“It’s a validation that diapers are a need and not a luxury,” says the Florida Essential Needs Coalition. On Monday, the Florida Legislature approved the 2022 state budget which includes a provision for the removal of sales tax on diapers. Starting July 1, for a period of one year, families will no longer have to pay 6% on diapers. This may not seem big, but for caregivers covering the up $80 per month of disposable diaper costs the new exemption is a game changer.

This win is a product of collaboration from diaper banks and antipoverty advocates across the state. The Junior League of Tampa, as the operator of Hillsborough County’s only diaper bank, has been an active part of the movement. Members of the Diaper Bank Committee and the Public Affairs Committee have meet with public officials to talk about the issue of diaper need and the diaper tax. The collaborative advocacy from organizations across the state helped make this bipartisan tax-exemption possible.

Making diapers more affordable means one more step in breaking the cycle of poverty. “When you do not have access to the basic needs that allow you to lead a clean, hygienic life with dignity you cannot thrive,” says Lyndsey Siara, the League’s National Diaper Bank Network Liaison. Over the past two years of the pandemic, global supply change shortages, and inflation, the Diaper Bank has helped fill the gap for families facing diaper need. Each month, JLT distributes over 30,000 diapers to address the critical need and help families thrive. With the tax-exemption in place, more families have a fighting chance to get the diapers their children need and lift their families out of poverty.

The budget and diaper tax-exemption still need to be approved by Governor Ron DeSantis in the upcoming weeks.

The post A Win for Basic Needs: Sales Tax-Exemption for Diapers in Florida appeared first on www.jltampa.org.

Today, The Junior League of Tampa announced its newest grant, the 1926 Legacy Award sponsored by Tampa General Hospital. The 1926 Legacy Award recognizes an outstanding community leader in the Tampa Bay area whose work is focused in the areas of child welfare and education. The honoree will receive a $10,000 grant to support a nonprofit of their choosing. The award will be presented at The Junior League of Tampa’s Annual Gala on Saturday, May 21^st at the Tampa Marriott Water Street.

The 1926 Legacy Award, named after the League’s founding year, is the organization’s latest effort to support nonprofits and changemakers in the Tampa community. “We cannot do it all,” says President Taylor Jones, “This is why we have programs like the Enabling Fund and Community Action grants to support the work of other amazing organizations in our community. The 1926 Award is a way of expanding on this legacy.”

The League is currently accepting applications for the award online. Applicants will be reviewed based on:

• The creation of lasting community impact within the Tampa Bay area
• Contributions in the areas of special interest to the Junior League, including child advocacy, education, literacy, life skills, health and nutrition
• Demonstration of attributes of a role model and mentor

The deadline to submit applications is March 15, 2022. The award winner will be notified in April.

Apply Today

The post The Junior League of Tampa Offers New Community Grant appeared first on www.jltampa.org.

A Teacher

Mentors teach us how to be better versions of ourselves. This is true for Lauren Sanchez and her mentor Lindsay Carter. When Lauren, transferred into The Junior League of Tampa she took a leap and joined a leadership role. As a social media coordinator for the JLT Marketplace team she met Lindsay who took the time to help Lauren build her skills. “From day one, she took me under her wings and showed me the ropes. Always kind and with a smile, she helped me become a better leader and become more involved in the League.” Lindsay’s support helped prepare Lauren to take on the Chair-Elect role the following year. The role was unexpected for Lauren but ultimately served as an ideal fit, harnessing her retail experience and her growing leadership skills. Lauren sums it up perfectly, “She pushed me in the best ways to strive for my better self and go for things out of my comfort zone.”

