Healthy Start Kicks Off a New Year

Submitted by Active member Emma Davidson

The Healthy Start Committee kicked off the new school year at Caughman Road and South Kilbourne Elementary schools.

Committee members held two events (one at each school) that celebrate the school, make learning fun and encourage parents to find a way to get involved in the health of their kids. The event is free to all students and their families at their host school. This year, the Healthy Start Committee served nearly 500 kids and their families!

Each event involves some warm-up time while the kids arrive. This time is filled with jump ropes, hopscotch, hula hoops and silly races. This year we welcomed two very special guests to our warm-up: Cocky and Crossfit Kids! Cocky took part in the organized work out, including stretching, lunges and running in place. Crossfit Kids led the children through a series of easy moves that they can do at home to keep their bodies active.

After the warm-up, the kids were divided into their age groups and then moved between a series of health stations. These included Healthy Teeth (where they learned about the importance of brushing and flossing), Healthy Minds (where they learned about the parts of speech and reading), Healthy Bodies (where they learned about washing their hands and preventing germs) and Healthy Eating (where they learned about eating fruits and veggies). At each station, each child received a hygienic present and a school supply, including body wash, deodorant, floss, books, notebook paper and erasers.

Meanwhile, the kids’ parents were in the cafeteria, talking about the importance of healthy shopping and being active with their kids. The children joined their parents for a Moe’s dinner and received another surprise: new backpacks courtesy of the Hootie and the Blowfish Foundation and The Cooperative Ministries.

These were two great events, made possible by the Junior League Healthy Start Committee members: Caison Boozer (Co-Chair), Kelly Hall (Co-Chair), Aston Daniels, Emma Davidson, Rachel Flynn, Rebecca Goings, Meredith Gvozdas, Virginia Henderson, Frances Clark, Alle Kaneft, Andrea Lance, Tara Martin, Megan McConville, Catherine Rawl, Kolby Redd, Tori Tibshrany and Alana Williams.

About Healthy Start

Healthy Start kicks off the school year with excitement! The event takes place at a school, so that we celebrate the school, making learning fun and encourage parents to find a way to get involved. Healthy Start is free to all students and their families at their host school. The event addresses the new focus of healthy children in efforts to improve the mind, body and spirit by promoting literacy and reading, providing health and safety information and helping parents get involved in the schools and in their children's lives.

Remarkable Woman Spotlight: Sustainer Pamela Pope

Each month, we are highlighting a "Remarkable Woman" in the Junior League of Columbia. We kick off this series with one of our Sustainers, Pamela Pope. Pamela is the current Sustainer Representative for the Board, and a past President of the Junior League of Columbia. Originally from Columbia, she is married to Joe Pope and has two children, Pamela Ann (9) and Joseph (11). Pamela teaches Latin in the middle school at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, where she has been for 20 years.

What was your most favorite placement in the Junior League?  

During my active years, being Provisional Chair and Membership VP were probably my favorites.  Being President was hard work, but incredibly rewarding.

How many years of service do you have with the league? 

I think 21 years.

What’s your favorite childhood memory?  

One favorite memory would be adventurous car rides with my family to wherever my mom had planned.

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?  

I wanted to be a teacher.

What are your hobbies? 

I enjoy walking my dogs, reading, traveling with my  family to the beach and mountains.

What is something important life has taught you?  

It is important to always have a goal to work towards. When you work hard and persevere, the rewards and personal growth can be tremendous.

Whom do you most admire or has been a role model for you?  

My mother, Pam Reed, has been a remarkable role model to me. She has taught me the importance of family, of community, and of giving of your self and back to others on a daily basis.

How do you think the JLC has changed most since you joined as a member?  

The friendships that I have formed over the years through my placements have been wonderful. The leadership opportunities and training through the JLC have been incredible, and I have been able to apply my knowledge from these experiences in other community volunteerism, my teaching, and my personal life.

Sustainers Provide Foundation of Community Service

Sustainer Mothers and Daughters Share Memories of League Service

This was an original article featured in the August 2013 issue of the Major League News. 
Submitted by Mary Frances Jowers, Sustainer Outreach Chair

Community Service is an integral part of the Junior League and always has been. Sustainers provide and set a strong example of League service. There are several mother and daughter members of the League, and several of these families have shared their memories - memories that serve to remind us we are all part of this long history of service.

