BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Junior League of Birmingham, one of the city’s oldest nonprofits, is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year along with its impact on the Greater Birmingham Community.
The Junior League of Birmingham’s theme for the 95th year of serving Birmingham is “Light Tomorrow with Today,” a quote from Elizabeth Barrett Browning that summarizes what Junior League of Birmingham President Lauren Roberts believes the Junior League of Birmingham is really about.
“While we are working in 2016 to improve the lives of women and children in the here and now, we have a constant eye towards the future of our city, striving to make changes that will be long-term and sustainable,” said Roberts. “Just as the members who went before us have done. As we begin our 95th year as an organization, it strikes me that each of our members are here because someone lit the flame within us to serve others.”
The JLB is made up of 2,500 women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The League has more than 30 community projects that it supports- with more than $1,000,000.00 going back into the community each year.
Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable, and its volunteers hail from 120+ zip codes in four counties throughout the Birmingham metro area.
As one of the largest volunteer service organizations in Alabama, the JLB has nearly 1,000 active volunteers who contribute more than 55,000 hours of service annually. Its purpose is improving the lives of women and children by working with community agencies to deliver services and assistance to those in need.
In fact, Shop Save & Share, one of the JLB’s largest fundraisers, kicked off this week. This initiative is two-fold in that it benefits hundreds of small businesses and the more than 30 community projects, while at the same time driving customers to local retailers and restaurants.
The JLB supports local organizations through service with those such as the YWCA, Birmingham Zoo, Pathways, The Exceptional Foundation and others.
Several organizations were even founded by the JLB such as The Literacy Council, Birmingham Children’s Theater, the Mothers’ Milk Bank, and the newly launched Diaper Bank.
One of the JLB’s most memorable activities throughout the year is “Pretty at the Prom,” where JLB volunteers assist ladies get pampered for the prom from the Exceptional Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides individuals with special needs with social and recreational activities in Birmingham.
JLB volunteers work to offer these ladies the the opportunity to have their makeup done, hair styled, nails painted and more prior to going to prom to meet their dates.
‘Pretty at the Prom’ is an annual favorite of The Junior League of Birmingham. While the prom is a highlight for the Exceptional Foundation participants, it is also a milestone for their families who get to see a dream fulfilled of their child attending prom – many for the first time.
As the Junior League of Birmingham heads toward its centennial celebration, the organization recently launched a video that works to explain the overall mission of the group- promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
