As we embark on our 52nd year of community outreach, I'm amazed not only by the diverse group of women that make up the Junior League of Tallahassee (JLT), but also by the incredible non-profit organizations that seek and rely upon our support. While our more than 500 members have raised and returned an astounding $120,000 and donated thousands of volunteer hours in our community in the past 12 months alone, many residents do not know what the JLT is today.

The face of the Junior League may be changing through the years, but the dynamic remains. Nationwide, we are hundreds of thousands of women strong - some as young as 23 years old, just beginning our paths into adulthood; others, a bit older, well-established in our careers; some of us married, some not; some with children, others not. We come together seeking volunteer opportunities, a place to learn leadership skills, a group with which to network and socialize. Though we each came to League membership for our own personal reasons, and while we work on separate committees and projects, we join together to share a common goal under one umbrella - to better prepare the children in our Tallahassee community to succeed in school.

A Snapshot of How JLT is Helping Meet Needs in Our Community

• 2,444 - Number of Hours Volunteered by JLT in 2011-2012

• 700 – Children assisted by the JLT in 2011-2012
• $120,000 – The total amount of funding the JLT injects into the community over the previous and upcoming fiscal years.

• $21,300 – The amount awarded to iGrow to help combat hunger in Tallahassee through the JLT’s first-ever Big Bold Idea grant.

• $12,500 – The value of school clothing, shoes, backpacks and supplies provided to deserving children each year through the JLT Kids’ Boutique project.
• 1,500 - The number of dresses available last year to 260 young women who attended the 2012 Operation Prom Dress project.