Sustainer Betsey Exum with her daughter, Sustainer Lisa
Courson, granddaughter Elizabeth Baker, and great
granddaughter Elly Baker (born September 2010)

Sustainer Betsey Exum volunteered with the Columbia Museum of Art and helped found the Speech & Hearing Center in the 1950's. At that time, children with speech and hearing needs were not offered services in the schools. Years later, Exum's daughter, Sustainer Lisa Courson, was the League Representative on the Board of the Speech & Hearing Center. As a result of the League's efforts, the need for this service had been identified, met and fulfilled by the schools. Exum's commitment to service was important to her daughter Courson, who explained, "I grew up seeing my mother set the example of being actively involved in the community, and I tried to follow her example and set the same example for my children."

Sustainer Louisa "Binkie" Tobias served the community through her Junior League volunteer work at the Columbia Museum of Art and the Speech & Hearing Center. Her daughter, Sustainer Louisa Campbell, has childhood memories of going to puppet shows at the art museum and going with her mother to the Speech & Hearing Center, where she served as a volunteer tester. Years later, when Campbell was President of the League, an emergency situation arose when the printer could not get the League Magazine mailed in time to publicize the upcoming membership meeting. It would require an employee at the print shop to stay up all night to keep the presses running. Just when prospects looked dim, an employee overheard the conversation and spoke up to volunteer his time. He said that years earlier, the Junior League ladies at the Speech & Hearing Center worked tirelessly to help his son. He overcame hearing loss and a speech impediment that kept him from going to school with his friends. "I saw him cry as he watched his friends climb on the school bus. But, those Junior League ladies never gave up on my boy. Today he speaks better than I do. I could never do enough to thank those Junior League ladies." The magazine was mailed out on time, and the membership and community guests crowded the auditorium to hear the acclaimed Nancy Austin, co-author of "In Search of Excellence." It was a great day after all.

Campbell explained that she was so grateful for the timely gift she received on behalf of a past generation of Junior League ladies. "Never underestimate the impact of your community service. It affects people in ways that you may never know, whose thanks you may never hear. But, rest assured that your volunteer service pays forward a very powerful gift."

Sustainer Mary Ruffin Weaver Childs, Active Jenny-Gray
Childs Tatum, May Weaver Tatum (Born January 2013)

Sustainer Mary Ruffin Childs explained, "One of the greatest privileges of being a member of the JLC has been the exposure our children had to the work we did in the community." Childs recalled that while she was the chair of the Second Look Thrift Store both of her daughters, Active Jenny-Gray Tatum and Halfie Childs spent many hours helping to accept and unload donated items from generous JLC members. During this time they learned first-hand the joy of selling those items to members of the community through greatly discounted prices.

Regarding the family connection, Childs stated, "Our family tradition for 25 years has been to go to the Holiday Market; it is the highlight of the holiday season for my daughters and me, and they have always understood the money is returned to community projects." Childs explained that while she was serving on the JLC board, including President, her daughters were immersed among the multitude of servant leaders who blazed the trail for them today. Tatum added, "My mom worked very hard as a leader in the League and I knew early on that I wanted to be a part of something that was fun and gave back to the community. Today, my mom and I love catching up about what is happening in the League and discussing the exciting opportunities for JLC in the future."

Sustainer Patti Trotter and her
daughter, Active Jessica Trotter Shand

Sustainer Patti Trotter began her placement as a new Junior League member volunteering for the Richland Memorial Hospital Center for Cancer Treatment & Research (CCTR). Three years later, the JLC asked her to serve on the CCTR's Board as a League community representative. For nine years, this placement became an integral part of not only Trotter's life, it became a passion for some members of her family. Her oldest daughter, Jessica Trotter Shand, lost no time in becoming a constant companion of her mother's for many years as she carried out all facets of Board responsibilities. Shand is now an active member of the JLC herself, and she has many fond memories of working with her mother and other League members to put together hundreds of food baskets for the CCTR patients and their families during the Christmas holidays. Every year, the CCTR hosted a weekend retreat for the cancer patients and their families; Shand attended this event with her mother for many years and together they grew tremendously from watching how little it took to make a difference in someone's life.

