Mission Statement

• Junior League of Wichita, Inc. (JLW) 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.

  Junior League of Wichita, Inc. reaches out to women of all races, religions, and national origins who demonstrate an interest in and a commitment to voluntarism.

When was Junior League of Wichita founded?

• Junior League of Wichita, Inc. was founded January 15, 1925, and will be celebrating its 83rd anniversary January 2008. JLW is a member of the Association of Junior Leagues International Inc., which is comprised of 293 Leagues in 4 different countries.

How does Junior League of Wichita serve the community?

• JLW makes a difference in the Wichita area by placing well-trained volunteers in the community, along with the funds to create or augment beneficial programs. The first community program was the Free Milk and Ice Fund in 1925-26.
• JLW focuses its efforts on seven key areas: women, children, aging, a positive image for the City of Wichita, violence, voluntarism and the environment.
• Many of our members utilize the training they receive through JLW by serving on community, civic and charitable boards.
• Since its founding, JLW has contributed over $5.6 million to the Wichita community in the form of community projects and training programs. In addition, over $31.3 million* in-kind services in the form of volunteer hours have been donated to improve the quality of life in the Wichita area. (*6,071,660 volunteer hours figured at minimum wage)

  For the 2006-2007 League year alone, JLW put over $87,800 back into the Wichita community.

How are Junior League of Wichita community projects selected?

• Community projects can be developed by JLW or a community organization. Our Project Development committee studies the needs of the community, solicits requests for proposals from area non-profit organizations, and then chooses and/or develops projects for membership approval.

What are Junior League of Wichita’s current community projects?

• Centsable Girls: Financial Literacy for Elementary Girls, is a one-year partnership between Junior League of Wichita and Girl Scouts of the Golden Plains. Junior League of Wichita is investing $6,000 in the community with this project. Approximately 120 elementary school girls in underserved areas will be taught nationally developed Girl Scout financial curriculum by JLW volunteers. In addition, JLW is providing for the Girl Scout membership fee, which gives the girls full access to all Girl Scout programming and resources.
• Reading Rocks: Literacy for Lifelong Learning is a one-year collaboration with the Wichita Public Schools, Wichita Public Library, and the Junior League of Wichita involving a significant donation of new library books to four Wichita public elementary schools. Approximately 1,750 students will be impacted in the first year alone. Over $65,200 will be invested in the community through this project.

What are some of Junior League of Wichita’s past community projects?

• In 2000, JLW celebrated its 75th Anniversary by collaborating with and making a financial contribution of $1.5 million to the Sedgwick County Zoo for construction of the Pride of the Plains exhibit.
• From 2003-2006, JLW partnered with KPTS and Wichita USD 259 on a project called Share A Story: A Junior League of Wichita & KPTS Reading Initiative. This project, designed to break intergenerational illiteracy, involved volunteers reading out loud to pre-kindergarten children in 72 Wichita Public School classes for a total of 63,000 volunteer hours. Each student was also given a set of 10 Clifford books. In all 3,600 children and their parents were touched through this program, and 36,000 books were given to students.

How are community projects funded?

• JLW projects are funded by the profits from JLW fundraisers: Holiday Galleria, Kids’ Zoobilee, the Junior League Shop, and Women of Great Taste JLW cookbook.

JLW fundraiser descriptions

• Holiday Galleria is JLW’s annual upscale shopping event featuring more than 95 regional and national merchants. In its first four years, Holiday Galleria has raised over $351,600 that JLW is investing back into our community in the form of community projects and training programs. Holiday Galleria 2008: A Day of Shopping A Year of Giving will be held at Century II Expo Hall, October 2-5, 2008.
• Kids’ Zoobilee is a collaboration between JLW and the Sedgwick County Zoo. The annual family event is held at the Sedgwick County Zoo during the first weekend in June. June 7, 2008, will mark the 10th annual Kids’ Zoobilee.
• Junior League Shop, staffed mainly by JLW volunteers, has continuously operated since October 1932. The JL Shop is an upscale resale shop that provides affordable clothing and household items and features a Consignment Boutique. JLW members and members of the community donate Shop merchandise. The Shop is celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2007.
• The Women of Great Taste cookbook is a collection of over 300 triple-tested recipes submitted by members and friends of JLW. First printed in 1995, the cookbook is in its second printing. In 1995, it was honored with the Midwest regional Tabasco® Award.

How many women are members of Junior League of Wichita?

• Over 800 women are members involved in three different membership levels: Provisional, Active and Sustaining. Members reflect a wide range of backgrounds, interests, and professions.

Holiday Galleria proceeds will be used to fulfill Junior League of Wichita, Inc.'s mission of building a better community.

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