Junior League of Greenville, Author at GREENVILLE JOURNAL https://greenvillejournal.com We Inform. We Connect. We Inspire. Tue, 07 Jan 2025 22:52:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://greenvillejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cropped-gj-favicon-32x32.png Junior League of Greenville, Author at GREENVILLE JOURNAL https://greenvillejournal.com 32 32 Celebrate 95 Years of community service with the Junior League of Greenville https://greenvillejournal.com/branded-content/celebrate-95-years-of-community-service-with-the-junior-league-of-greenville/ Fri, 10 Jan 2025 05:01:26 +0000 https://greenvillejournal.com/?p=340464 The organization has been a force for positive change over the years, empowering women and supporting initiatives that serve critical needs in the area.

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More than nine decades of women’s leadership and community service wouldn’t have been possible without long-term partnerships between the Junior League of Greenville and many of Greenville’s keystone nonprofits.

The organization has been a force for positive change over the years, empowering women and supporting initiatives that serve critical needs in the area. The support comes in three meaningful ways: through leadership development, volunteer service by Junior League members and in capacity-building grants awarded each year, said Mary Latrick, community impact vice president for the Junior League of Greenville. 

“The Community Enrichment Committee (of the Community Impact Council) sends volunteers to all the different agencies that we partner with to support them in their efforts throughout the year,” said Latrick, who oversees the Community Impact Council. “And the Grant Committee has the good fortune to be able to give away critical funding to different agencies in the area that go through an application process.”

This year, the Junior League’s members volunteered with Pendleton Place, Jasmine Road, United Ministries, the Julie Valentine Center and SWITCH. Additionally, GirlUp GVL, the Greenville Free Medical Clinic, the Nicholtown Child and Family Collaborative, Soteria Community Development Center, and Triune Mercy Center received a total of $50,000 in grants for 2023-2024 League Year.

The Junior League is raising funds to further its mission of advancing women’s leadership through meaningful community impact at its Celebrating With Purpose: Mardi Gras Magic gala on March 1, 2025, at The 405. This event also celebrates the remarkable achievements of its grants recipients and honors the League’s 95th anniversary milestone.

“We’re inviting our grant recipients this year to be recognized,” Latrick said. “It’s a lovely celebration, but it’s also a good purpose to make folks aware of the impact that their donations have.”

A perfect way to celebrate nearly a century of important work in the Upstate – and of impacting women’s lives, Latrick said.

“Part of our mission is to advance women’s leadership,” she said. “Not only are they getting the opportunity to work with these nonprofits, they’re getting the opportunity to learn on our different committees. They really have that support network to become an effective leader in the community.” 

For more information and tickets to Celebrating With Purpose, visit jlgreenville.org.



Celebrating With Purpose: Mardi Gras Magic

March 1, 2025

The 405, 405 Westfield St., Greenville

Tickets: $150, $195 (VIP)

information@jlgreenville.org

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Junior League of Greenville’s Nearly New Shop gives back to the community https://greenvillejournal.com/branded-content/junior-league-of-greenvilles-nearly-new-shop-gives-back-to-the-community/ Fri, 25 Oct 2024 17:30:21 +0000 https://greenvillejournal.com/?p=340463 You may never know exactly what you’ll find at the Junior League of Greenville’s The Nearly New Shop. But you do always know you’ll find quality goods at good prices.

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You may never know exactly what you’ll find at the Junior League of Greenville’s The Nearly New Shop. But you do always know you’ll find quality goods at good prices.

The store specializes in gently used, upscale clothing and housewares, said Emily Paterra, who oversees The Nearly New Shop as the vice president of fund development for the Junior League of Greenville.

“We get really high-quality consignment items,” said Paterra, who counts fur coats, a Coach handbag and other designer-label treasures, as well as holiday items and children’s wear, among the shop’s finds. “That’s what we take pride in. We try to only put out good stuff.”

Another thing you’ll be sure to find at The Nearly New Shop, which has served the community for more than 75 years, is evidence of an organization dedicated to giving back.

