Our New Partnership with A Wider Circle

The Targeted Grants & Volunteer Resources Committee is proud to announce its new partnership with A Wider Circle. This organization demonstrates how two groups can come together to combat poverty by helping others gain successful employment.

Dr. Mark Bergel founded A Wider Circle in 2001 with the mission of helping families lift themselves out of poverty. In May 2015, the organization purchased a 38,000 sq. ft. center in Silver Spring, Md., and now has more than 50 staff members, 15 interns and more than 15,000 volunteers every year.

A Wider Circle has a multi-pronged approach to helping individuals find a job. One main focus is a Job Skills Boot Camp that involves resume writing, interview skills, career path identification and job advancement. Individuals are also provided a personal job coach and access to computers to research jobs and write resumes.

A Wider Circle also works hard to prepare individuals for job interviews by providing the appropriate attire. Their showroom has been deemed “better than Bloomingdales and nicer than Nordstrom.” A Wider Circle promises to help anyone in need of professional attire regardless if they are enrolled in the program.

JLW is excited to partner with this incredible organization and to give members a variety of ways in which to volunteer. Committee members will be able to become job coaches and work with clients directly on a weekly basis; work in the showroom as a personal shopper to help individuals develop a professional wardrobe; and host workshops and trainings.

By partnering with A Wider Circle, JLW’s talented and generous members will be able to greatly impact many lives and continue the mission Dr. Bergel began more 15 years ago.

Please contact TGVR Chair, Nancy Margaret Ray Adler at nmradler@yahoo.com for more information.

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.

All Things Tossed & Found 2016

Rummage donations, special events and sale weekend, oh my! Tossed & Found is in full gear, and we are so excited for the 24th annual sale, Thursday through Sunday, March 18-20.

This email is your one-stop shop for all things Tossed & Found.

Please visit our JLW page for more information and updates on Tossed & Found.

Drop-off Information and Requirements
Tossed & Found is in a new location this year, and the committee can't wait to show it off.

Drop-off Location
Crystal City - 1225 S. Clark Street, 10th Floor, Arlington, VA 22202; Metro: Crystal City, Blue/Yellow lines (Google Map)

Drop-off Dates
Sunday, Jan. 31 (12:30 - 3:30 p.m.)
Saturday, Feb. 13 (9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)
Sunday, Feb. 14 (12:30 - 3:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, Feb. 17 (6:30 - 8:30 p.m.)
Saturday, Feb. 20 (9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)
Sunday, Feb. 21 (12:30 - 3:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, Feb. 24 (6:30 - 8:30 p.m.)

Donation Reminders

• All actives & new members are required to donate $50 worth of rummage. Donations should include at least $35 of non-clothing items such as furniture, housewares, books, etc.
• Please bring two completed forms with your rummage donation; one will be for your records. Click here for the donation form.
• Click here for the Tossed & Found price list.
• Make sure all donated items are clean and in good working condition.
• Use your best judgment: If an item really needs to be thrown away, please do so. Our quality is what brings shoppers back year after year.
• We gladly accept shopping bags and hangers.

What to Donate

We accept furniture, antiques, housewares, flat screen TVs, books, jewelry, brand name handbags, baby items and clothing for men, women and children.

What NOT to Donate

We do not accept the following items:

• corporate logo items,
• shoes,
• work-out clothing,
• swimsuits,
• torn or soiled clothing,
• computer monitors or tube TVs,
• outdated textbooks and travel books,
• broken electronics,
• refrigerators, dishwashers, washers/dryers or
• children's items that do not meet current FDA or safety standards.

Mighty Men Furniture Pick-Ups

For the first time, Tossed & Found's Mighty Men pick-up is proud to partner with Zippy Shell Storage and Moving. If you have large furniture donations, please request a Mighty Man pick-up by Friday, Feb. 12 by emailing mightymansignup@gmail.com. Please submit this form with your request.

Volunteer Shift Sign-up

Tossed & Found sale weekend wouldn't be the success it is without our JLW members volunteering for move-in, working shifts, shopping during sale weekend and winding down with move-out.

Please sign up here for a volunteer shift. Working a shift is worth one membership credit!

Note: New Members are required to volunteer for one shift.