An Encourager

A great mentor is an ever-flowing source of encouragement. This is the foundation of Jenny Schroeder’s relationship with her mentor Melissa Knight Nodhturft. When Jenny transferred to the JLT from Michigan, Melissa was the first person she met. “Melissa was so warm and welcoming through our emails and then in person when I joined JLT,” says Jenny. Then serving on the Executive Board, Melissa encouraged Jenny as she started her leadership journey in the League. She shared her experience as well as helped Jenny build confidence to take on roles as a Chair, Manager, and Board Member. “Melissa is the kind of person who encourages you to be your best self and believe that you can do things that may be outside your comfort zone at first,” says Jenny, “I always look forward to our annual chats at nominating submission time and Melissa’s input on what to try next.”

A Friend

Not every mentor is a friend, but often the best relationships go beyond mentorship. This is the case Lyndsey Siara and for her mentor and dear friend, Caroline Foss. After almost 10 years in The Junior League of Tampa, Lyndsey joined the inaugural Diaper Bank committee and met Caroline. “Meeting Caroline and working on Diaper Bank was a pivotal moment in my JLT and personal lives,” says Lyndsey. Rather than standing alone to build the project, Caroline made Lyndsey a partner. Caroline shared her knowledge with Lyndsey but also relied on Lyndsey for her insights to help build the Diaper Bank to the thriving program it is today. “We’ve achieved much together,” says Lyndsey, “but the best part is knowing our connection—and friendship—transcends JLT. I’m forever grateful that the League guided me to her.”

With over 1,800 members across the Tampa area, JLT is often a connector for many mentorships. But it is the dedication and openness of members like Lindsay, Melissa, and Caroline who foster mentorships that matter.

Return to the 1926 Blog

The post Mentorships that Matter appeared first on www.jltampa.org.

If you think about what families need to thrive, you might think about great education, well-paying jobs and safe housing – and you would be right, all of those things matter. But when families do not have access to basic needs that allow them to lead a clean, hygienic life with dignity, they cannot thrive. Many families in our community struggle to afford essential items, such as diapers. At The Junior League of Tampa, we have seen firsthand the relief and security that comes with access to these basic needs.  Diapers are a critical piece in breaking the cycle of poverty.

THE ISSUE

1 in 3 families in the US report experiencing the lack of sufficient diapers to keep an infant or child clean, dry and healthy, also known as diaper need. As any parent knows, diapers are expensive: about $70 to $80 per month per child, with babies using 8 to 12 diapers per day.

Most people do not realize there are no state or federal child safety-net programs allocating dollars specifically for the purchase of diapers. This means that diapers can often fall to the bottom of the long list of basic necessities—rent, electricity, food, clothing, and transportation—for which a family must budget.

Additionally, families struggling with diaper need often end up paying more diapers than more affluent families. Without access to reliable transportation and the barrier of membership fees, caregivers are unable to purchase diapers in bulk for reduced prices. This often means families are purchasing from smaller convenience stores which can significantly increase the cost per diaper.

Diaper need has a profoundly negative impact on the health and wellbeing of children. Financial stress can lead caregivers to “stretch” diapers or prematurely potty train. Sitting in soiled diapers causes babies to suffer from painful diaper rashes, urinary tract infections, and severe skin reactions. Premature toilet training results in frustration, shaming and punishment for a child who is not developmentally ready to transition out of diapers.

The impact of diaper need negatively affects the caregiver, as infant distress and a lack of trust in their caregiver’s ability to respond to their needs damages the relationship between caregiver and child. When a parent cannot provide sufficient diapers for their child, feelings of embarrassment, helplessness, and shame harm the family’s mental and economic wellbeing. Sadly, in the worst-case scenarios, parental stress associated with diaper need can lead to child abuse.

THE FOUNDING

As images of Hurricane Harvey’s destruction filled our screens in the Summer of 2017, the news reporter mentioned emergency aid did not supply essential need products like baby diapers. With Hurricane Irma threatening our coast and community, we began considering the potential impact of a landfall here at home and furthered our inquiry into diaper banks.

League members were surprised to discover that Hillsborough County, with over 1.5 million residents, approximately 15% of which live at or below the poverty line, did not have a diaper bank. As they began to research and create our Diaper Bank, we learned that diaper need is not a hurricane-specific issue. It is an everyday struggle for some caregivers in our community.

