History: Since its inception in 1926, the Junior League of Savannah has raised and awarded millions of dollars to meet local needs in areas ranging from education to health care to children's advocacy to parenting. In the past year alone, the members of the league have volunteered over 20,000 hours.
Funding: Every year, the League raises and invests over $100,000 in our community through League-sponsored community projects, Kids Who Care scholarships, and Community Assistance Funds. The Annual Thrift Sale, held the first weekend of October each fall, is a primary source of funding for the League. Funding is also generated through the sales of Junior League Cookbooks which are available for purchase on our website and in local retail stores. Proceeds from the sale are returned to the community through Junior League community improvement projects.
To complete applications for Junior League of Savannah Community Projects, Community Assistance Funds or Kids Who Care Scholarships, visit our applications page.
Community Projects:
The Junior League of Savannah annually focuses its support on a variety of community projects, committing financial support and hundreds of volunteer hours in an effort to fulfill our mission of improving the community through effective action and leadership.
The Junior League of Savannah begins our fourth year in our new focus area “Women and Children's Advocacy”. This year we will give more than $100,000 and countless volunteer hours to the community during the 2012-2013 year. The organization selects a focus area for a three- to five-year period and completes projects within that focus-area each year. All community projects receive funding and volunteers; partners are selected through a call for applications.
2012-2013 Community Projects:
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Memorial Health University Medical Center: Development and Play Advocacy for Pediatric Patients is a program designed to assist children, through general play and other activities, in understanding their illness; preparing for medical procedures, and guiding through the process of medical events. Because of high levels of stress, children in the hospital need opportunities for “normal” play activities so that they may master their experiences in the hospital and possibly heal faster. JLS volunteers will work with Child-Life Specialists to provide the children with age-appropriate toys and fun activities, such as reading, coloring, story-telling, puzzles, games and other “play-time” activities. The goal of these activities is to provide children with a safe way to express their feelings and lessen emotional stress.
- America’s Second Harvest Food Bank: Back Pack Buddies is a program designed to provide low-income children and their families with nutritional meals that they may otherwise not have on weekends away from school. In 2008, a teacher sought the help of the food bank to assist children who did not have food to eat on weekends and did not have transportation or other access to local soup kitchens or food banks. This program has grown tremendously as the need becomes greater. JLS volunteers will help expand this program by purchasing and packing bags of food for distribution to 72 children at Garden City Elementary School. This program will create immediate access to food and attempt to improve the overall health of our children so that they may focus more on academic achievement.
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St. Mary’s Community Center: Senior Companion is a program designed to feed the minds and bodies of senior women over the age of 65 in the Cuyler-Brownsville neighborhood and participants of the St. Mary’s Community Center. Many seniors live alone and have poor mobility and lack transportation and the dearth of family involvement. They often do not have children or anyone to talk to on a daily basis. JLS volunteers will work in pairs under the leadership of the Center staff to visit the homes of 10-12 senior women once each month. Volunteers will bring with them their warm and caring personalities, a small goodie bag (fruit and/or vegetables) and great conversation to brighten the seniors’ day.
- Done In A Day - League members complete one-day, "Women and Children" focused projects for a variety of non-profit community agencies selected by a call for applications projects. Click here to read more about Done in a Day Projects
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Golden Isles - League members residing in this area will complete the “Women and Children” focused projects with various community agencies selected by a call for applications process.
- South Carolina Low Country - League members residing in this area will complete “Women and Children” focused projects with various community agencies selected by a call of applications process.
- Kids In the Kitchen - Savannah League members will host an event to educate children about healthy food choices. Members will also assist the South Carolina Low Country and Golden Isles groups with their Kids in the Kitchen initiative.Click here to read more about Kids in the Kitchen
Community Assistance Funds:
Community Assistance Funds (CAF) are available to all local 501 (C)(3) organizations. CAF is awarded once a year in the spring and represents an additional financial commitment to the community through partnerships with other local community service agencies. Applications are due in mid-November of each year. Click here to read about the Spring 2012-2013 Community Assistance Fund grant recipients.
Kids Who Care Scholarships:
Kids Who Care Scholarships are awarded in the spring. Five $1000 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors from Chatham, Bryan, Effingham, Bullock, Jasper, Liberty, Glynn, and Beaufort (SC) counties who have demonstrated a strong commitment to volunteerism and outstanding community involvement. These scholarships represent a $5,000 annual commitment by the League to the future generation. Applications are due in mid-March of each year. Click here to read about the 2011-2012 winners.