Sale Weekend

Join us sale weekend for quality pre-owned housewares, fashion, books, sporting goods, electronics and furniture. Thousands of items will be sold at unbelievable prices! Proceeds from Tossed & Found are used to support JLW's Mission of improving our community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

Tossed & Found's grand opening is Friday, Mar. 18, at the Hoops & High Heels event (see Special Events below).

General shopping hours are as follows:

Saturday, Mar. 19, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sunday, Mar. 20, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Cash or check will be accepted for purchases on March 19 and 20. Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted at Hoops & High Heels on March 18.

Note: The JLW strives in all endeavors to be sensitive to the special needs of its members and guests. If you have any special needs pertaining to attendance of this event, please email tossedandfound@jlw.org.

Special Events

Click here to purchase tickets!

Note: Attendance at each Special Event earns a JLW membership credit.

Diamonds & Dessert

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016

Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Location: Crystal City Shops - 1625 Crystal Square Arcade, Crystal City Underground; Arlington, VA 22202; Metro: Crystal City, Blue/Yellow lines (Google Map)

Join us at Tossed & Found's kickoff event! For the 2nd year in a row, we are excited to host the party in Crystal City in order to meet growing demand. Just in time for Valentine's Day, we are thrilled that Kendra Scott jewelry will be for sale at the event with 20% of all sale proceeds going back to the League. Come enjoy a memorable evening of sips, sweets, music and sparkles! JLW members, friends and dates welcome.

Tickets: $25 advance; $30 at the door. Click here to purchase.

*Can't get enough fabulous Tossed & Found Events? Purchase a combo ticket for Diamonds & Dessert and Hoops & High Heels and save $10. Combo ticket is available for purchase until Tuesday, Feb. 9. Click here to purchase.

Children's Trunk Show

Date: Saturday, Mar. 5, 2016

Time: Early Access 8:30 - 10 a.m.; Main Sale 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Location: Crystal City (main sale site) - 1225 S. Clark Street, 10th Floor, Arlington, VA 22202; Metro: Crystal City, Blue/Yellow lines (Google Map)

The Children's Trunk Show is fun for the whole family! The popular annual event will feature quality pre-owned children's items including clothes, nursery furniture, high chairs, swings, books and toys and will include fabulous vendors including:

• Wren Riley by Amy Riley
• Arbonne by Heidi Miller
• thirty-one by Erin Krekeler
• Children's author & illustrator Sherry Hickey

Tickets: A limited number of Early Access tickets are available for $20 per adult. Main sale tickets are $10 per adult. Kids are FREE! Click here to purchase.

Hoops & High Heels Party

Date: Friday, Mar. 18, 2016

Time: 7 - 10 p.m.

Location: Crystal City (main sale site) - 1225 S. Clark Street, 10th Floor, Arlington, VA 22202; Metro: Crystal City, Blue/Yellow lines (Google Map)

Grab your friends and join Tossed & Found for the grand opening event: the Hoops & High Heels Party! Enjoy a fun-filled evening as you get to be the first to shop for your 'Fabulous Finds.' The event will feature a fantastic live and silent auction of specialty items, luxury services and one-of-a kind getaways. To add to the fun, NCAA March Madness games will be televised coupled with wonderful food and spirited drinks!

Tickets: $45 prior to March 1; $50 after March 1; or $60 at the door. Click here to purchase.

*Can't get enough fabulous Tossed & Found Events? Purchase a combo ticket for Diamonds & Dessert and Hoops & High Heels and save $10. Combo ticket is available for purchase until Tuesday, Feb. 9. Click here to purchase.

Support Tossed & Found

Support the community by purchasing a $40 JLW Community Cash Card!

Your donation provides a JLW community partner, a neighbor in need or a community organization of your choice the opportunity to purchase $40 worth of items at our 2016 sale. The cards will be distributed by a member of the Tossed & Found Committee to these deserving groups. The cards are redeemable for merchandise only, have no cash value and are only valid on the weekend of the 2016 Tossed & Found sale (Mar. 19-20, 2016).

CPC Fridge Funds to Help Furnish 826DC’s “Magical” New HQ

826DC completed its move to a new headquarters with a kickoff event Nov. 14. The Columbia Heights facility will help the JLW community partner grow the number of students served by its literacy and writing programs, which include hosting after-school tutoring, field trips for local schools, and creative and expository writing workshops.