Proceeds from the store, which opened in 1948 as The Opportunity Shop downtown before moving to its current Greenacre Road home, help fund $50,000 in grants to local nonprofits awarded each year by the Junior League. Last year’s grant recipients included the Soteria Community Development Center, Triune Mercy Center, GirlUP GVL, the Nicholtown Child and Family Collaborative, and the Greenville Free Medical Clinic.

The store also provides valuable training to Junior League volunteers, who learn about retail operations while supporting the organization’s other philanthropic work.

“It’s professional development for women in our community, as well as other impactful projects in the area,” Paterra said. “When you shop here, your money stays here, and it supports folks in your neighborhood.”

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Forces of Philanthropy: Junior League of Greenville Inc. https://greenvillejournal.com/forces-of-philanthropy/forces-of-philanthropy-junior-league-of-greenville-inc/ Wed, 05 Jun 2024 10:45:06 +0000 https://greenvillejournal.com/?p=330410 The organization engages in initiatives that help women in the Greenville community overcome barriers, focusing on human trafficking and economic mobility.

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Junior League of Greenville Inc.
Website: jlgreenville.org
Address: 120 Greenacre Road, Greenville, SC, 29607
Phone: 864-233-2663
Facebook handle: facebook.com/JLGreenvilleSC
Instagram handle: @jlgreenvillesc
Established: Sept. 12, 1929
Number of employees: 11
Service areas: Greenville Community

MISSION AND HISTORY:

The Junior League of Greenville, Inc. is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. The organization engages in initiatives that help women in the Greenville community overcome barriers, focusing on human trafficking and economic mobility. Throughout its history, the JLG has contributed millions of dollars to over 300 community partners and agencies, such as Pendleton Place, Warehouse Theatre, and Roper Mountain Science Center. Community projects have helped organizations ranging from South Carolina Children’s Theatre to Nicholtown Child and Family Collaborative. At the heart of every Junior League lies a profound dedication to empowering women to become catalysts for change.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES:

JLG’s service opportunities include:

  1. Providing direct service to community agencies and collect donations.
  2. Researching local and state advocacy needs relating to economic mobility and human trafficking.
  3. Coordinating JLG voter registration efforts in local, state and national elections.
  4. Working on such special projects as the Holiday Bag Project where members assemble gift bags for local cancer patients.
  5. Serving on the Empowered Women of Greenville Committee, whose events focus on health and wellness, career and job

search, and financial literacy tailored to specific organizations.

Volunteer Opportunities

Members have the opportunity to provide direct service to community agencies as well as collect donations throughout the

year. Members also participate in days of service twice a year.

Fundraisers and Events

Mardi Gras Magic

The annual event features Creole food, jazz, authentic king cake, Big Easy cocktails and, of course, Mardi Gras beads, with funds going to JLG’s grants program and community projects.

The Nearly New Shop

The shop’s revenues support JLG programs and projects with sales of clothing and quality household goods at nominal prices, while also providing a training ground for JLG members.

The shop is located at 118 Greenacre Road, Greenville, 29607.
Phone: 864-232-1051
Hours:
Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Donations: Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m.

Cinderella Project

The JLG and the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division provide gently used formalwear for girls and young women to attend special social events at their schools. The project also offers a Prince Charming boutique with new and gently used suits, tuxedos and accessories for young men.

OUR IMPACT:

Throughout JLG’s history, the organization has contributed nearly $3 million, supported more than 300 agencies, helped start many organizations and provided countless hours of volunteer service to the community. The JLG has been at the forefront of many programs and institutions to help effect changes in education, health care and the arts.

Leadership

President: Sarah Brand
President-Elect: Mary-Neil Jackson

Board of directors
President: Sarah Brand
President-Elect: Mary-Neil Jackson
Communications VP: Sarah Moore
Community Impact VP: Mary Latrick
Finance VP: Barbara Purica
Fund Development VP: Emily Paterra
Membership VP: Shannen Ludwig
Corresponding Secretary: Cara Carne
Recording Secretary: Cayce McCullough
Governance Director: Elizabeth Barnhill
Treasurer: Erin Milner
Sustainer Representative to the Board: Caroline Stewart

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Junior League of Greenville provides support through revitalized grants program https://greenvillejournal.com/branded-content/junior-league-of-greenville-provides-support-through-revitalized-grants-program/ Thu, 14 Mar 2024 04:02:51 +0000 https://greenvillejournal.com/?p=327999 The organization has served the Greenville community for 94 years.