By summer 2018, the League was prepared to launch the Diaper Bank. The mission was and continues to be, to combat Diaper Need in Hillsborough County by providing diapers, wipes, and rash creams to community partners. The partnership model embodies the League’s long-term commitment to community collaboration. By working with our community partners, we also support their efforts to wrap resources around these individuals and families, creating a multifaceted support network.

THE DIAPER BANK TODAY

In the three years since its inception, the JLT Diaper Bank has distributed over 1 million diapers. In our inaugural year, we distributed 100,000 diapers to four community partners. By year three, we had scaled up, providing 550,000 diapers to 14 community partners. This impressive expansion of the program was possible in the midst of a global pandemic, thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and supporters.

The Diaper Bank project, like all JLT initiatives, is volunteer-run. The committee of 15 to 20 women run the project’s day-to-day operations, coordinating bulk orders, partner product pick-ups, volunteer management, and diaper need-related advocacy. They are supported by the League’s membership of 1,900 volunteers.

As we enter our fourth year, we are partnering with 14 local nonprofits as monthly partners and organizations designated as ‘As Needed Agencies,’ who will be able to submit one-time orders. The Diaper Bank is also expanding its partnership opportunities with local companies, schools, and social groups through our ‘Host a Drive’ program.

When reflecting on the impact of the Diaper Bank so far, past Chair Lyndsey Siara said, “Distributing our one-millionth diaper in just three years was an incredibly moving experience. With the support of JLT members and the community at large, those one million diapers represented hope and relief for families in need; they allowed caregivers to go to work and support their families; they permitted children to attend daycare and early childhood education; they represented the deep care and concern JLT has for its community and making Hillsborough County a place where children and families can thrive.”

To learn how you can get involved with the Diaper Bank, contact us.

Return to the 1926 Blog

The post The Diaper Bank: A Story of Basic Needs appeared first on www.jltampa.org.

Read. Share. Love. This is the tagline for The Junior League of Tampa’s Giving Library initiative. Partnering with other nonprofits, the League builds and stocks small libraries across Hillsborough County to share the love of reading. But unlike traditional libraries, the Giving Library books do not need to be returned, empowering readers to build their own home libraries.

One nonprofit partner of the Giving Library program is Tampa Family Health Centers (TFHC). With 16 locations, TFHC provides quality, affordable healthcare to residents in Hillsborough County. While a health center does not immediately seem like a natural partner for a literacy program, together we have distributed more than 5,000 books to readers in our community. Recently we sat down with JLT member and TFHC staff member Melissa Garitta to talk about the partnership.

How did your organization get involved with the Giving Library initiative?

Tampa Family Health Centers got involved with the Giving Libraries as we had two employees within TFHC as members of The Junior League of Tampa. We took this idea to our Director of Pediatrics and she was thrilled to provide books to our patients. Our Director of Pediatrics has a passion for literacy and we thought we could bring this resource to our patients and give them an opportunity to take books home and start a library of their own!

Describe your experience partnering with JLT.

JLT as an organization is so wonderful for our community! But our experience with the MILO team and the Giving Libraries initiative specifically has been amazing! To see our pediatric patients searching for their favorite book or finding a new one to read while waiting to be seen has been great! The process and inventory have been excellent from the libraries being built and the books being delivered. We have received such positive feedback from our patients, and they really enjoy having these books at their disposal.

What value does the Giving Library provide to your patients?

Empowering our pediatric patients to pick books of their own to keep and create a library at home gives them something that’s theirs and gives them the resources to elevate their literacy. Some of our patients might not have the resources to go to the library or buy brand new books, so this gives them an opportunity to take something home with them that they might have been able to do normally. These books might give our patients a way to remain calm and relaxed while visiting our medical offices, because who likes to see the doctor or dentist? I believe these libraries are more than just taking a book home; we’re inspiring a new generation of readers.

How does the Giving Library program help you further your mission?