JLW is helping with the transition to the new space, as earlier this month the Community Placement Council voted to approve a $1,000 “fridge fund” grant for 826DC, which will be used to purchase comfortable furniture for the teen space in the tutoring and writing center.

The plush seating will make the space more appealing to older students after a long day at school, helping them to be more productive during tutoring sessions.

"Teens have different developmental needs from our younger students, some of which are met by more relaxed seating and a sense of responsibility and autonomy for 'their' space," said Lacey N. Dunham, 826DC's Programs Director. "We're grateful for the Junior League of Washington's support helping us make a welcoming space where teens can further connect with our programming."

The new facility was featured in a Washingtonian.com article last month.

The new space is just across the street from the old location, which included a storefront “Museum of Unnatural History.” The headquarters are now at the historic Tivoli building in Columbia Heights. It now houses a new storefront, Tivoli’s Astounding Magic Supply Co.

"For students, the storefront is an important transition space that carries them from their daily lives to a warm and creative environment. It also inspires our workshops and student writing,” Dunham said.

Attributed to 826DC

826DC is part of the 826 National organization. It opened its D.C. location in 2010 and was a JLW grant recipient before becoming a community partner in incubation. JLW 826DC Committee members volunteer through the Reading All-Stars program, mentoring elementary students on Saturday mornings at Harriet Tubman Elementary in Columbia Heights. Contact Committee Chair Natalie Jennings with questions about the committee.

National Book Fest was a Labor [Day Weekend] of Love for JLW Volunteers

The page has turned on the Library of Congress’ 2015 National Book Festival, and Junior League of Washington volunteers were an important factor in the festival’s success.

This year marked the 15th National Book Festival and the 13th year the JLW supported the event by providing volunteers. This year also represented the 200th anniversary of the Library of Congress’ acquisition of Thomas Jefferson’s library, and fittingly, the theme of the festival was “I Cannot Live without Books,” a quote from Jefferson.

Over the course of the day, JLW volunteers saw the festival theme in action as up to 150,000 attendees flooded the Washington Convention Center to meet their favorite authors, interact with librarians from across the country, get books autographed and celebrate their love of books. If that seems like a lot of attendees, it was—the festival doubled its attendance from last year.

Since moving from its original home on the National Mall, and marking the second year at the Washington Convention Center, the festival continues to grow and evolve. It has moved from two days to one action-packed day, and this year, the number of authors at the festival increased to 175, the most in festival history.

The JLW continues to grow alongside the Library of Congress, as it builds upon its relationship with the festival. For the first time, the JLW was featured as a contributor to the festival on the event poster, recognition of the League's ongoing role as the largest providers of volunteers for the festival.

This year, 400 enthusiastic volunteers contributed more than 2,000 hours of service on Sept. 5. The volunteers were in action for an extended day this year, staying until 8 p.m. to manage book signing lines and book sales.

What allows the JLW to continue its partnership with the National Book Festival is the quality of the volunteers. During the festival this year, League women aided librarians from across the country in the Pavilion of States, helped keep the crowds under control in the book sales area, and expertly handed long lines and eager fans in the book signing lines. And if you ever wondered what happens when you cross a children’s author with an astronaut who has walked on the moon, ask the volunteers who were tasked with keeping Buzz Aldrin’s fans in line.

The hard work and positive attitudes displayed by our volunteers did not go unnoticed. Marie Arana, co-director of The National Book Festival and senior advisor to the U.S. Librarian of Congress, said after the festival, “You are the rock on whom we depend! Thanks so much for yet another year of wonderful teamwork. Your members are not only gracious and efficient, you’re all so well informed about books. We love that.”

National Book Festival Co-director Guy Lamolinara said, “[We] could not be more pleased with how the festival unfolded, and this is due in very large measure to the enormous contributions of the JLW… we simply could not have the festival without you. We look forward to 2016.”

JLW even had one festivalgoer stop by the League’s table to share how amazing they thought our volunteers are, and that we don’t get enough credit for what we do. While credit and praise is great, it’s not why we do it. JLW volunteers spent their Labor Day Saturday making sure that everyone—authors, fans and parents with kids—had a great experience at National Book Festival because we know how important it is to promote literacy in our community. JLW volunteers managed crowds with grace and a smile because we understand what Jefferson meant when he wrote, “I Cannot Live without Books,” and if we can make just one other person feel that way, then that makes the festival a success in our book.