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The Junior League of Greenville Inc. is responding to changing needs within the community by refocusing its efforts to help local women overcome issues such as human trafficking and a lack of economic mobility.

The organization, which has served the Greenville community for 94 years, has reintroduced its Capacity Building Grants program to fund new projects, according to Claire Stam, the 2023-24 Junior League of Greenville president.

“We halted this grants program in 2019 as we underwent an adjustment to our focus areas,” Stam said. “We wanted to ensure we were maximizing our philanthropic dollars and placing them strategically to support issues in the Greenville community that require additional resources.”

Get involved with the Junior League of Greenville

  • Soteria Community Development Corp.: $15,000 to support the salary for a part-time caseworker to help formerly incarcerated women transition into society.
  • Triune Mercy Center: $10,000 to support a part-time caseworker focused on transitioning homeless individuals and families in crisis into long-term affordable housing.
  • GirlUp GVL: $10,000 to support its seven-week paid summer internship program that gives teenage girls real-world work experience.
  • Nicholtown Child and Family Collaborative: $10,000 for two targeted programs: the Nurturing Skills for Young Parents Program (ages 13-24) and the Parent Cafe.
  • Greenville Free Medical Clinic: $5,000 to help move the Greer satellite to a new agency/multiservice center with greater capacity.

“This year, we felt it was important to bring back our annual community grants in order to maximize our impact in the areas of economic mobility and human trafficking, and to financially support agencies that are engaging in this important work,” Stam said.

The Junior League of Greenville members
Each December, JLG Sustainers lead a special project to bring holiday cheer and encouragement to cancer patients in the Greenville Community.

Junior League members will have opportunities to volunteer in various capacities at the awarded agencies, as well as other nonprofits in the community.

Stam also pointed out that the community grants program is far from the only tool the Junior League uses to support its mission.

Other ongoing projects include:

  • Empowered Women of Greenville: An internal committee that hosts customized events for local community agencies, aimed to empower their constituents in the areas of health and wellness, career and job search, financial literacy, and building community.
  • A partnership with Habitat for Humanity to provide days of service during which Junior League volunteers help construct Habitat homes.
  • The Annual Sustainer-led Holiday Bag Project: An internal project that each year provides approximately 350 gift bags to the Cancer Society of Greenville County. The bags typically include holiday items and pillows, scarves, tumblers, word searches, personal-care items, and more.
  • Junior League Singers: An internal project, the group performs at various locations in the community, such as nursing homes.

Stam said support from the new grants will begin April 1.

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Junior League of Greenville seeks new members to expand community impact https://greenvillejournal.com/branded-content/junior-league-of-greenville-seeks-new-members-to-expand-community-impact/ Thu, 15 Feb 2024 09:00:44 +0000 https://greenvillejournal.com/?p=327996 The organization has blossomed from an initial membership of 20 women to more than 1,100.

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Maybe you know the Junior League of Greenville through its resale outlet, The Nearly New Shop. Or maybe you or someone you know has benefitted from the service organization’s support of other local agencies.

Since its origin more than 90 years ago, JLG has contributed millions of dollars and supported over 300 agencies, all the while providing “countless hours of volunteer service to the community,” according to its website.

Junior League quote

Claire Stam, 2023-24 president, said the organization’s enviable record of service could not have been accomplished without a robust, active membership.

“Members are the lifeblood of our organization,” Stam said. “Over the past 94 years, they have provided volunteer hours and community service; they have contributed monetarily to those in need. Without our members, we cannot do the work that we do.

“Our members have supported efforts that have founded landmark agencies in Greenville County such as the Peace Center, Warehouse Theatre, Pendleton Place and the Roper Mountain Science Center.”

