President’s Message

In 1937, a group of women in Owensboro saw the need to provide support, guidance, leadership development, and social opportunities for women in our community. Today, the Junior League of Owensboro (JLO) preserves a strong tradition of service and is grounded by this mission: The Junior League of Owensboro 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. Our purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

During our 2008-2009 League year we will serve our community using our members’ diverse talents, time and money raised through our organized fundraisers. JLO is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. All of our programs and activities are supported by League membership dues, foundation and corporate grants and other fund-development efforts.

We educate and train our members who, in turn, put their knowledge to practice in helping the Owensboro-Daviess County community. During this League year, we will improve the current and future resident workforce through a Reading Initiative and our healthy start projects. The JLO Reading Initiative provides substantial funding for the Daviess County Imagination Library that sends free books monthly to children birth thru 5 years old. The cost to sponsor 1 child per year is approximately $30 and we pledge to sponsor nearly 400 children during the 2008-2009, just as we did this past year.

The JLO also promotes the joy of reading to all family members through our Community Reading Initiative. This program includes shared story times, free books, crafts, food and adult literacy referrals.
In addition to the approximately 400 hours we will give our Reading Initiative, we will spend more than 200 hours:

purchasing and soliciting layette supply donations that the Health Department will deliver to families with newborns who otherwise might not have these necessities;
promoting and hosting a car-seat safety check; planning and hosting a special holiday party for foster care families and children in the CASA system (Court Appointed Special Advocates);
organizing a spring party for children utilizing Grandma’s Corner Childcare Crisis Prevention Center;
joining hundreds of other Leagues across the country in educating young people how to implement healthy choices into their eating habits through the fun and interactive Kids in the Kitchen program;
plus, many other volunteer opportunities in the Owensboro area.

Please browse our site to learn more about our league, learn how to join and serve the community, and/or how to become a partner and supporter to the Junior League of Owensboro.

Thank you,

Kimberly Johnson
2008-2009 JLO President