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.

###

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.

Literacy Lab Winter Fun

Gingerbread men, snowman bookmarks, and holiday cards! The Literacy Lab Committee had a great time working on these crafts with the kids at the DC General homeless shelter during our winter holiday celebration.  The event was held in mid-December and focused on reading as well as holiday fun.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Literacy Lab Committee, we partner with the non-profit organization, The Literacy Lab, to assist with an early childhood literacy program for young children in two DC area homeless shelters.  The program is called Ready to Read and focuses on helping young children develop and practice early literacy skills.  During a typical session, JLW volunteers spend time reading, writing, and playing educational games with the children. When the committee began in 2012, we worked with kids in the DC General homeless shelter on Saturday mornings.  The program has since expanded and now the committee provides volunteers for Wednesday evening sessions at DC General as well as Saturday morning sessions at the New Beginnings shelter in Columbia Heights.

Our December holiday party gave the committee members and the children an opportunity to celebrate the season and participate in activities that we don't do during our regular weekly sessions. The most active part of the evening involved three craft projects.  With the help of JLW volunteers, each child had the opportunity to make and decorate a snowman bookmark, frost a gingerbread man cookie and make a holiday card for their family.  When the crafts were done, we read a holiday story and sang a few rounds of Christmas carols. Frosty the Snowman and Jingle Bells were particular favorites.  At the end of the party, each child had an opportunity to pick out books of their very own to take home with them.
                                          
The entire evening was gratifying and fun, and it was great to watch the kids carefully pick out their books and make their crafts. We're all looking forward to the next holiday event in February!

First Year in the Junior League

The summer of 2006 was my first real introduction to Washington, DC.  When I was younger
my family and I had made a few visits to see the sites, but it was not until my junior year of
college that I decided I wanted to work and live in the city.  That summer, my friends and I spent
many hot summer days in Georgetown, popping into shops and running around Georgetown
University and M Street. It was on those trips walking around the city, that I decided I wanted to
make a greater impact. I did not just want to live in D.C.; I wanted to be an active member of the
community.

I reached out to a friend who was in the Junior League of Washington (JLW) and went to the
first social meeting. I remember feeling a sense of community from the beginning.  Everyone
was so welcoming and genuinely friendly. My first year in JLW was one of the best; I enjoyed
the variety of activities in which we participated. From working at the Martin Luther King Jr.
Memorial Library to setting up a dozen Christmas trees for the Holiday Shops, there was always
a flurry of excitement and connection. During my first year, I moved to a new area of the city.
The JLW neighborhood group embraced me and introduced me to my new surroundings.  We
met at many local eateries and coffee shops, and I have fond memories of sharing laughs and
experiences with my new neighbors and JLW members.

From cheering on the Nationals at baseball games, to volunteering at the National Book Festival,
I had a wonderful time and more importantly, I felt part of the city. I learned so much as a result
of joining the Junior League, from how to navigate public transportation to what members of our
community needed in support. It was a great introduction to the city that I now feel is my second
home.

I met one of my best friends Susan Schreiber through the JLW (pictured below). We had so much fun working  together on the Centennial Committee and we bonded over so many experiences in and outside of league work. Susan moved to Oregon last year to pursue her Ph.D. in Psychology and has
joined the Junior League of Portland but we still talk about league events and are connected
cross-country through our league work.  Looking back, I am so grateful that I made the decision
to join the JLW. I have meet new people that are now some of my closest friends and I feel
connected to the city in a way I would never have imagined possible.

It’s (Almost) the Holiday Season: Adopt-A-Child through My Sister’s Place

by Sara Swabb

What do you do to prepare for the Holiday season?  Purchase gifts for loved ones and finalize your travel plans?  Find the best ingredients for that pumpkin pie you cook each year?

While many folks in the District are able to think along the same lines as you, there are thousands of families in the Greater D.C. community that will go without necessities, much less the exchange of gifts, this winter. 

I know this is news to none of you.  But there is a way you can help!

How Can I Help?