At TFHC, it’s our mission to provide quality, caring, and accessible healthcare to a culturally diverse community. I know our mission speaks to healthcare, but healthcare is so much more than visiting the doctor when you’re sick. Reading and developing their minds at a young age can help them in the long run and hopefully, in return, will increase their overall health and wellness.

You can find Giving Libraries at the following Tampa Family Health Center locations:

Return to 1926 Blog

The post Read. Share. Love. appeared first on www.jltampa.org.

Last year was a unique year, but that did not stop our 2020-2021 Provisional Class. When over 100 women applied to join JLT back in March 2020 they did not expect a global pandemic and a year marked by adapting to the new normal.

While the Provisional experience was not what they anticipated, these women dove in head first to all the League offered. They were engaged, jumping at the new opportunities. They were patient as we navigated the unknown. They were leaders, bringing positivity and fresh ideas to every table and Zoom meeting.

As the 2020-2021 Provisional Class enters their first Active year, we sat down with several members to talk about what they were looking forward to, the importance of women in leadership, and more.

What are you most excited about for the upcoming year?

I am excited to learn more about JLT and its operations. I look forward to meeting and getting to know more of the women who are members more intimately. I am looking forward to experiencing the League in its entirety this year. – Tia Smith

After a strange year of separation and zoom calls, I am greatly looking forward to an in-person Holiday Gift Market! I was fortunate enough to be selected as a committee member for HGM and am excited to assist with the League’s largest fundraiser of the year. As a Provisional during the pandemic, it is also very exciting to get to meet so many more members in-person this year! – Ellerbe Bittner

I am most excited about in-person volunteering and social opportunities. While the pandemic put some hurdles in our way, I was very impressed with how everyone in the league found ways to fundraise and socialize virtually. – Kristin Boulette

I’m most excited about meeting other JLT members and prospective members. My first year in the League was during COVID-19, so while it was still a great experience, I’m excited to engage with other women in-person and learn more about all that the League has to offer. I’m grateful to hold a leadership role as Assistant Chair of Prospective Member Engagement during my first active year. At the same time that I’ll be learning more about the League, I’ll be able to share my journey with prospective members. – Samantha Fitzmaurice

I am thrilled to get to know a wider audience of the strong Junior League women that I didn’t get a chance to connect with last year. I am very excited about my upcoming committee assignment to work with the Sustainers as the Community Service Coordinator. – Danielle Laffey

What skills or experiences are you hoping to gain this year?

I am hoping for the ability to utilize my leadership skills and give back in a meaningful way this year. – Tia Smith

Leadership skills that will further enhance my opportunities to give back into the future. – Ellerbe Bittner

I currently work in higher education digital marketing and while we partner with many different clients and are exposed to different brands and tools, I know there are so many other approaches to get the job done. It will be great to work in the PR and Marketing committee alongside other marketing professionals to get exposure to different thought processes. – Kristin Boulette

I’m looking forward to enhancing my collaboration and teamwork skills in my new role as Assistant Chair of Prospective Member Engagement. The League is on a journey to enhance its diversity and inclusion efforts and I believe a lot of those efforts begin with the engagement of prospective members. Working with the Prospective Member Engagement committee to identify ways in which we can support the League in its DE&I efforts will be challenging and rewarding, but I’m excited to see the outcome. – Samantha Fitzmaurice

I’m fairly new to Tampa and cannot wait to get to know my community better. I hope that my 2021 placement will allow me to understand the landscape of the city, the issues many face and allow me to do a small part to make it better. And a bonus is I get to meet amazing women along the way to learn from as I expand my own footprint here in the bay area. – Danielle Laffey

Why is do you choose to volunteer? 

