Horton’s Kids Season Finale Easter Celebration

Horton’s Kids is a community-based organization committed to serving children living in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 8. Its mission is to enrich the children as well as prepare them for success through educational and comprehensive programs. With the volunteerism of JLW, Horton’s Kids is able to provide a well-rounded service of support to aid children in development.

The Horton’s Kids Committee met prior to the Easter Party to plan, organize, and sign up for activities. On March 20, committee members arrived at the Cannon House Office Building to setup for the occasion, and the room was filled with festive décor as the kids excitedly arrived, hopping off the buses at the Cannon House Building at 1 p.m. to get the party started!

A healthy lunch was provided then off to the activities! The party consisted of a host of fun activities such as face painting, Easter decoration stations with painting and coloring, cookie and treat decoration, Easter themed games, an egg hunt and furry surprises! This event allows the children to partake in fun, playful celebrations in a safe and supervised environment.

After the enjoyment of games, laughter, socializing and treat eating, the kids were escorted back to the buses by the volunteers. The bus will take the kids back to their community center where they were met by parents to show off their bags full of yummy treats and handmade arts! The kids are left with great memories, positive relationships and mentors to look up to. With events like these, kids have something special to look forward to for years to come.

Done in a Day Promotes Literacy at Everybody Wins! Annual Event

On Tuesday, March 8, Done in a Day Committee volunteers promoted the Junior League of Washington’s mission of promoting literacy by serving at the Everybody Wins! annual gala held at the Capitol Hilton.

With a silent auction featuring flights, private tours, dinner with authors, signed sports memorabilia, spa gift cards and other prizes, not to mention a great dinner, everybody truly did win. But the biggest winners of the evening were the thousands of children who will receive mentoring and literacy help through this important organization. JLW was honored to be part of the special evening.

The dinner featured performances and speeches from students who have positively benefited from Everybody Wins!, along with local principals. More than 60,000 local students have been served through the program.

JLW members assisted with registration, helped with the silent auction, served as ushers and aided with clean-up. One Everybody Wins! leader said, “The Junior League is here every year. It’s always different people, but they’re all awesome.”

Thanks Everybody Wins! We think you’re awesome, too.

JLW Seeks Junior Poets for 17th Annual Youth Poetry Contest

For nearly two decades, the Junior League of Washington has hosted the “Find Your Words” Youth Poetry Contest. Students are now invited to participate in the 17th annual event, aimed to encourage and support literacy.

Students in Washington, D.C., public and charter schools (grades 4-8) are invited to participate in the competition by submitting up to two poems on any topics of significance or interest to them. Entries will be judged on the basis of content, originality, creativity, and clarity.

One first place winner and two honorable mentions in each grade will receive literacy-focused prizes (value of $50 for first place and $25 each for honorable mention). The winners will also be printed in a JLW booklet and invited to read their poems at a JLW reception in the spring.

Teachers or other educational instructors are asked to submit poems via email to JLWDCpoetry@gmail.com on students’ behalf. Entries should be submitted as an attachment in Word format.

Contest entries may be submitted until Friday, April 1, 2016. Winners will be notified in early April via the email address of the submitter.

For additional details, please click here or email JLWDCpoetry@gmail.com. Promotional details are included in the link.

An Art Filled Afternoon at National Museum of Women in the Arts

On Sunday, Feb. 21, Esprit and the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) committees hosted a tour and brunch for JLW members. Attendees saw works by Frida Kahlo, Sarah Bernhardt, Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun and many other great women artists. One of the tours was lead by NMWA Chair, Lori Vitelozzi.

Junior League members discuss portraiture and the work in the center, Young Woman Seated in the Shade of a Tree by Antoine Cecile Hortense Haudebourt-Lescot.
Photo Credit: Sarah Bryant

You too can visit works by these artists and many more at National Museum of Women in the Arts. This Washingtonian gem is located at 1250 New York Ave, NW. The museum has recently offered a discounted supporter level membership to all JLW volunteers. Membership at NMWA includes free admission to the museum, exclusive events, discounts at the museum shop and many other benefits. The membership is also fully tax deductible. Click here to purchase your membership today. We hope you can visit NMWA soon and support the museum as they champion women through the arts.