My Sister’s Place is soliciting volunteers to adopt a child or parent for the holiday season fulfill Holiday Wish Lists for these children.  Volunteers will be provided shopping list to provide a winter coat, hat, gloves, one outfit, shoes, socks, underwear/diapers, pajamas, a toy from the child’s wish list and a book.

What Is My Sister’s Place?

My Sister’s Place is the largest and oldest non-profit agency exclusively serving battered women and their children in the D.C. area and the Junior League of Washington (JLW) has supported their work since the 1970’s.  Every year, thousands of victims of domestic violence find sanctuary from abuse in its residential programs and supportive services.

Who Gets the Gifts I Buy?

The JLW volunteers host a Holiday Party for the domestic violence survivors and their children, who will receive the gifts.  The gifts that the JLW brings each year truly brighten the holiday season for these women and children.

How Much Will This Cost Me?

Volunteers who shop smart can fulfill the wish list for $100-$125. My Sister’s Place is also collecting $50 Visa and retail store gift cards to provide to the women in My Sister’s Place’s emergency domestic violence shelter.

Whom Do I Contact to Help?

If you are interested in lending a hand and adopting a child, please email the My Sister’s Place chair, Jackie Paranzino, mysistersplacechairjlw@gmail.com, by Friday, November 29, 2013.  Late responses will be accepted if possible.  

When and Where Do I Take My Gifts?

All donations must be received at JLW Headquarters by Friday, December 6th, 2013.

A Dream Come True at the National Book Festival

With the 2013 National Book Festival just days away, there are still volunteer shifts available for Sustaining, Active and New Members of the Junior League of Washington.

The two-day festival is such an important event for JLW because it requires the help of more than 600 JLW volunteers, it unofficially kicks off the major events for our 2013 year and it perfectly encapsulates the JLW’s focus on literacy in the greater DC area. Not to mention, the weekend is a ridiculous amount of fun!

Carly Rockstroh, the Rising Chair for Holiday Shops, shares one of her many National Book Festival memories to give everyone an idea of what you can expect if you sign up for a volunteer shift.

Though chairing the NBF in 2011 was a dream come true, one of my favorite NBF memories was from my first book festival in 2007 as a New Member. I was assigned to the book signing line for Patricia MacLachlan, author of Sarah Plain and Tall, and found myself managing a line filled with anxious elementary school girls. I noticed a bunch of the girls had American Girl dolls with them, and they told me the author has written a few books for AG -- one of my childhood favorite series. We started talking about our favorite books from AG and other books on any elementary school girl's must-read list. Sharing my enthusiasm for reading with these girls and their parents was so much fun and showed the power books and literacy can have on people of all ages. Since this was my *first* JLW volunteer experience, you could say I was hooked from day 1, and set the goal then and there to chair the crazy NBF event one day, as it is really such a special event for our League and avid readers from all over.  

Sign up today for your volunteer shift at the National Book Festival. The Junior League of Washington needs you to make the event a success and to make dreams come true.

D.C. Youth Poets “Find Their Words”

As a child who grew up reading Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in the Junior League of Washington’s Targeted Grants and Volunteer Resources Committee’s Mini-Placement organizing the 14th Annual “Find Your Words” Youth Poetry Contest.

The annual poetry contest is open to students in Washington, D.C. public and charter schools, grades 4-8. This year, the committee received over 100 poems written in a variety of techniques and styles. These impressive and talented young poets wrote on a range of topics, discussing everything from school, homework, pets and vacations to family, friendship, love, pain and self-esteem.

When our committee read and reviewed each poem, we were all impressed with the depth and emotion that came through in each piece. Some were powerful and thought- provoking, others heartfelt and sweet. Analyzing and discussing the poems with other new members was a fun and worthwhile experience. It was interesting to hear what each member liked or disliked about a certain poem, proving just how personal and emotional poetry can be.

In the end, we chose 15 outstanding poems - one winner and two honorable mentions from each grade level. Each winning student will receive a booklet of the winning entries and a Barnes & Noble gift card. Please join us as we honor these amazing winners and hear them recite their poems at the 2013 Community Partner Reception on Thursday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m. at JLW Headquarters.

