This time last year, I spoke to our members, community partners,
and donors about what made the Junior League of Richmond
unique. I spoke about the essence of who the League is an
organization – we are multi-tasking, hard-charging, at times
overly organized volunteer women. At that time, I challenged our
volunteer members to have a fantastic year in service – but to
also to stretch ourselves in all aspects of our lives. And they
responded. Naureen Hyder is stepping in as our Chair of the New
Member committee, while launching her own law firm. Dede Cox
served her first Board term as Chair of the Governance
Committee, while training for her first marathon. She proudly
started running as part of our Junior League running group, and
Jennifer McNeil, President clearly never looked back. And Savon Sampson welcomed her
baby girl this year while continuing her career at Markel, serving
2015-16
as Chair of our Done in a Day committee, was recruited to join
the board of the Shady Grove YMCA, and was recently elected
as our Vice President Elect of Membership.
Saturday, 6/18
SUPER SATURDAY!
By all accounts, this was a banner year. We are midway through
our 90th anniversary, and have honored the volunteer leaders
that have come before us by launching the 90 Acts of Kindness
campaign. In the past six months, we’ve seen members and
friends provide donations to animal shelters, treat strangers to
meals, hand out hand warmers to those in the cold, and during
the biggest blizzard we’ve seen in years – shovel a pretty insane
amount of snow for neighbors. And still, there are many acts that
go unrecognized. We hope that above all, the campaign helps to
bring awareness to the kindness, to the goodness, the surrounds
us here in our city.
The success that we’ve had this year – the record breaking sales
at The Clothes Rack, the increased number of members that
give to our Annual Fund campaign, the packed programs we
hosted this year in the East End is thanks to the hard work of our
volunteers and our Board of Directors, but it’s also the result of
the incredible forwarding-looking work by the Presidents, the
1926: Richmond
Boards, and the staff that have led our organization before us.
during the beginnings Several years ago, we realized just how much The Clothes Rack
of the Junior League contributed to our success as an organization and enabled us to
do our great work. So, we set out to increase the volunteer hours
at the stores and drive home the message that our time in those
This month our guest
stores meant more merchandise to the floor, which meant more
blogger is history
enthusiast and member of revenue to our League, providing more support to our
community. Our Director of Retail Operations, Mark Gaddis,
the Board of Directors,
shared our last Board meeting that the total number of volunteer
Jayda Justus.
shifts five years ago was 172. This year, we have had 1,281. So,
mission (almost) accomplished!
As a continuing tribute to
our 90th Anniversary, we
asked Jayda to provide us I cannot thank the Board of Directors, our Board Level
Committee chairs, and our staff enough for this year. I have been
with a snapshot of
in awe of each of you, and will truly miss our time together!
Richmond and those
circumstances that
As I wrap up this incredible year, I’d like to thank two people that
contributed to the
have enabled me to volunteer in this way. My baby girl –
formation of our League.
It's a fascinating journey! Madeline, and my husband Tucker. Madeline, you won’t
remember that Mommy did this, but it was incredible time. They
say that it takes a village to raise a child, and you are so lucky
"Thanks to Downton
that you have a Junior League village of aunts, cousins,
Abbey, we are all now
godmothers, and pseudo grandmothers. It is so important to your
familiar with the fashion,
society norms and events dad and me that you realize that you have so much to be
thankful for, and that others need your support. Tucker, I say this
surrounding the early
pretty much every day, but you are my favorite person on the
1920s. It was this time
period that saw the birth of planet. People ask me all the time how I continued to work,
many of the volunteer and volunteer in this role, and welcome Madeline. And, the answer is
you. Thank you for being my head cheerleader, my
non-profit organizations
communications consultant, and the reason I do everything.
that we see in Richmond
today, including the Junior
League of Richmond and
Maymont. As an amateur
historian, I am always
interested in what was
happening in a city, state,
or country at the time of
great social change. What
was it about 1926 that
facilitated the creation and
growth of the League and
so many other volunteer
organizations that have
done so much good in the
city of Richmond?"
It gives me great pleasure to welcome aboard our 2016 – 2017
President. Joanne Frye is an attorney, a fabulous mother, a
marathon runner, a quilter, an avid volunteer, and most
importantly, my friend. Joanne, I am so excited to watch you lead,
and will do whatever I can to help you!
...Jennifer McNeil
Click HERE to read this
month's full Blog Spot!
Our final GMM of the year brought us the opportunity to
celebrate the Junior League of Richmond’s wonderful community
contributions from the 2015-2016 league year. In addition to Del.
Jennifer McClellan (on behalf of the General Assembly) taking a
moment to recognize our 90th Anniversary, we also took the
opportunity to spotlight particular members whose individual
contributions stand out among the crowd.
The Community Volunteerism Award is given to a member who
has contributed significant, outstanding volunteer time and effort
to improve the quality of life in the Richmond community. This
year’s Outstanding Community Volunteerism Award was
Have you had a chance to presented to Victoria Hauser. The Pinkie W. Smith Community
view photos from Book and Award for Excellence in Volunteerism is was established to
commemorate the exemplary service and dedication to
Author? Visit Elizabeth
volunteering that was so evident in the life of Pinkie Smith. This
Crea Photography by
year’s Pinkie W. Smith Award was presented to Jayda Justus.
clicking HERE to view.
