The Junior League of Greenwich (JLG) recently culminated a year of community impact with a Spring Luncheon of over 410 in attendance, including over 40 AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students from Greenwich High School to participate in a conversation with honored guest, Indra K. Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo.
This year of Community Impact included participation in three JLG Signature programs for Greenwich youth: PositivelyMe! Positively More and Boys Achieving More (BAM!). Over 140 third grade girls across four sessions participated in the PositivelyMe! Program. PositivelyMe! is a program for third grade girls to help develop the skills to be confident, to make good decisions, to be assertive and to express themselves.
During its pilot year, the Boys Achieving More (BAM!) Program was created by the Junior League to facilitate a discussion amongst fifth grade boys on the over-arching concepts of respect, trust, communication and leadership. This program attracted over 70 fifth grade boys and is slated to continue with two more sessions this fall.
The JLG awarded a Community Grant to Kids in Crisis (KIC) this year and will award a Community Service Award later this spring to a high school senior. The Community Grant will allow Kids in Crisis to expand its existing program providing “Youth Mental Health First Aid Training” to staff at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich (BGCG). This collaboration will allow KIC to assist the BGCG in supporting the growing need for mental health services for the children ages of six to 18 that attend the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich.
The JLG Done in a Day Program developed one-day projects impacting a variety of aspects of the Greenwich community at large. One project included a pajama party at the Bruce Museum with the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich. Other community projects included a gingerbread man decorating workshop at the BGCG with children and their families, a senior tea held at the historic Tomes-Higgins House, and a family Halloween trick or treat event. These impactful programs all occur thanks to fundraising efforts of longstanding community events including The Enchanted Forest, Touch a Truck and the Children’s Concert Series.
The 26 women in the JLG’s new member class for 2017-18 devoted their introductory year to three community based projects. New members redecorated the study room of the Boys and Girls Club. 40 baby bouncers were filled with diapers, clothing, formula and other newborn essentials for donation to Neighbor to Neighbor who in turn shared them with new moms in need. Another group of new members collaborated with every Greenwich public school on their Pennies for the Pool campaign. All money collected by Greenwich school children will be donated to the Greenwich Pool in Byram Park campaign and will be commemorated by an individual brick for each school in the Pool Complex entryway.
With a scheduled opening for June, the Greenwich Pool in Byram Park will be a landmark aspect of the Greenwich community for years to come.