Alissa Momberg
New Member 2012-2013

Why I Serve- Literacy Labs

The Washington Post recently highlighted the plight of homeless families living in the DC General Family Emergency Shelter, which is located in the old DC General Hospital. You can find the articles here and here. The Post articles noted that 900 people are currently living in the shelter. This number includes 600 children who are growing up in a challenging situation. 

Homeless children living in an unstable environment face particular challenges when it comes to literacy. Statistics consistently show that young homeless children experience developmental delays, especially in speech. The instability of their living situation makes it difficult for these children to consistently attend preschool programs, which are rarely available to begin with. Because of these challenges, the Junior League of Washington (JLW) has recently partnered with Literacy Lab to assist with an early literacy program for toddlers and young children up to five years old, in the DC General Shelter. The name of the program is Ready to Read.

On Saturday mornings, the women of one of the JLW’s newest committees, the Literacy Lab committee, join with Literacy Lab instructors to help young children develop early literacy skills. The Ready to Ready program also provides parents with strategies and skills to support their children’s learning. Volunteers spend time reading and playing educational games with the children and assist with the parent skills workshop. Volunteers also observe the children, looking for developmental milestones to assess the children’s progress, as well as any skill deficiencies. The children and their parents are a joy to work with, and it is incredibly rewarding to be involved with such an impactful project.

As the Washington Post articles highlight, homeless families in the DC General shelter are faced with difficult challenges on a daily basis, including transportation to programs outside the shelter.  Establishing an early literacy program within the shelter allows parents and their children to attend the program on a regular basis and provides them with tools to help achieve future academic success.

If you are interested, please stop by Literacy Lab’s table at an upcoming Placement Information Event on either Saturday, April 13 or Thursday, April 25.

Cary Gibson, JLW Member on Literacy Lab Committee

JLW Volunteers at the National Rehabilitation Hospital

In October 2012, Wendy Cumberland, JLW President, Shiela Corley, JLW President
Elect and I were invited to attend the National Rehabilitation Hospital Board of
Associates dinner. There the Junior League of Washington was honored for providing
volunteers to the NRH for the last 20 years.

President of the MedStar NRH Board of Associates and JLW Sustainer Julia Creighton, JLW President Wendy Cumberland, JLW President Elect Shiela Corley and Chair, NRH Committee Stacey Hinton Tuneski

National Rehabilitation Hospital specializes in treating persons with physical disabilities
caused by spinal cord and brain injuries, stroke, arthritis, amputation, multiple sclerosis,
post-polio syndrome, sports injuries, and other neurological and orthopedic conditions.
Since 1986, the NRH has been building a top-quality post acute care system of services
that brings together the best in rehabilitation care, research, education and training,
assistive technology and advocacy. Every year, NRH is ranked by U.S. News & World
Report as one of America’s best hospitals for medical rehabilitation.

For the past 20 years, JLW has been involved with NRH in a variety of ways. The
JLW committee members volunteering at NRH helped educate the community and
patients on disability and daily living issues and escorted patients to restaurants and
theatres. While the committee activities have since changed, the commitment to NRH
has remained steady. Now JLW volunteers at NRH provide therapeutic recreation on
a weekly basis by playing bingo with the patients and their families. The bingo games
assist a patient’s rehabilitation with a stress-free, fun, social game that enhances
motor skills and letter recognition. The committee also collects donations of books and
magazines to stock a book cart for patients to enjoy reading materials. JLW volunteers
also plan and staff the annual patient holiday party in December and volunteer at the
annual NRH Victory Awards Gala in the fall and at Las Vegas Nights in the spring.
 

National Rehabilitation Hospital Committee Holiday Party

The JLW is proud to have this longstanding partnership with NRH and we look forward
to continuing our relationship in the years to come.



 

 


Stacey Hinton Tuneski
Chair, National Rehabilitation Hospital committee

Annual Bright Beginnings Holiday Party

Each year, the Bright Beginnings Committee of Junior League of Washington organizes a holiday party for the children of Bright Beginnings. Bright Beginnings is a child and family development center that serves about 186 children annually whose families are living in crisis shelters or transitional housing. Festivities during the holiday party include entertainment, holiday activities (decorating ornaments and holiday cards) and stuffed stockings for the kids, refreshments for the parents, a festive door decorating contest and cookie packages for the teachers (with prizes!) and fun for all.

