JLE-NS Overview

WHO WE ARE

Junior League of Evanston-North Shore, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

Founded in 1924 as the Junior League of
Evanston, today the JLE-NS has approximately 400 Active and Sustaining members. We reach out to all women regardless of race, religion, ethnic or national origin who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to volunteerism.

WHAT WE DO

League members annually commit thousands of volunteer hours to improving our community. Members are prepared for responsible leadership through training. We research the community's needs and then initiate programs that meet those needs. Our projects and programs focus on the Enrichment of Youth, Family and the Underserved.

HOW WE DO IT

JLE-NS is made up of two leadership teams, a Policy Board and a Management Board. We also have a Community Advisory Board and an Endowment Fund Board of Trustees whose members lend valuable advice and service. Our League is one of approximately 300 Junior Leagues composing the Associations of Junior Leagues International Inc. (AJLI).

INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY

In our 85 year history, the JLE-NS has contributed over $1.6 million to the community through projects and programs. The many important community projects that we support are made possible through fundraisers such as the American Girl Fashion Show and our award winning cookbook, It’s A Shore Thing. In addition, we have operated a Thrift House for over 65 years. Thrift House is a resale shop located at 920 Chicago Avenue in Evanston, which supports our community projects while serving a diverse community. Over the past several years, net proceeds from our fundraisers have supported our League’s efforts to improve local issues that impact the North Shore, including:

Domestic violence. JLE-NS founded Mary Lou’s Place, which is a domestic violence shelter in Evanston serving over 550 women and children annually. Over the past 3 years, we have renovated the first floor of the shelter, providing a safer and cleaner environment for these families to help them achieve self-sufficiency. We have also given community grants to other shelters on the North Shore.
Self-esteem in girls. We support Girls on the Run, which is a non-profit after school program that encourages pre-teen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running. Last year we sponsored their Spring WonderGirl 5k Race, in which more than 1700 young girls celebrated their “girl power” by running 3.1 miles together with their parents, teachers, and community members.
Childhood obesity. Our country, including the North Shore, has a growing awareness of the rising trend of childhood obesity. Over the last few years, JLE-NS has reached over 1000 North Shore families with our “Kids in the Kitchen” initiative, which empowers youth to make healthy lifestyle choices with the goal to reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues.
Secondary education. Even within our relatively affluent North Shore, the rising cost of secondary education makes it difficult, if not impossible, for some families to afford. The JLE-NS provides $6,000 to $10,000 in scholarships every year to attendees of area schools, such as Oakton Community College and National Louis University, who are in need of financial assistance.
Other North Shore non-profits. There are hundreds of non-profit organizations providing necessary services to our community, who are dependent on donations to fund their programs. The JLE-NS provides $8,000 to 10,000 in community grants every year to organizations such as the North Shore Senior Center, for their “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren” program that supplies school shoes, underwear, and school supplies.

CURRENT COMMUNITY PROJECTS

THRIFT HOUSE: Part of our organization since 1940, the JLE-NS Thrift House has been our League's oldest ongoing project and fundraiser. It is located at 920 Chicago Avenue in Evanston. Thrift House helps support our League and our community projects while serving a diverse community. It also gives us the opportunity to offer Voucher Programs to other non-profit organizations including the Evanston YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter and LINKS. The vouchers enable women and children in need to shop at the Thrift House at no charge. League members and the public can donate gently used or new clothing, books, electronics and household items.

FITTING FUTURES: This is JLE-NS’ new community impact project which is in development and planned to be implemented in late 2009 or early 2010. The Career Closet will provide free clothing to low-income women for job interviews. The goal of the Career Closet is to increase the potential for low-income women to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Many low-income women seeking employment are single mothers forced to choose between providing food and shelter for their children or having the right clothes to wear for a job interview. Our clients will be referred to us from social service agencies and will be graduates of job training, job readiness, or job counseling offered by those agencies. The JLE-NS will provide interview appropriate clothing for the type of job the women is interviewing for, and help with clothing and accessory selection. These services deliver an essential that goes with every outfit: self-confidence that she is qualified and capable to get a job.

BIG GIFTS FOR LITTLE HEARTS: Each year the New Member Class selects one hands-on project for their inaugural year. This year the new member class partnered up with the North Shore Health Center to hold a baby shower for low income expectant mothers. Diapers, clothes, toys and much more – the New Member Class brought smiles and much needed supplies to these mothers to be!

SCHOLARSHIPS: JLE-NS is proud to contribute to scholarship funds to deserving college and high school students. We provide scholarships for:

Students at Oakton Community College
Women returning to the workforce who are attending National Louis University
Graduating seniors at Evanston Township High School and New Trier High School.

