Annual Halloween Party a Highlight of Horton's Kids' Fall

The Horton's Kids Halloween party was held on Oct. 25, in the Cannon Caucus room in the U.S. House of Representatives. The kids arrived in costume and were ready to party, excited to snack on pizza, brownies, lemonade, and of course, candy!

The Horton’s Kids committee decorated every inch of the room, and were dressed to play the part. The party included cupcake decorating, face painting, coloring, a toilet paper “mummy wrap,” a candy jar guessing game, a candy corn relay and a candy toss. In addition to the stations set up for games and activities, there were a few special events, including a costume parade along a real red carpet, a "Thriller" dance lesson and an all-out dance party to the kids’ favorite songs. There were smiles, laughs, squeals and frosting-smeared happy faces everywhere.

The parties thrown by the Horton's Kids committee have a special place, as they provide the kids with a safe space in which they can let loose and just be kids. 

For more information about Horton's Kids, visit the "Where we Volunteer" page on JLW's website or contact the Chair of the Horton's Kids Committee, Jennifer Choudhry.



 

JLW Expands Volunteer Support for 2015 National Book Festival

Junior League of Washington Expands Volunteer Support for 2015 National Book Festival

400 Volunteers to Promote Literacy, Donate Time to the Library of Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 2, 2015 -- The Junior League of Washington will expand its support of the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival (NBF) this year by providing 400 volunteers, up from 300 in 2014, to assist with the event. This is the 13th year the JLW has provided volunteers to help with various day-of tasks pertaining to the free festival, which is set to attract tens of thousands of attendees on Saturday, Sept. 5.

“The Junior League of Washington is proud of our extended history with the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival. We value the opportunity the festival provides for us to promote the importance of volunteerism while supporting an initiative that highlights the positive impact of books and literacy,” said Junior League of Washington President Cameron Gilreath.

From 2003 to 2014, almost 5,000 JLW volunteers have provided more than 31,000 volunteer hours to the NBF.

“We are committed to using our resources where we can have the largest community impact, which is why we focus on illiteracy, one of the greatest challenges facing the D.C. metro area. Our volunteers look forward to supporting this vibrant, influential event each year, and we are excited to increase our commitment to the Library of Congress and the festival,” Gilreath continued.

Gilreath also notes that the NBF occurs during National Literacy Month.

For the first time in its 13-year partnership, the NBF will highlight the JLW’s role as an important partner on the official festival poster. This is a tremendous opportunity to reflect the significant contributions provided by JLW volunteers. This year, more than 2,500 hours of volunteer service will be provided.

“We are thrilled our partnership with the Library of Congress and the National Book Festival has resulted in an even greater role for the Junior League of Washington,” said Gilreath.

The JLW, along with the Library of Congress, will welcome book enthusiasts and 175 authors to the NBF on Sept. 5. League volunteers are integral to the success of the event, helping attendees navigate the Washington Convention Center, directing patrons through the author and illustrator signing lines, managing traffic flow and answering questions.

“We appreciate the opportunity to grow and evolve alongside the festival, and look forward to once again providing the Library of Congress with an enthusiastic and committed volunteer force,” said Gilreath.

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ABOUT THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF WASHINGTON
Our Mission: The Junior League of Washington is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

Our Focus: Our nearly 2,400 members volunteer at community agencies throughout the Washington Metro area, providing aid where their expertise is needed most. You can find us tutoring a child, mentoring parents at a daycare center for homeless children, serving on community boards, or delivering life skills seminars to community members in recovery programs. Since 1999, the JLW has focused our volunteer resources on literacy issues: adult, child, and cultural.

For more information, please visit www.jlw.org.

JLW Leadership Vacancies: Stand Up and Serve

Know a bright STAR? Nominate her today! Interested in taking the next step with JLW? We love self-nominations!  

The Nominating Committee is seeking nominations to fill two leadership positions for the 2015-2016 JLW year. Please contact nominating@jlw.org as soon as possible, as we hope to fill these positions quickly.

Community Outreach Chair – Community Outreach plays a critical role on the Community Affairs Council by exploring and developing new literacy partnerships and efforts across DC.  Most recently, the committee has supported DC Public Library programming, while also executing the JLW Poetry Contest and leading JLW’s Community Roundtable, a group that includes leaders from other non-profits and literacy-focused organizations in the DC area. The Chair for Community Outreach leads the support of these initiatives and also works closely with the Community Affairs Council Director and President-Elect on the Community Roundtable.

Sustainer Vice Chair – The Sustainer Committee plans educational and cultural programs, along with volunteer opportunities, for JLW Sustainers. The Vice Chair works closely with the Sustainer Chair to provide strategic direction to the Sustainer group, focusing on member engagement and participation.