I choose to volunteer because giving back to the community in which I live is important to me. I know that there are so many ways I can use my knowledge and talent to support the people and organizations in need within this community. Contributing in a positive way to the community brings me joy and makes me feel good. – Tia Smith

Volunteering is something that I was exposed to by my parents. I learned at an early age that giving back not only is good for the one being given to, but it is very fulfilling as the one giving. In my adult life, my employer The Bank of Tampa, strongly supports our community and it’s employees involvement in it. This is a culture that I find comfort in and admiration for as well. – Ellerbe Bittner

I want to give back to a community that has welcomed my husband and I with open arms when we relocated to Tampa Bay 7 ½ years ago. The Junior League is involved in many causes that I hold near and dear to my heart and I get to give back alongside like-minded ladies. – Kristin Boulette

Our community can only change when action is taken, which is why I volunteer. I’m passionate about the Tampa Bay community and all that it has to offer. As our community continues to rapidly grow, we need to make sure that Tampa continues to become the community we want it to be. As a volunteer, I get to see where we are struggling as a community, but I’m also given the chance to do good and help where needed. Volunteering isn’t just giving back, it’s creating long-lasting change. – Samantha Fitzmaurice

I am fortunate to have been very blessed in my life up to this point. I love to give my time, talents and efforts to those that are in need to help them become better versions of themselves. I also want to give back to the community that I live in to make it better than when I found it for the next person to enjoy. – Danielle Laffey

Beyond serving the community, JLT wants to help women become better community and civic leaders. Why do you think it is important for women to serve as leaders in the community?

Because as Beyoncé said, we run the world. We are the often overlooked and underappreciated backbone of not only the family unit but the social, political, and community initiatives that shape the world in which we live. – Tia Smith

I think that women have a different perspective than men and it is important for that perspective to be recognized as women make up a large part of the population of our community. Would a man recognize the need for a diaper bank? Probably not, but it has been a remarkably successful project in helping a need in our community. – Ellerbe Bittner

I think that representation matters. Our young girls are watching us and when they see women from all different backgrounds and races coming together for great causes, it will inspire them to do the same. – Kristin Boulette

“Who is sitting at the table?” When decisions are being made for our Tampa Bay community, we need to make sure that those sitting at that table represent our community, and that includes women. Women need to not only be there when the decisions are being made, but they need to actively be part of the discussions around our community. JLT provides a space for women to come together as leaders, to be supported, and to feel empowered. – Samantha Fitzmaurice

Women come with a unique perspective to the world, many times with a different approach to solving issues than men. I have witnessed women leaders tend to be more nurturing and collaborative within organizations and teams. It’s important women have a voice to exercise change in their community that affects them personally. It’s also crucial for the young females to have women leaders to look to as role-models whom they can aspire to assimilate. – Danielle Laffey

Responses have been edited for length and/or clarity. 

Return to the 1926 Blog

The post New Year, New Leaders: Conversation with First Year Actives appeared first on www.jltampa.org.

With the 2021-2022 League year officially underway, we reached out to some of our first year Chairs to talk about their plans for the new year. While this will be their first time as Committee Chair with The Junior League of Tampa, each of these women brings a unique set of leadership experiences from their professional and other volunteer pursuits.

What are you most excited about for the upcoming year?

This year provides us a unique opportunity to return to our roots and the programs we do really well as a League while also taking the best of our learnings from our year away from in-person programming.  Working with our Provisional Class is an exciting vantage point filled with dynamic new ideas, passion and a desire to make a lasting impact in our community.  The Provisional Education Team is a diverse and eager group of women and I cannot wait to see how their passions are shared with the Provisional women.  It is sure to be a year of growth for us all! – Lindsey Dewey, Provisional Education Chair

This is going to be an exciting year for Public Affairs. We have some important upcoming local elections this year. We also have many opportunities to inform our representatives at the local and state levels about what we are doing for our community and how they can help our representatives. I am excited to teach our members about ongoing legislation and how it affects our communities. – Carolyn Robinson, Public Affairs-State Chair

A new league year always offers a fresh start. I am excited to meet a new group of women and work together for another successful year for Ready to Achieve! It is almost time to get creative and come up with all new lesson plans.  – Katie O’Brien, Ready to Achieve Chair