Junior League of Greenville members
Junior League of Greenville members

The JLG has blossomed from an initial membership of 20 women to more than 1,100 and is actively recruiting more women to support its mission.

“The mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training,” Stam said. “We aim to support women in the community who are experiencing barriers, specifically as they relate to human trafficking and economic mobility.”

Stam said JLG also provides financial assistance and volunteer resources to other local agencies that focus on similar concerns. In March, the group will announce the recipients of the JLG’s annual Capacity Building Grants.

“These are agencies making a huge difference and the Junior League of Greenville is honored to help them grow their efforts and help more individuals,” Stam said of the recipients.

The JLG also benefits its members, too. Stam pointed to her own journey as an example.

“I joined the Junior League of Greenville when I was 25 years old,” she said. “I am a Greenville native, but I was looking for an outlet to not only grow personally but professionally. The Junior League of Greenville offers numerous training opportunities for women in the community, not only regarding our focus areas, but a wide range of topics. We also provide a lot of opportunities to socialize and get to know other members and women we may not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet.”

Get involved with the Junior League of Greenville!
Find out how at jlgreenville.org/join.

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Junior League of Greenville sets fundraising bash for February https://greenvillejournal.com/branded-content/junior-league-of-greenville-sets-fundraising-bash-for-february/ Fri, 08 Dec 2023 13:15:16 +0000 https://greenvillejournal.com/?p=323599 A national study in 2018 found that Greenville is an “extremely bad” place to climb the income ladder if you’re born into poverty.

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Greenville is on all the lists these days — as one of the best small cities to live in, one of the top 10 cities for affordability, and the friendliest city overall.

But despite such accolades, a national study in 2018 found that Greenville is an “extremely bad” place to climb the income ladder if you’re born into poverty. The Equality of Opportunity Project, a study led by Harvard University, ranked Greenville County the 24th worst out of nearly 2,500 counties for upward mobility. The metro area ranks 94th out of the 100 largest metro areas for the same thing.

This explains the Junior League of Greenville’s attention to economic mobility, one of the two areas it has focused its efforts on since 2019, alongside human trafficking.

“I think a lot of people don’t realize how challenging economic mobility is in Greenville County because we see a lot of development in the area,” JLG’s Communications Vice President Christine Owens said. “It’s really easy to think that this is such a prosperous area, and that people do really well, but it’s actually very challenging.”

JLG’s human trafficking focus is geographically pertinent.

“It’s another issue that people just don’t think about a lot in Greenville, but we’re on the I-85 corridor,” she said. “So there are a lot of issues related to trafficking.”

JLG, which works to educate and engage its 1,200 members on addressing the focus areas in partnership with other local nonprofits, is set to host a Mardi Gras bash in February to raise funds for their training curriculum, grants program, and community projects that fall within its focus areas.

Guests at Mardi Gras Magic, from 7 to 10 p.m. Feb. 3, 2024, at The Rutherford, will feast on food from The Lost Cajun and shipped-from-New Orleans king cake while dancing all night to music from the Erica Berg Collective.

More than 30 organizations applied for this year’s JLG grants. Grant recipients will receive up to $15,000 toward a new or ongoing project intended to expand their services to help more Greenvillians.

“It’s great to be part of an organization that has such a legacy in Greenville, and I feel like I am always learning about new things that the Junior League has done in the past,” said Owens of her experience in JLG, which started in 1929. “Not only did JLG help found Pendleton Place, we also played a key role in the beginning the Roper Mountain Science Center and The Warehouse Theatre. That’s kind of a cool legacy to be part of.”

JLG is currently seeking additional sponsors for its Mardi Gras Magic event. This event is open to all. Community members are invited to purchase tickets, starting at $85, at jlgreenville.org/mardigras.

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Junior League celebrates 75th anniversary of The Nearly New Shop https://greenvillejournal.com/branded-content/junior-league-celebrates-75th-anniversary-of-the-nearly-new-shop/ Fri, 15 Sep 2023 12:00:45 +0000 https://greenvillejournal.com/?p=319721 This September, members of the Junior League of Greenville will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the store known today as The Nearly New Shop

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In 1948, it opened in downtown Greenville as the Opportunity Shop. For three quarters of a century, it has been one of the region’s most successful and stylish retail venues.