For several years, Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Banjo Man have donated their time and services to brighten the day of the children. As an added bonus, Santa also provides small gifts for the children and each child receives a framed picture of him or her sitting in Santa's lap! This year, the JLW volunteers added Jake the Magician to the lineup, and he provided an entertaining finale to the morning activities. Windows Catering was a generous repeat supporter of the holiday party, providing delicious refreshments for the parents to enjoy.

Under the direction of Emily Harris and Andrea Contres, who lead the committee in planning the Holiday Party, the JLW members of the Bright Beginnings committee baked cookies, created festive decorations and staffed the holiday party. We appreciate all of their time and efforts and could not have executed this event without their organization and commitment.

If you're interested in supporting Bright Beginnings, we'd love to see you at the upcoming BB 5K run on March 2, 2013. Click here to register.

Why Philanthropy Matters to Us

Junior League is not a hobby. If it were, why would we work so hard? Junior League is not a social club. If it were, wouldn't our ladies be lunching more? It is about working together with other strong, powerful, and motivated leaders who are committed to making a difference, creating a legacy, and doing what needs to be done to help others succeed.

We are involved in Junior League because there is work to be done in our community. There are people in need who don't have the luxury of free time, extra dollars, or the life skills needed to fully support their families. Not only have we chosen to participate, we have chosen to be the ones who will make a difference, foster a greater impact, and give aid to those most in need of support.

To make significant impacts in our community, Junior League needs funds. Holiday Shops presented by the Junior League of Washington is the league's largest annual fundraiser. In our 54th year, this event brings together league members and the community to gather the resources we need to support the league’s literacy efforts. We cannot emphasize enough the impact your support of this event will make towards these efforts. The funds raised through our annual events, including Holiday Shops, enables Junior League to provide another year of service to the greater D.C. area and grants to valuable community organizations.

We hope to see you at Holiday Shops throughout the weekend of November 15-18, 2012 at the Sphinx Club (1315 K Street, NW, Washington, DC). Please click HERE for additional information and to purchase tickets to any of our events. Thank you for your support!

Amy Gurgle and Stephanie Jones
Holiday Shops 2012, Co-Chairs

Amy & Stephanie at Holiday Shop's Back to Beauty event at Neiman Marcus,  Sept. 2012

Cameron Gilreath: Why I serve…

There are many reasons I serve! My volunteer work through the JLW has been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done in the decade-plus that I’ve lived in DC. I have had a lifelong love affair with books and I love our League’s focus on literacy. My grandmother volunteered at her local library in Jefferson, GA for many years, and my parents started reading to, and then with, me very early. I was an avid reader from day one and if they wanted my attention, my parents usually had to tear me away from whatever book I was reading.

I think most of us can’t imagine a world without books, or the lost opportunities that result from not being able to read. The JLW’s work to improve literacy in Washington, DC is absolutely vital to our community.

So first and foremost, I serve this year as Nominating Chair because I feel one of the most important parts of ensuring our organization remains stable, healthy and focused on fulfilling our mission is to cultivate strong leaders who will continue to guide the group forward. People often wonder what Nominating really does because all of our deliberations are confidential. It’s actually quite simple – our committee works very hard year-round to make sure the JLW has in place the strongest possible leadership team for the following year so that we can continue to serve our community for another 100 years. As you can imagine, it can be a challenge to match the right leaders with the right positions – but with the diverse and extremely talented group of women that make up our League, it is really quite exciting to put together next year’s leadership team. I have really enjoyed getting a birds-eye view of all of the pieces and people that form our League and I love it when we discover new leaders!!

And more broadly than the position I hold this year - aside from the great work we do for our community, I have personally gotten so much out of serving in various JLW leadership positions over the years. I’ve made some of my closest friends through the Junior League. And I think most of our leaders will say they have developed leadership skills that they have put to use at work and in volunteering with other organizations. If I can put in a plug for anyone thinking about nominating themselves or a friend for a leadership spot – just do it!!


Cameron Gilreath
Nominating Council Director, 2012-2013

JLW Distributed Over 6,200 Books to D.C. Students for Summer Reading

For children across the country, the summer was time to celebrate – the school year had officially come to an end. But behind the celebrations of millions of K-12 students, there were some pretty startling statistics surrounding kids without an opportunity to participate in summer learning. And what that lack of opportunity means is much more significant than you might expect:

• All young people experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer. Research spanning 100 years shows that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer (White, 1906; Heyns, 1978; Entwisle & Alexander 1992; Cooper, 1996; Downey et al, 2004).
  