I am most excited to see everyone! I am so impressed with how the League has adjusted, pivoted, and provided creative ideas to continue, and in some cases improve, programs that will forever change the way we volunteer and contribute to the community. As a Co-Chair of Member Meetings & Events, we are excited to bring back some normalcy with in-person socials and meetings. – Whitney Gatz, Member Meetings & Events Co-Chair

I am thrilled to be serving as a Chair for one of our community impact projects, MILO. This year I am looking forward to collaborating with my committee, community partners, and volunteers to reach the common goal of “meeting children and families where they are” and enhancing literacy in our community. – Michele Davis, MILO Chair

Why did you decide to take on a leadership role with The Junior League of Tampa?

I decided to take on a leadership role with JLT to challenge myself but also to lead others. I feel that I now have my footing and have learned A TON through previous placements and committees. My time to give back to the League has given me so much and help other women realize their potential and unlimited opportunity for growth within the League. – Jessica Berroth, Transfer Chair

What is wonderful about JLT is the opportunity to choose your path each year. I have taken advantage of the predictable opportunities and challenged myself to refine and test my leadership skills by applying to be on a Committee every Active year. With my experience, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and take on a leadership role. I am nervous but very excited! – Whitney Gatz, Member Meetings & Events Co-Chair

I have been gradually progressing since being with JLT and decided to push myself to learn and grow even more. I am excited to use my 15+ years of experience in leadership to support the Mission of JLT.  – Meaza Stewart-Morrison, Project Development and Evaluation (PDEC) Chair

I believe in the Mission of the League – the development of women is so important to our community. Training is one of the best ways to help our women in their development. By taking on a leadership role, I can give back in a very impactful way. – Stephanie Key Helter, Training Chair

What makes a ‘good’ leader?

A good leader can communicate effectively, listen more than they speak, lead by example, and most importantly, a leader that can follow the directions of others when necessary. – Janae Thomas, Public Affairs-Local Chair

Leadership is not defined by a job description or title.  A good leader naturally encourages others and brings out the best in those around them.  In teamwork settings, I believe a great leader operates with the end goal in mind, recognizes, and highlights the strengths of team members to reach that goal.  In individual settings, a good leader will support others in reaching their personal goals.  – Katie O’Brien, Ready to Achieve Chair

A good leader learns from those around them and each experience they encounter. They also help teach those around them and help in any way they can. They believe in collaboration and teamwork above all else. – Stephanie Key Helter, Training Chair

A good leader is an inclusive, approachable team player that leads by example. Leading is not about delegating tasks but creating a space where all team members can use their strengths to reach a common goal. – Meaza Stewart-Morrison, Project Development and Evaluation (PDEC) Chair

I think a good leader listens and is connected to and supportive of the people around her. You might not have all the answers as a “leader,” but if you believe in the people around you and earn their trust, confidence, and respect, then you can accomplish anything together. – Kara Schafer, Holiday Gift Market Co-Chair

Part of the League’s Mission is ‘Developing the Potential of Women’. What does this mean to you?

Developing the potential of women means helping women step outside of their comfort zone to reach their goals. – Brittany George, Toastmasters Chair

The Junior League provides amazing opportunities for women to grow, learn, and train. Although we have members who are experts in their careers, they have the chance with The Junior of League of Tampa to learn new things and new skills. These may be unrelated to their professions, help them in their professions or provide them with new aspirations and goals. – Carolyn Robinson, Public Affairs-State Chair

I love the League’s Mission because women hold such a strong role in the community now more than ever. Developing our potential in all ways personally and professionally is key and I am very happy I am part of an organization that prioritizes that. – Caroline Benson, Fundraising-Giving Chair

There are few places left where women can be vulnerable and learn gracefully.  In our careers, our lives as partners, parents, children, and members of our community, we are often expected to have the answers and know our next steps without question.  In The Junior League of Tampa, we are afforded the opportunity to pause, learn, grow and expand our horizons as part of teams to continually become better versions of ourselves.  Being a member of The Junior League of Tampa allows us to serve as a link in the chain between what has been and what can be.  I look forward to my personal growth this year and the members of our Provisional Education Team and our Provisional class. – Lindsey Dewey, Provisional Education Chair

What is one thing you hope to accomplish this year?

