her placement.

Kim Jamieson

Provisional of the Year Award

This award recognizes a Provisional member(s) who has exemplified successful leadership qualities and demonstrated commitment to the JLC.

Kathleen McDavid

Tara Felder

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award recognizes one Sustaining member who exemplifies the purpose of the JLC - that of voluntarism - who has translated her volunteer training into outstanding community commitment and involvement and who continues to demonstrate an interest in the JLC.

Caroline Finlay Meyer

A Provisional's Experience

Submitted by Elisabeth Bischofberger, Provisional Member

Since moving to Columbia after college, I knew that I wanted to be associated with an organization of women who performed meaningful activities together to give back to our community. It took a few years, but I finally joined the Junior League of Columbia. My provisional year has been a great experience on several levels -- meeting new women with diverse careers and life aspirations, learning about the organization as a whole and bonding as a provisional group.

What I like most about Junior League is that there is such a diverse group of women. Anyone who says "all Junior Leaguers are a like" could not be more wrong -- except that they all want to make a difference in our community. Why that attracted me as a provisional was because I liked knowing that I could make friends in my provisional group who were not just in the corporate world. That would be so boring! I could learn from new mothers, gain perspective from newly married women and talk about the business side of nonprofits with women who chose that type of career path. The perspective provided by these women different from me is very interesting and gives me a new way of thinking about how we will work together for one common goal. I really enjoyed working community and fundraising shifts where we got the opportunity to do a task with women we had never met before, all with the bigger picture in mind to raise money or provide services to our partners in the community.

I love a well-run meeting. I define "well run" as a) organized; b) timely (less than an hour); and c) interesting and insightful. The general membership meetings were great as a provisional because I learned more about different committees and what responsibilities they served in the League. Not only did I learn more about our internal structure of the JLC, but also how much our work impacts those we give money and services to in the Columbia area. Hearing from Sherry and her guide dog, Roberta, at a General Membership Meeting made me want to serve on the committee that grants the money to give to different organizations. How heartfelt!

Most importantly, you can't retain members if there is no "stickiness" that holds them together. I was fortunate enough to meet a handful of women in my provisional class and become much closer friends with them over the course of our year together. Whether it is working JLC shifts, exercising or even attending community benefits together, it's great to have new friends who share similar passions. Several of us are looking forward to making decisions on our placements for years to come. One year down, many more ahead!

Thank You To Our 2013 Touch A Truck Participants:

97.5  FM WCOS

Ally & Eloise Bakeshop

Be Beep A Toy Shop

Blanchard Machinery Company

Blanchard Equipment of St. Matthews

Chick-Fil- A – Garners Ferry Road

 Children’s Chance

Clayton Rawl Farm

Concrete Supply Company

Cox Industries

Ducksback, Inc.

EdgeUCoaching

EdVenture Children’s Museum

Federal Bureau of Investigation

George Oswald

Harvest Hope Food Bank

Hay Hill Garden Market

It's a Snap Photo Booth

 Jamil Temple Choo Choo

JLC’s Kids in the Kitchen

Laugh 'N Leap

Lexington District I FFA

Lexington County EMS

Lexington County Farm-City

Lexington County Fire

Lexington County Sheriff's Department

Marco’s Pizza

Midlands Landscape & Lawn

Military Vehicle Collectors of South Carolina

My Gym

New York Famous Hotdogs

N.W. White

Palmetto Health

Pioneer South Carolina

Richland County Sheriff's Department

Rocky Wells Trucking

South Carolina Highway Patrol

SLED

South Carolina Cotton Board

South Carolina Department of Agriculture

South Carolina Farm Bureau

South Carolina Forestry Commission

South Carolina State Farmers Market

South Carolina Trucking Association

The Peterbilt Store of Greenville

Two Men & a Truck

Usborne Books

USC’s Cocky

WACH-TV

Walter P. Rawl & Sons, Inc.

White Crane Company

Wiley Easton Construction Company