• Most students lose about two months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills over the summer months. Low-income students also lose more than two months in reading achievement, despite the fact that their middle-class peers make slight gains (Cooper, 1996).
  
• More than half of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities. As a result, low-income youth are less likely to graduate from high school or enter college (Alexander et al, 2007).
  
• Parents consistently cite summer as the most difficult time to ensure that their children have productive things to do (Duffett et al, 2004).

These are just a few of the disconcerting statistics surrounding students who lack a structured summer reading program. And that’s why the Junior League of Washington and a handful of Community Partners came together to provide summer reading materials to children throughout D.C.

On June 11, the Junior League of Washington launched its 100,000 books distribution component of Resolution Read with a summer reading book distribution at Smothers and Maury Elementary Schools in Washington, D.C. JLW volunteers joined forces with a new community partner, the Literacy Lab, to distribute books to the 3rd and 4th grade classes at the school. There, the children tore into their bags and were excited to see all of the new books – especially the one where they recognized the titles, like Judy Moody! The teachers were also thrilled for the kids and their summer reading adventures. One teacher commented on the positive impact that she's seen in her student that participated in the Literacy Lab's tutoring program during the regular school year, noting that one student had improved by nearly two grade level!

Then, on Wednesday, June 13, the JLW co-hosted a third summer reading book distribution with the Literacy Lab – this time at Orr Elementary School in Southeast Washington, DC. As with the other two Literacy Lab distributions, students in three classes were given seven books and one dictionary to keep them busy readers over the summer. There, JLW President Wendy Cumberland, Vice Treasurer Marie Hahn and Community Affairs Council Director Carly Rockstroh were on hand to help distribute the books and had the chance to start reading the books with the students. Among the most popular books – Judy Moody and Sideways Stories from Wayside School – which were immediately cracked open. This Resolution Read event was extra special as it was the first time the Literacy Lab worked at Orr Elementary School.

Later, in mid-June, the JLW joined the girls at Excel Academy for their last Friday of the school year to hand out two books to each girl to take home with them and enjoy over the summer, in hopes their home library would continue to grow. These books were in addition to the two books the JLW gave them over spring break. There are more stories to share, and we’ll continue to post them. So far the JLW donated a whopping 6,266 books to D.C. students aged pre-K through 4th grade in partnership with groups such as the Literacy Lab, Excel Academy, Washington Middle School, Washington Jesuit Academy, and Horton’s Kids.

And that was just the beginning of our newly expanded Resolution Read program in which the League will put 100,000 books into the hands of students in the greater D.C. community in the next one to three years.

Getting involved is as simple as reading to a child in your life, signing your children up for summer reading programs such as those sponsored by the DC Public Library and Library of Congress, and of course, supporting JLW's fundraisers by making donations to Resolution Read and attending special Centennial events.

JLW Fact of the Day: September 20, 2012

Wow ladies! We're impressed!

JLW Community Partner Horton's Kids Honored by Catalogue for Philanthropy

The Junior League of Washington is proud to partner with a range of extraordinary community organizations that make a real difference in the lives of children in the DC area. One of those partners, Horton's Kids, was recently given an honor by the Greater Washington Catalogue for Philanthropy. Horton's Kids, a nonprofit focused on providing needed services for children in DC's Ward 8, was named one of the top community-based nonprofits focusing on services for children, youth and families. The Catalogue serves to "shine a light" on fantastic organizations that are high-achieving in the areas of cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and financial transparency.

From June 2011 to May 2012, JLW volunteered 540 hours in monthly field trips, provided, 320 hours of weekly tutoring, served 540 lunches, and donated 100 books to Horton's Kids. We are proud of our community partner for earning this honor and are thrilled to continue working with them to educate and empower children in DC's Ward 8.

Interested in learning more about the great things Horton's Kids is doing or how you can volunteer? Visit www.hortonskids.org!


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JLW Facts: June 26, 2012

Step aside political points of view, here's a great volunteering fact insert into any standard budget/economy talk!