This year I hope to make my Chair-Elect confident in her role next year, get every member actively engaged and at least two to meet their first milestone. – Brittany George, Toastmasters Chair

I would like to see Public Affairs become a more central part of JLT because of the helpful and informative programming we offer. I would like more people to understand what the committee offers and engage with it more throughout the year. – Janae Thomas, Public Affairs-Local Chair

I hope that every woman who Transfers into the Junior League of Tampa this year is heard. I hope she ends her transfer placement by making long-lasting relationships while also learning more about the Tampa League and our events and finds her passion and place in our community. And OBVIOUSLY, we are striving to be 21-22 committee of the year! – Jessica Berroth, Transfer Chair

I hope to understand fundraising on a deeper level and continue to engage and promote the League’s Mission and why giving back is so important.  – Caroline Benson, Fundraising-Giving Chair

This League year, I am eager to meet as many children and families in our community as possible. Through events with our partners, special events, and collaboration with the library, I am committed to extending our reach further to ensure more children can start their very own home library. – Michele Davis, MILO Chair

Bringing back an incredible in-person Holiday Gift Market is definitely a personal and committee goal of mine. HGM is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and it is more important than ever to get critical funds and resources for our community partners and projects. We have an amazing group of women on this year’s HGM Committee, and we are so excited to welcome back our members, shoppers, merchants, and partners for a great experience! – Kara Schafer, Holiday Gift Market Co-Chair

Responses have been edited for length and/or clarity. 

Return to the 1926 Blog

The post New Year, New Leaders: Discussion with our First Year Chairs appeared first on www.jltampa.org.

As another year ends, I am taking time to look back and reflect on the past 12+ months. It is overwhelming to think of everything we have gone through as an organization and as individuals. We are all used to some form of change, but the changes we experienced this year may have been one of the biggest challenges we faced.

That is why, when looking back, I am in absolute awe of The Junior League of Tampa and our members. The hard work, commitment, and invaluable contributions to each other and our organization were integral to our progress and success.

This year, we have made impressive movement in our goals, constantly and rapidly growing against the backdrop of a changing environment. Despite all the challenges, you upheld your focus and let not one opportunity go. Instead, you took chances and evolved, as we have the past 95 years, to serve each other and the critical needs that were present in our community.

You diversified our fund development strategy to help maintain a healthy organization. You reimagined our fundraisers, projects, and programs to be able to continue to serve our community in new and unique ways. You made tough decisions regarding operations so we can continue to invest in our community and members.

While it is difficult to list all we accomplished together, there were so many amazing achievements; here are few of the items I am most proud of:

• Diaper Bank hit their Million Milestone with 1,000,000 diapers distributed in the community
• Strategic review and update to the Provisional Education course
• Hosting our first ever virtual Holiday Gift Market and Luminaries event
• Members participating in over 2,000 hours of trainings
• Transformed our nominating process to make it more inclusive of our members’ outside leadership experience
• Hosted multiple reimagined COVID safe events including drive through adoption celebrations, Family Food Fest, and book distributions
• Focused on operational excellence to maintain a healthy organization.
• Executed a new communications strategy
• Completed 50,000+ volunteer hours

However, the most important part of it all was the way you empowered each other. You led with empathy, lifted each other up, and helped your fellow members out. It was all about the human spirit and The Power of Us. You came together and made it happen. In an unprecedented time, that is the truly remarkable and awe-inspiring. It makes my heart sing, and I am so honored to be a part of it and see the amazing work strong, female leaders accomplish together.

Now that we are starting to get together and meet in person, I feel the energy changing. I feel immense joy and I am BEYOND excited for the future. There is so much goodness lined up for the next year, and I know that with you, JLT will maintain our organizational excellence, continue to be civic leaders in our community, and build lifelong membership and friendship.

