JLW is Excited to Announce Spring Opportunity Grant Recipient - 826DC

The Junior League of Washington is pleased to welcome 826DC as our newest Opportunity Grant Recipient. With the Opportunity Grants, the League makes grants of $1,000 or less to community non-profit organizations demonstrating an unexpected short-term financial need.

826DC, formerly known as Capitol Letters Writing Center, is a nonprofit that was founded in fall 2008, and in late-2009, became affiliated with 826 National, the network of nonprofits co-founded by award-winning author Dave Eggers. The organization is dedicated to working with students ages 6 through 18 in developing their creative and expository writing skills and to working with teachers to inspire their students to write. 826DC believes that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. The organization provide after-school tutoring, in-school programming, evening and weekend writing workshops, help for English language learners, field trips, and student publishing opportunities all free of charge. 

On the first day of after-school tutoring in September, a record 41 students attended. Since then, 100 students have registered, and the organization is at capacity almost every day with 35-40 students. During the 2011-2012 school year, the organization served 2,000 students, an increase of 900 from the previous year, and is projected to serve over 3,000 students this year. This significant and rapid growth means 826DC is quickly outgrowing its space and is in need of more tables and storage space to accommodate the demand for their programs.

During the after-school tutoring program, students are required to read for at least 20 minutes after they finish their homework. Students can choose from the hundreds of books in the library, which are organized according to the Fountas and Pinnell reading level system.

The $1,000 grant from the Junior League of Washington will be used to purchase three additional tables for the center and two additional bookshelves for extra storage. Having more tables will increase the number of small tables available for students and volunteer tutors coming to the after-school tutoring program, allow work in smaller groups, and will also allow 826DC to serve more students overall across its various programs. Additionally, 826DC recently received 250 books through Resolution Read.

The 2012-2013 grant cycle is currently closed. If you would like further information about the 2013-2014 grant cycle, please visit our website or contact Alicia Lee, chair of the Targeted Grants and Volunteer Resources Committee at grantsandvolunteers@jlw.org.

Alicia Lee
Chair, Targeted Grants and Volunteer Resources Committee

Get Ready for Spring at C. Wonder on Saturday, April 13!

C. Wonder has graciously agreed to host a JLW Shops! event this Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Sweet treats and a twenty percent discount will be provided! Ten percent of the proceeds from your purchases will go to support JLW’s literacy efforts in the greater Washington, D.C. community. C. Wonder is located on the second level of Tyson’s Corner Center near Macy’s department store. From adorable dresses and gorgeous jewelry to stunning dishware and throw pillows, C. Wonder offers clothing, accessories and home décor products that are bright and exciting to wear or stock your home with. The C. Wonder lifestyle brand provides women with luxury style products that are also affordable. Any fashionista needs to visit this amazing store!

Bring your friends, your pocketbook and your fashion sense this Saturday to see what C. Wonder is all about! It is shopping for a great cause!

Lauren A. Johnston
Special Events Committee Member

2nd Annual Kitchen Tour: It’s All About Entertaining!

We hope you join us for the Junior League of Washington’s second annual Kitchen Tour that kicks-off on Saturday, April 20 at 12:00 p.m. Until 4:00 p.m., ticket holders will explore six amazing kitchens in the Columbia Heights neighborhood and take part in different presentations at each home, with everything from wine pairings to flower arranging. Everything you need to know about entertaining in style in D.C.!  You will see well-laid out apartment kitchens and luxurious home kitchens. 

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the event. Tickets are available through the JLW website! Last year, over 300 tickets were sold. All proceeds from the tour will help support the JLW’s literacy efforts in the greater Washington, D.C. community.

To learn more about some of the fabulous aspects of this event we spoke with Kitchen Tour Co-Chair, Heidi Krieger.

JLW: What is your favorite aspect of planning the Junior League of Washington’s Kitchen Tour?
Heidi: I love reaching out to potential sponsors.  It’s so fun to work with our awesome community sponsors!

JLW: This is the second Junior League of Washington Kitchen Tour.  Why was this event created?
Heidi: There are so many wonderful kitchens around DC and we thought it would fun to peek inside and see what makes them work so well.

JLW: What do you think the attendees will enjoy most about this event?
Heidi: The tastings, demos, and goodie bags!!!

JLW: Can attendees win any prizes during the Kitchen Tour?
Heidi: Yes, right now included in your ticket are the following: 

• Tastings, demos, and goodies at each of the homes;
• An awesome goodie bag, with samples and coupons from some of DC's best venues (hint: wine discounts, coupons for free food around the city, $20 discount from Uber, free exercise classes around the city, and even some food samples! – the value for this goodie bag is well over $100); and
• A chance to win a door prize, such as a month-long gym membership, Vineyard Vines gentleman's gift, a $300 wine tasting package, or an entertaining basket.

JLW: Ideas for entertaining are a focus of the Kitchen Tour, so what have you learned while working with the sponsors and planning the event?
Heidi: I think our tour goers will be so happy to learn organizational techniques from the Neat Method, a service committed to helping people maximize their living space!

JLW: What do you think is biggest challenge for designing a kitchen in a city like Washington, D.C.?
Heidi: I think it’s a challenge to work functional space in such small spaces.  This year, some of the focus is on small spaces, big ideas, which may help our attendees in realistically planning their kitchens!

We hope to see you on the Kitchen Tour on Saturday, April 20! Don’t forget to grab your ticket in advance.

JLW Chair Extraordinaire- Erin Buechel Wieczorek

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
- John Quincy Adams

We are proud to honor Erin Buechel Wieczorek, chair of Building Beautification, as JLW Chair Extraordinaire. A six-year Active, Erin's enthusiasm is infectious. Her leadership this year has ensured our Loughborough House not only looks beautiful but functions well. From selecting a new podium to updating and upgrading the audio and visual equipment in the Loughborough Room, all of our members will benefit from the enhancements Erin has implemented. The love and TLC Erin and her team provide our headquarters show that 3039 M Street, NW is more than an address! Congratulations, Erin and keep up the great work!

Did you know there are more than 125 leadership positions in the JLW? Each year, an amazing group of women answer the call to serve and their talent and skills form the support structure upon which our organization runs. Just as we value and appreciate your membership, we appreciate their service.  The JLW Chair Extraordinaire is a new award for our Centennial year. Each month, council directors may nominate a leader for consideration and one chair will be recognized by the president.