This September, members of the Junior League of Greenville will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the store known today as The Nearly New Shop, which provides most of the funding for the organization’s community initiatives.

JLG members take pride in not only the shop’s longevity but also its ongoing success. Last year, it hit a record-breaking mark with more than $500,000 in sales. With support from the dedicated staff, the shop also serves as a training ground for JLG’s provisional members. Some of them were frequent shoppers who joined because they were so impressed by the organization.

Located at 118 Greenacre Road, the shop carries everything from T-shirts to designer handbags, along with men’s and children’s clothing, jewelry, seasonal items, housewares, and furniture. Donations of gently used items are tax-deductible and accepted from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The shop also collects formal dresses to donate to high school students preparing for prom, as well as professional ensembles for special events to help those in the community who need clothing for job interviews.

Profits from the store go directly to JLG initiatives that help women overcome barriers, the current areas of focus are human trafficking and economic mobility.

JLG is an organization of women committed to advancing women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training. Over the years, members have raised foundational funding for Greenville institutions such as Roper Mountain Science Center, the Peace Center and Nicholtown Child and Family Collaborative. JLG founded Pendleton Place and has provided support for more than 300 agencies and contributed countless service hours.

JLG is now more than 1,100 members strong and will be accepting applications for membership in October.

For more information on JLG, visit jlgreenville.org. Contact The Nearly New Shop at 864-232-1051; follow the shop on Instagram at @nearlynewshopsc.

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Now is the time to join JLG https://greenvillejournal.com/branded-content/now-is-the-time-to-join-jlg/ Fri, 05 May 2023 09:00:30 +0000 https://greenvillejournal.com/?p=312871 The Junior League of Greenville is actively recruiting local women who want to make a difference in their community. JLG’s membership has been doing exactly that for 94 years, supporting more than 300 agencies and contributing countless service hours.

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Connections and community involvement are at the core of this dynamic group

The Junior League of Greenville is actively recruiting local women who want to make a difference in their community. JLG’s membership has been doing exactly that for 94 years, supporting more than 300 agencies and contributing countless service hours. Now is the time to apply for provisional membership in this thriving group of more than 1,100 dynamic individuals.

Whether you’ve been in Greenville for a few months or a few decades, you can be part of the class of 2023. The window to apply will soon close, but there are still opportunities to attend information sessions on JLG’s history, mission and legacy of service. Currently, the group is engaging in initiatives that help women overcome barriers related to human trafficking and economic mobility. JLG has contributed more than $3 million in funding to local organizations, and this year, it will be awarding $177,500 in grants to three of its community partners: Pendleton Place, which JLG members founded; Jasmine Road; and United Ministries.

Although the women who join have many common interests and goals, Communications Vice President Adrienne Frain says she may never have crossed paths with some of her fellow members if it weren’t for JLG. Frain joined the Junior League in Charleston and transferred membership several times. As she moved to different areas, she was always thankful to have an established network of women to welcome her.

It’s been so helpful in all the places I’ve lived to be able to get involved almost immediately,” Frain says.

Public Relations and Marketing Chairperson Shira Simon was new to Greenville when she first saw a JLG announcement. She wanted to be more active in the community but didn’t know where to start. “I was pursuing my MBA and working in tech sales, so obviously, my time was limited. JLG was a portal that helped me focus my efforts and maximize any impact I could have on the community,” she says.

Simon also notes that her leadership role with JLG has broadened her skills. “My daily work is all about spreadsheets and sales. Without a major career change, I would never have had the opportunity to delve into communications the way I have,” she says.

Frain has actually known members who have switched professions after volunteering with JLG. “I’ve seen them go into counseling and fundraising. … There are just so many things you learn like how to lead a committee or run a meeting effectively,” she says. JLG can be life changing as the organization develops its members, along with the agencies they support. If you would like to get involved and become part of the JLG heritage, visit jlgreenville.org/join.

