Welcome to the Junior League of Long Island’s 2021 – 2022 Annual Report! Founded in 1901 by New York City resident and social activism pioneer Mary Harriman, the Junior League began as a Lower East Side Tenement outreach project. Since then, the Junior League has evolved into one of the oldest, largest, and most effective women’s volunteer organizations in the world, encompassing more than 125,000 women in over 295 Leagues in four countries.

Our local organization, the Junior League of Long Island (JLLI), was formed in 1951. Based in Roslyn, we are a charitable non-profit organization of women volunteers who work to improve the lives of at-risk women and children in Nassau and Suffolk Counties through various projects and initiatives. Our members reflect a wide range of backgrounds, interests, and professional pursuits, and work together in identifying problems and finding solutions in a collaborative way. Our approach is simple, yet immensely effective. With hands-on training and formal learning opportunities we give women the skills they need to improve the quality of life in the communities they serve. The JLLI fosters and nurtures an environment that gives our members the opportunity to try new things and develop new skills with other like-minded women in a welcoming space, all while working toward the betterment of our Long Island community.

This past year our small but mighty league was met with various challenges. Still met with the uncertainty of COVID, we had to reimagine some of our traditional volunteer methods and practices. While this in itself can be quite challenging, we also had to contend with mother nature. On September 1^st, 2021, the remnants of Hurricane Ida blasted through Roslyn, NY and disseminated our beloved Thrift Shop which is not only the JLLI’s #1 Fundraiser but it also serves as our Headquarters (Home). For the next eight months, we worked tirelessly to repair, refurbish and reopen our beautiful home to our members, staff and patrons. Those eight months tested our league in ways we never imagined, but what emerged at the end was a new perspective of what our volunteers are capable of. We are tough yet caring, we are steadfast yet flexible, we are traditional yet innovative and most of all we are champions for our community.

Our members forged ahead and we were able to take part in over 10 projects and initiatives across Long Island. Some of these projects included: assembling backpacks for underprivileged children to have the supplies they need for the upcoming school year at our Operation Backpack DIAD; partnered with One World Girl at their Empower Girls event to celebrate International Day of the Girl; assembling and delivering 135 Thanksgiving Baskets to families in need; donating and wrapping gifts through Project Toy in collaboration with the Family Service League at The Huntington Tri CYA; assembling 30 Birthday Wishes kits for children; collecting, sorting and donating over 100 dresses for LI Volunteer Center’s Prom Boutique; donating brand new pajamas and books to children living in shelters at our Pajama Party DIAD; partnered with VIBS in the assembling and donating of Hygiene Bags for the women they service; assembled and donated NICU starter bags through The Little Angel fund; we also partnered with the Special Olympics and hosted a game area for the friends and families’ of the special Olympic athletes.

The JLLI was also able to support our community in two other very special ways. We were able to partner with Belmont Childcare Association for our signature project “Project Playground”, donating $25,000 to their playground enhancement project we are beyond excited to get this project on its way! We also had the amazing privilege to work with The Ronald McDonald House. Facilitating a donation of $25,000 that was collected from the community, we planned and executed a remodel to one of the rooms in their New Hyde Park location. The “Sunshine Room” was dedicated to the memory of one of our dearest volunteers, Alicia Aguilera. Memorializing her memory and love of volunteering.

As apart of our standard operating procedure we are required to provide Audited Financial Statements. We are more than happy to provide financial transparency to where our donations and fundraising efforts go to effect the Long Island Community. The Junior League of Long Island Inc. 2021 – 2022 Financial Statements can be found by clicking the link before.

I invite you to learn more about our organization by exploring  our Shorelines publication or browsing our website and I welcome you to join us in our work by becoming a member or a community partner. If you are interested in learning more, email us at info@jlli.org to find out how you can get involved. You can also support the work we do by making a monetary donation or by donating new or gently used clothing, shoes or household goods to our Thrift Shop. Donations are tax-deductible and directly benefit the Long Island community. I encourage you to be a part of this exciting work today.

Carol St. Jacques

President, 2021 – 2022