Trotter summed up her memories by stating, "What an honor for a mother to get to share years of memories with a special daughter." Shand added, "It is very special to now enjoy JLC events together. I join her for a few Sustainer events each year, and we always enjoy Holiday Market together."

League service is a family tradition for Sustainer Beau Mitchell. She has three daughters who are Sustainers: Susan Mitchell Callahan, Ellen Mitchell Siron, and Marie Mitchell Strohecker. Her granddaughter (and Siron's daughter) is Active Katie Siron. Ellen Siron fondly noted, "The greatest gift a mother can give her children is the ability to love, serve, and connect with others. For three generations, the League has provided my family with lasting friendships, service opportunities, training, and a commitment of philanthropy within the community. The values found within this unique organization of women are strong, steadfast, and ones I am proud to support and pass on to future generations. Being a part of the League was a gift given by my mother and one I had always hoped to pass to my daughters."

Sustainer Cece Zimmerman noted that helping others who are less fortunate is something we should all do. Her three daughters, Katie Atkinson, Natalie Zimmerman, and Julia Bowers are all active in the League. Sustainer Zimmerman explained that her favorite placement was chairing the Toy Sale that the League did for the underprivileged before Christmas as well as her Holiday Market placements. Her daughters have all taken on significant placements, mostly related to Holiday Market. Zimmerman stated, "I guess my volunteerism wore off on my girls! I am so proud that they all feel the need to help raise money to go back into our community to help others."

Other mother and daughter League members include:

• Sustainer Jean Bruton and her daughter Active Margaret Bruton
• Sustainer Margaret Clarkson and her daughter Sustainer Gene Clarkson Brabham
• Sustainer Mahalie Davies and her daughter Active Mahalie Davies Moore
• Sustainers Cornelia (Nela) Gibbons Edgar and her daughter Caroline Gibbons Williams
• Sustainers Elaine Folline and her daughter Emily Folline Mikell
• Sustainers Vesta Haselden and her daughter Anne Haselden Foster
• Sustainer Sue Hodges and her daughter Active Mary Hodges
• Sustainers Lou King and daughter Louise (Gil) King Cavanagh
• Sustainers Caroline (Caro) Marchant and her daughter Caroline Marchant Borucki
• Sustainers Sandra Ravenel and her daughter Janie Ravenel Godbold
• Sustainers Pamela Milliken Reed and her daughter Pamela Reed Pope
• Sustainer Beth Wilson and her daughters Actives Margaret Asay and Bebe deTreville.

Apologies are extended to mothers and daughters who are not included. If you and your mother or daughter are both JLC members, please let Maria know so we can update our records!

Forget the Fryer - Healthy Kids Go Oven-Baked

Recently, President Obama proclaimed September 2013 as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, “encouraging Americans to get involved in promoting healthy eating and physical activity for our kids nationwide.” You can check out the announcement on the Let’s Move! website.

The vision of the Junior League of Columbia is to strengthen the health and well-being of children and families in the Midlands. Because of this vision, we focus on healthy children through events such as Kids in the Kitchen, the Healthy Kids Fun Fair, Healthy Kids with Special Needs and more. We are excited to bring healthy recipes, tips and news on a monthly basis to JLC’s blog.

Today, we bring you a healthy recipe that the kids can even get involved in making. We found this Almond-Crusted Chicken Fingers recipe on the Eating Well website, which has some great healthy kid-friendly recipes. The great thing about these chicken fingers is that they are baked in the oven, and not fried! You can serve them with some great vegetables and sides for an easy and healthy meal for the whole family.

(Image from Eating Well's website)

Almond-Crusted Chicken Fingers

Original Recipe Here (Eating Well®)

Makes 4 Servings

Active Time: 20 Minutes

Total Time: 40 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

Canola oil cooking spray

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1/4 cup whole-wheat flour

1 1/2 teaspoons paprika

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

4 large egg whites

1 pound chicken tenders, (see Ingredient Note)

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 475°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Set a wire rack on the baking sheet and coat it with cooking spray.