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Junior League of Greenville now recruiting https://greenvillejournal.com/branded-content/junior-league-of-greenville-now-recruiting/ Fri, 03 Mar 2023 16:04:07 +0000 https://greenvillejournal.com/?p=308612 The Junior League of Greenville is now actively recruiting its new member class of 2023-2024.

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Women’s leadership group seeking new members looking to make an impact

The Junior League of Greenville is now actively recruiting its new member class of 2023-2024. Service-minded women who reside in Greenville County and are over the age of 21 are invited to join JLG’s Recruitment Committee for one of their upcoming New Member Information Sessions, occurring now through May, and to join an organization of more than 1,100 women dedicated to advancing women’s leadership for meaningful community impact.

JLG not only provides a network of active volunteers but also trains them to maximize their time and talents. Some members make lifelong commitments to service by supporting JLG for decades. Members in their 80s, 90s and beyond use leadership lessons learned in service to the Greenville community, working with any number of nonprofit mainstays while acting as role models for newer members.

Current areas of focus for the volunteer organization include human trafficking and economic mobility. Over the years, JLG has provided foundational funding for Greenville institutions such as Roper Mountain Science Center, the Peace Center and Nicholtown Child and Family Collaborative and was the founder of Pendleton Place.

The largest source of funding for JLG is the Nearly New Shop, which sells gently used clothing and housewares. Annual activities and. events include countless volunteer, training, and social opportunities.

Whether you’re new to Greenville or a lifelong resident, JLG can help you get to know and serve your community. Membership applications and a schedule of recruitment events are available on the organization’s website, jlgreenville.org/join

864.263.2663 | information@jlgreenville.org

The Nearly New Shop: 864.232.1051

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Junior League Sustainers: Delivering cheer for 30 years https://greenvillejournal.com/branded-content/junior-league-sustainers-delivering-cheer-for-30-years/ Fri, 09 Dec 2022 21:30:26 +0000 https://greenvillejournal.com/?p=304667 Holiday Bags Project encourages local cancer patients.

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Holiday Bags Project encourages local cancer patients

This holiday season, a special group within the Junior League of Greenville will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of a project that has become synonymous with their service to the community. Working with the Cancer Society of Greenville, JLG’s “Sustainers” will assemble and provide hundreds of bags full of personal-care and holiday-themed items for local patients.

Sustainers are JLG members who have eight years or more of active service and continue to underpin one of Greenville’s most multifaceted nonprofits. They begin shopping for the Holiday Bags Project during the summer, and fundraising for it happens year-round. Thanks to local businesses and individual donors, this year’s holiday cheer packages will go to 310 adults, 25 teens and 15 children as the Sustainers once again offer their encouragement.

JLG has provided foundational funding for well-known local institutions such as the Roper Mountain Science Center, Pendleton Place and Nicholtown Child and Family Collaborative. In addition to their own projects, they provide trained volunteers and financial support for many others.

Sustainers continue to be involved with JLG and have formed lifelong bonds with fellow members. If you would like to become involved with this community of more than 1,100 service-minded women with diverse backgrounds, please consider attending one of the upcoming recruitment events, beginning this month and running throughout the spring.

Keep an eye on JLG’s social media and the jlgreenville.org/join page for upcoming events or to learn more about JLG.

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Junior League plays senior role in service https://greenvillejournal.com/branded-content/junior-league-plays-senior-role-in-service/ Fri, 16 Sep 2022 14:54:01 +0000 https://greenvillejournal.com/?p=304660 With more than 1,100 members, The Junior League of Greenville has been a force for good for 93 years.

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With more than 1,100 members, JLG has been a force for good for 93 years

Greenville has always been distinguished by caring people who build their communities through vital nonprofit organizations. Undergirding many of the names we all know is a network of women who not only maintain one of the area’s strongest associations but also provide trained volunteers for many others. With more than 1,100 members, The Junior League of Greenville has been a force for good for 93 years.