Thank you to JLR member The Barbara Ransom Andrews Award, the most prestigious
awards presented by our League, is given to a member who has
Elizabeth Miller for
distinguished herself by service to her community and the
capturing our event!
League through her extensive and exemplary volunteer activities.
This year’s Barbara Ransom Andrews Award was presented to
Terry Long. All three of these outstanding women were
congratulated not only by the League, but also by family
members joining us for their recognition.
Community Volunteerism Award
recipient Victoria Hauser with last
year's recipient, Satara Graham
2015 Pinkie W. Smith Award
recipient Bev Brown presenting to
this year's honoree, Jayda Justus
Barb ara Ransom Andrews Award recipient Terry Long and family
Martha Ware Bryan honored for 20 plus years of
service to the Junior League or Richmond
Jennifer McNeil presented five memb ers with the
President's Award, including Natasha Foreman
In addition to the Board of Recognition awards, a touching video tribute was presented to
Martha Ware Bryan, celebrating her 21 years of invaluable service to the League. Click HERE
to view the member video tribute.
Finally, before passing the gavel to our incoming President, Joanne Frye, outgoing President
Jennifer McNeil presented President’s Awards to Tina Goodwyn, Awanata Bridgeforth, Lara
D’Antonio, Mary Cabell Sulc, and Natasha Foreman.
Congratulations to all of the honorees and to the rest of the League for a fantastic 2015-2016
League Year!
...Lindsay Dugan
Christa Schulenb urg
Chair, Annual Fund 2015-16
Sunshine and warm weather have FINALLY returned to Richmond after what we can safely
say was 40 days and 40 nights of rain, Noah style. Neighborhood pools opened this weekend,
the promise of summer is around the corner, and another Junior League Annual Fund year is
coming to a close. The number will continue to rise slightly, but we currently stand at just
under $54,500 raised for our 2015-2016 Annual Fund. This number is nothing short of
incredible. In September a goal and a new motto was put forth – make an IMPACT, be an
‘agent of change.' The changes that we created as an organization were outstanding. The
positive contributions to our community wouldn’t be possible without each and every one of
you. It has been my extreme honor to serve as your chair, and lead us, together, past our
goals. So take a moment, and give yourselves congratulations for a spectacular victory. Then,
June 1st, dig your heels back in and get ready to roll on our 2016-2017 goal. Let’s make next
year even better.
...Christa Schulenburg
Abby Bruce
Alexandra Erbesti
Allison Hudson
Allison Harrison
Amber Popat
Anna Walsh
Ashley Magnuson
Brittany Taylor
Brittney Quarles
Caitlin Nolan
Casey Coleman
Casey McNutt
Chelsea Witte
Christina Franzyshen
Cleo Dan
Courtney MacDowell
Daisy Wilhelm
Danielle Progen
Danielle Pinder
Edith Elizalde
Elyse Stiner
Emily Cowdrey
Emily Parker
Emily Seabury
Emily Fritter
Emma Jeffery
Ericka Battle
Gillian Byles
Hannah Newman
Hillary Bourke
Holli Reeves
Jay Ell Alexander
Jenna Moehring
Jennifer Moore
Jessica Whitaker
Jessica Austin
Jinelle Baldorado
Jordan Lusby
Kaitlin Will
Kara Weiland
Karen Spears
Karen Crenshaw
Katie Finn
Katie Hodnett
Kayla Craddock
Kayley Perkins
Kiersten Campbell
Kimberly Lammi
Kristian Scales
Krystal Onaitis
Laura Young
Lauren Ramos
Lauren Harris
Lauren Shutt
Marshall Beale
Mary Fraizer
Mary McLaurin
Mecca Preston
Megan Ashby
Melissa Dolan
Melissa Moreno
Molly Garnett
Nancy Ventura
Naomi Miller
Natasha Fish
Naudy Solano
Olivia Jenkins
Sara Sloman
Sarah James
Sarah Bennett
Shawn Canty
Sheela Nimishakavi
Shelley Williams
Stacie Kines
Taylor Gauldin
Tiffany Davenport
Tiffany Sylver
Tobie Mayer
After nearly 70 years, The Clothes Rack logo
is getting a makeover! This new logo,
approved by the Board of Directors in March,
was three years in the making.
Last spring, Communications Committee
member and graphic designer Ginny
Lawrence led the effort to rework the logo.
The primary goals were to give the face of the
Clothes Rack a modern, yet timeless feel
while respecting the historical significance
and longevity of the current logo.
"It's been a long process and we've been through countless revisions but ultimately, I think
we've struck the perfect balance. The hanger was an important element all agreed should
carry over to the new logo as a nod to the original, 70 year sustaining image," said Christy
Counts, Director of Communications.
A special thank you to Mark Gaddis and Anna Vanneman of the Clothes Rack and especially
Ginny Lawrence for their invaluable input in delivering the final logo.
Expect to to see the new logo launched as part of a promotion at The Clothes Rack later this
year.
After a year long campaign and countless Virginia Fare cookbooks finding homes, the winner
of the Cookbook Contest is Liz Ford! With a total of 222 (WOW!) she led the way for an
overall 460 books sold this year! This translates to $2300 in unexpected revenue. Thank you
to Cate Varney for leading the efforts to push Virginia Fare to a sellout! Only 80 boxes
remain!
Junior League of
Richmond
205 West Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 643-4886
https://www.jlrichmond.org/
.