Place almonds, flour, paprika, garlic powder, dry mustard, salt and pepper in a food processor; process until the almonds are finely chopped and the paprika is mixed throughout, about 1 minute. With the motor running, drizzle in oil; process until combined. Transfer the mixture to a shallow dish.

Whisk egg whites in a second shallow dish. Add chicken tenders and turn to coat. Transfer each tender to the almond mixture; turn to coat evenly. (Discard any remaining egg white and almond mixture.) Place the tenders on the prepared rack and coat with cooking spray; turn and spray the other side.

Bake the chicken fingers until golden brown, crispy and no longer pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes.

TIPS & NOTES

Ingredient note: Chicken tenders, virtually fat-free, are a strip of rib meat typically found attached to the underside of the chicken breast, but they can also be purchased separately. Four 1-ounce tenders will yield a 3-ounce cooked portion. Tenders are perfect for quick stir-fries, chicken satay or kid-friendly breaded “chicken fingers.”

NUTRITION

Per serving: 174 calories; 4 g fat ( 1 g sat , 2 g mono ); 66 mg cholesterol; 4 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 27 g protein; 1 g fiber; 254 mg sodium; 76 mg potassium.

Why I Joined the Junior League of Columbia

Each month, we will feature a post by Christy Snow, a member of this year's Provisional class. This will allow our community to get a glimpse into the Provisional experience. For those of you not familiar with the League, a Provisional is a member who is in her first year; it is a time for her to learn about JLC's mission, programs and to get involved.

Submitted by Christy Snow, Provisional Member

My name is Christy Snow, and I’ve lived in Columbia full-time for about six years. I moved here from Greenville to go to school at the University of South Carolina, but I’ve always loved Columbia since I was a little girl. For me it’s got everything I need – reasonably priced shopping, options for an active lifestyle, an awesome job, great restaurants that I can go to in yoga pants and, of course, Gamecock football.

I will say that my only disappointment in Columbia happened when I graduated college in 2010. Nearly all of my friends moved away upon graduating, and I had to start from scratch again. For the first couple of years, I fortunately had the distractions of building a career, tackling that “freshman 15” that held on to my hips for dear life and learning adult things such as how to pay a water bill and change an air filter. However, once I was able to get my feet on the ground, I realized my social life and charitable giving of my time had a taken a serious backburner in my life.

Enter Junior League of Columbia. I’ve always been familiar with the League from co-workers, friends and the twenty JLC car stickers I see driving around on any given day in Columbia, so I figured it was worth looking into. The dues were affordable and I had no issues finding sponsors (A big thanks to Carol Caulk and Powers Strickland!). From the get go, I had a good feeling about joining and was ready to dive in.

 First Provisional Social

August 1^st was the date of our first provisional gathering at the Palmetto Club. For this one, we got to bring our fabulous sponsors along. I met some really great women at the social and since I was not blessed with the ability to remember names very well, I am super thankful for those beautiful JLC nametags! This event was a nice  way to meet not only other provisional members but to also mingle and chat with active members and sustainers. Overall, it was the perfect welcome to the League!

Orientation

I am not crazy about the word “orientation.” It typically means sitting for hours on end, listening to a bunch of talking heads loading you down with answers to questions that you don’t even have yet. JLC’s Provisional Committee surprised me. At most, it was only two hours of your typical orientation activities. Even in those two hours, I was engaged in the presentation the entire time (with the help of complimentary trail mix and Diet Coke that the League provided). There were multiple speakers that presented in order to break up the monotony. We heard perspectives from each of our Provisional Committee members, the JLC board and my favorite was hearing from a past JLC President, Kristy Ellenberg. She touched on the highlights of Junior League’s history and by the end of her speech, I was moved and motivated to get involved with the League and make some history of my own. By the end of orientation, I had successfully added all meeting dates for the next year into my phone and was ready for Happy Hour!

Happy Hour was a great way to end our first mandatory event with plenty of great food, drinks and laughs. I think everyone was excited for the year to come and I met plenty of other awesome women!

This next year is going to be a whirlwind, but I’m looking forward to the multiple opportunities ahead of giving back to the community and making new friends through the Junior League of Columbia!