According to JLG President Kimberly Witherspoon, current areas of focus for the all-volunteer organization include human trafficking and economic mobility. Over the years, JLG members have provided foundational funding for Greenville institutions such as Roper Mountain Science Center, the Peace Center and Nicholtown Child and Family Collaborative, and they were founders of Pendleton Place. 

“Many of our members make lifelong commitments to service by sustaining our organization with their time, talent and treasure for decades,” Witherspoon says. “Members in their 80s, 90s and beyond use leadership lessons learned in the league in service to the Greenville community, working with any number of nonprofit mainstays. They also serve as role models for newer members, which is one of the elements that makes JLG so special and so beneficial.”

The largest source of funding for JLG is the Nearly New Shop, which sells gently used clothing and housewares. Items may be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays at 118 Greenacre Road, and all donations are tax deductible. With advance notice, JLG volunteers can even pick up and transport items. The JLG is also associated with three other well-known letters: the LBD. Every year, the Little Black Dress Initiative garners significant donations for community causes. Members wear black dresses for five consecutive days to call attention to barriers poverty creates in the lives of women and to encourage friends, family and colleagues to support their efforts.

Looking ahead to 2023, Witherspoon says JLG’s 1,100-plus members will continue their mission to provide meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training. In March, they will host the third annual Empowered Women of Greenville conference, a full-day event open to all women in the area. “The conference is about helping women thrive personally and professionally. We believe empowered women have a ripple effect on the community at large, and we want to keep that going as we look toward another year of developing female leaders, working collaboratively with our partner agencies and supporting job attainment efforts through our Nearly New Shop.”

The JLG is a great place to get to know the community and its needs if you’re new to Greenville and a wonderful way to become part of the tradition of leadership and service regardless of age or time in the Upstate. Membership in the Junior League is open to all women 21 and over, and applications are available on the organization’s website, jlgreenville.org.

864.774.5970

information@jlgreenville.org

The Nearly New Shop: 864.232.1051

 

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Junior League Leaps Into 2022 https://greenvillejournal.com/branded-content/junior-league-leaps-into-2022/ Fri, 03 Dec 2021 15:00:16 +0000 https://greenvillejournal.com/?p=269848 How does wearing the same black dress for a week help others in the community overcome trying times?

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How does wearing the same black dress for a week help others in the community overcome trying times? It’s one of two signature fundraising events the Junior League of Greenville hosts every year to support local agencies that target economic mobility and human trafficking.

During November’s Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI), members not only wore the same black dress all week, they sported buttons that read “Ask Me About My Dress,” said Claire Stam, business manager for the events. Shop for Greenville is the Junior League’s second fundraising event.

“When people see you wearing the same thing all week to work, the grocery store, the carpool line – it’s a conversation starter,” she said, noting that it symbolizes the restrictions poverty places on opportunities. “People really do not have a great understanding about how prevalent human trafficking is in our community. And Greenville County is one of the hardest places for people to climb out of poverty.”

Members also promote the event via their social media and email networks to raise funds, Stam said. This year, LDBI raised more than $42,000.

“We hope this campaign will inspire other women to become a Junior League member and support our efforts to help women in our community overcome barriers related to human trafficking and economic mobility,” said.

Shop for Greenville Goes Digital

Shop for Greenville, meanwhile, is a two-week event during which businesses in the region offer discounts ranging from 20 percent off at a retail shop to free dessert at a restaurant, said Teel Jarvis, Shop for Greenville chair.

Discount cards for the event, which runs from Feb. 25 to March 13, 2022, are available from the League for $40, she said. About 150 businesses from Travelers Rest to Fountain Inn participated last year. 

“We’re hoping to raise over $20,000,” Jarvis said. “Last year (2021), we raised $18,000.”

Previously, the group sold discount books, she said, but this year the event is going digital to eliminate paper waste and make it easier for participants to see which businesses are involved by category or location and the discounts they are offering, she said.

“It’s more user-friendly,” she said. “You can just pull it up on your phone.”