COMMUNITY GRANTS: JLE-NS provides grants to local non-profit organizations needing additional funding to provide their services to our community. In 2007-2009 we provided grants to:

Evanston Youth Job Center, for their Strategic Corporate Alliances program, which is a three-week job training program designed to help young adults with multiple barriers to employment prepare for the workforce and secure full time employment that leads to economic self-sufficiency.
Porchlight Counseling Services, which provides resources and counseling to college sexual assault survivors, for 5 months of group therapy sessions at no charge to the client.
Rebuilding Together North Suburban Chicago (formerly known as Christmas in April), which preserves and revitalizes houses for low-income homeowners, to provide supplies needed for home repair such as roofing, plumbing, or electrical repairs.
Youth Choral Theater of Chicago, for their performance of an inter-disciplinary concert for peace and reconciliation, a reflection on the lives of mothers and children in Rwanda and Darfur, which is based on the journey of North Shore resident and New Trier graduate Clementine Wamariya, a child survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
A Safe Place, which is a Lake County Crisis Center, for new transitional living program that assists victims and children of domestic violence.
North Shore Senior Center, for their “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren” program that supplies of school shoes, underwear, and school supplies to over 60 children.
Warming House Youth Center, which provides services and programs for adolescents. Located in Wilmette, the center provides recreational activities, volunteer activities, community services, creative arts, discussion groups, youth leadership board, and support services.
Family Focus, for the doula aspect of the Pregnant and Parenting Teens program. Doula is a new service to increase readiness for healthy birth, prepare expecting mothers for the event of birth and increase support for mother in the immediate post-natal phase.
Hadley School for the Blind, for their “Hounds for Hadley” dog walk. The funds raised from the walk will support programs for the blind and visually impaired including a new course called “Guide Dogs,” which teaches students about the guide dog lifestyle and helps them make an informed decision about using a guide dog.
Light Opera Works, to fund participation for low income children in their musical theater summer workshop.

COMMUNITY COUNTS: JLE-NS implements direct service projects that improve the lives of children and families in our community. In 1984, we co-founded Mary Lou’s Place, which is a domestic violence shelter in Evanston serving over 550 women and children annually. Over the past 3 years, we have renovated the first floor of the shelter, providing a safer and cleaner environment for these families to help them achieve self-sufficiency. Our 2007-2009 projects included sponsoring the Girls On The Run Spring Race, providing a craft center for the Evanston YMCA International Family Festival, renovating the children’s playroom at Mary Lou’s Place, and providing a Health Fair for Oak Terrace School in Highwood.

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN: Kids in the Kitchen (KITK) is a project sponsored by the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) with the objective of reversing the trend of childhood obesity. JLE-NS has conducted a KITK project for three years running. In 2007-2008, we conducted the “High Five Health Fair”. Over 165 children and their mentors/parents attended the sessions which were held in conjunction with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lake County and Oak Terrace Elementary School. In 2006-2007, we partnered with YMCA’s “Healthy Kids Day”. This national YMCA program gives families the opportunity to learn more about adopting a healthy lifestyle through fun activities and informational booths. In 2005-2006, we conducted our KITK project with Haven Middle School in Evanston, IL. While the kids prepared dinner in the kitchen, two guest speakers gave insightful presentations to parents regarding adolescent obesity, its immediate and long-term effects and healthy eating. In addition, all 700 students at Haven Middle School took home a packet of information regarding healthy eating, fun recipes that kids can cook and reference sites where additional information on the subject can be found.

AMERICAN GIRL FASHION SHOW: The American Girl Fashion Show® is a fun-filled time for girls and their families, friends and favorite American Girl dolls. The show celebrates the experience of being a girl through an educational presentation of how clothing has changed over the years to reflect history, culture, and girls’ individual styles. The show also provides an opportunity for young girls to build their confidence and self-esteem through the experience of modeling American Girl dresses.

“IT’S A SHORE THING” COOKBOOK: Our magnificent cookbook titled It's a Shore Thing: Culinary Favorites from Chicago's North Shore has been endorsed as "The Official Cookbook of Chicago's North Shore" by Chicago's North Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau. The recipes are favorites of our members, local celebrities, celebrities with ties to the North Shore, and well-known restaurants. In additions to recipes and entertaining tips, the cookbook also includes an historical walk through the villages and townships that make up Chicago's North Shore.

COMMUNITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: JLE-NS identifies the needs in the community that, after research and evaluation, are deemed appropriate to be served by the JLE-NS through community programs and projects, with the focus on the Enrichment of Youth, Family and the Underserved.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS/ADVOCACY COMMITTEE: JLE-NS researches community issues and studies legislative affairs related to the Enrichment of Youth, Family and the Underserved. We then monitor, lobby and build community awareness related to specific legislation and events.

COMMUNITY FORUMS: JLE-NS brings together community leaders involved in community services and programs related to our focus area to share information and network.

PAST PROJECTS - click to view PDF