Going digital also allows for an interactive map so if you want a cup of coffee, you can see if there’s a participating shop near you, she said.  “And it’s not just boutiques. It’s home services. There’s a little something for everyone.”

Active Junior League members purchase the cards, often for family and friends, Jarvis said. And the public can purchase by visiting www.shopforgreenville.org.

Shop For Greenville Sponsorships

The Junior League has five sponsorship levels for businesses ranging from $50 to $1,000, according to Laura Riddle, Fund Development vice president. They can sponsor in exchange for recognition on the group’s website, social media, newsletter and other opportunities, she said.

The Junior League has redesigned the format so it’s easier for potential sponsors to navigate. “It has more of our offerings at a glance,” she said. “You can see exactly what you’re going to get for donations.” 

Donations

The Junior League also accepts donations of products and services, such as gourmet foods or a spa day, for baskets that are raffled off to raise extra funds, Jarvis said.

Proceeds support the Junior League’s programs and services, including those provided to Jasmine Road, the Julie Valentine Center, The Family Effect, Pendleton Place, SWITCH and United Ministries.

To learn more, go to https://www.jlgreenville.org/support/little-black-dress-initiative/ and shopforgreenville.org.

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After tough year, Greenville Junior League looks to better times https://greenvillejournal.com/branded-content/junior-league-greenville-better-times-ahead/ Fri, 03 Sep 2021 04:15:43 +0000 https://greenvillejournal.com/?p=266140 With a new motto of “Stronger Together,” the League is recommitted to helping women with upward mobility challenges get the tools they need to make a better life for themselves and their families.

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While the world shut down for much of 2020 because of the coronavirus, one thing that never abated was the number of women struggling through hard times.

Though forced by safety protocols to do a lot of its work virtually, the Junior League of Greenville was nonetheless there to help.

Now it’s looking ahead to better days, new projects and reenergized engagement.

“Last year was a tough year all around for everyone,” said Lenna Blaser, communications vice president for the nonprofit, which helps women in the community overcome barriers.

“But it’s a new League year and there are a lot of exciting things going on.”

The League partners with local agencies — Jasmine Road, the Julie Valentine Center, The Family Effect, Pendleton Place, SWITCH and United Ministries — focusing on ending human trafficking and improving economic mobility.

“We want to be a key connector, resource and support for these issues in the Greenville community,” said Elizabeth DuBose, community impact vice president for 2021-2022.

“We care about the health and well-being of women and want to empower and support all women to succeed in life.”

With a new motto of “Stronger Together,” the League is recommitted to helping women with upward mobility challenges get the tools they need to make a better life for themselves and their families.

In the past year, for example, the League provided $2,400 in direct support to its partner organizations and collected more than 2,300 items — from office, school and cleaning supplies to housewares, canned goods and gently-used professional clothing for the Nearly New Shop, the League’s resale shop.

 

A highlight of the year was the League’s Empowered Women of Greenville workshop. Originally planned as an in-person event, it went virtual to help 72 women learn about job searching, financial literacy, network building and more. Those who attended four seminars also received a gift certificate to the Nearly New Shop to get an outfit for job interviews.

One residential care specialist from Jasmine Road said the event was “highly-useful” and “relevant to the ladies we support.”

“The residents in our program had nothing but positive feedback,” she said.

And a clinical director from SWITCH said it “made it possible for several of the women we serve to come in and hear great tips and learn but also to feel loved and valued. That is always a good day.”

The 1,200-member League also held an Amazon wish list project, where members could ship donated items directly to partner organizations.

“Before, we would go and volunteer in-person,” Blaser said. “But with the COVID restrictions, that was not possible.”

League members volunteered more than 350 hours last year, running collection drives and organizing voter registration efforts among other tasks.

Leaders also organized trivia games, held outdoor running clubs and yoga classes via Zoom to keep members upbeat and engaged through some dark days.

“With COVID still around, we continue to pivot as we need to,” Blaser said, “and our goal is to continue to be creative in meeting the needs of our partner agencies and our members.”

To learn more, to donate or to join the League, go to https://www.jlgreenville.org or reach out by email at join@jlgreenville.org.

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