The momentum and energy are here. The future is bright and that comes from the amazing commitment and invaluable contributions towards each other and our organization to reach their full potential.

Thank you for the most unbelievable and memorable time I have ever had or could imagine. I am forever changed. I wish you all the best in the new League year and for the years to come.

Cheers to you!

Meghan McGuire
2020-2021 President, The Junior League of Tampa

The post Letter to our Members: Closing Thoughts on the 2020-2021 Year appeared first on www.jltampa.org.

As we prepare to celebrate our 95^th Birthday on April 2^nd, this is the question on our minds. The Junior League of Tampa, like so many organizations, has been challenged and changed by the past year. We have been pushed to look at everything we do a new way and including our legacy.

COVID-19 was not the first challenge The Junior League of Tampa encountered. Three years after the original 22 members had gathered together, the stock market crashed and the Great Depression began. Once JLT navigated that crisis, it was long before World War II began, transforming the lives of young women in Tampa and beyond. When the dust of the war had settled, the workforce began to change. Suddenly women were breaking glass ceilings and managing full time careers, in addition to their volunteer work.

This roller coaster of history provides the context that makes JLT’s impact so outstanding. Despite the twists and turns, our members have continued showing up and giving back to their community. Their efforts have built some of Tampa’s most iconic institutions, invested in families of every shape and size, and made our community better.

The below timeline takes you on a journey through the past 95 years. The stories and photos are just a snapshot of what the past 95 years have held, but we hope you see the determination and dedication of our members. This our small attempt to capture 95 years of impact.

The post 95 Years – A Look at the Past appeared first on www.jltampa.org.

The Holiday Gift Market is a Tampa Tradition. Annually, the event features more than 120 specialty merchants, attracts over 17,000 shoppers, and generates $300,000+ for the League’s community projects. Impressive on its own, the Market becomes even more inspiring when you realize it is run by volunteers.

This year’s Holiday Gift Market committee is comprised of an exceptional group of women, who were challenged with reimaging the League’s signature fundraising event for the COIVD environment. “The decision to pivot to a virtual event was made with the best interest for the League and our local community in mind,” said Monica Kirkland, who serves as JLT Treasurer and oversees the Holiday Gift Market team. The call to transition to a virtual format was made in July, after months had already been spent planning a traditional Market.

The committee has not shied away from the challenges.  “As we’re saying this year, we’ll ‘gift through this together’, this year has tested our ingenuity and flexibility,” said Kristen Peebles. Kristen signed up to join the HGM committee in early spring as Analytics Coordinator, responsible for running the event surveys. But when the decision to go virtual was announced she redirected her time and skills to help build the Holiday Gift Market website.

“This year has been perhaps the most challenging as the Holiday Gift Market is taking an entirely new virtual form,” said Danielle Tinsley, YEP Coordinator and multiyear HGM volunteer. “This year has also been exciting as it’s been an opportunity to help pioneer and be part of a team that may be setting a precedent for a virtual market place that hopefully becomes a fruitful addition to HGM when it returns to in person in the future.”

The challenges brought a renewed focus on the purpose of the event. Hayley Reteneller volunteered on the HGM committee for six years before stepping into the Co-Chair role this year. “I originally joined,” she said, “because I wanted to raise money to go back into the community.” Lindsay Carter, a Merchant Coordinator-Elect, focused on how to best serve the Market’s 120+ specialty vendors. “Let’s face it, this year has been a struggle on us all and most of our merchants are small businesses so events like this are a great way to support them and JLT.”

The volunteers also turned this experience into an opportunity for growth, a key part of JLT’s Mission. “This event allows me to donate my time doing something I love to do, plan events! I also gain a lot from volunteering; developing my skills as a leader and learning to manage a large volunteer committee,” says Co-Chair Laura Walsh who was challenged to lead the over 50 committee members in a mostly virtual environment.

Kristin Horne, HGM Merchant Coordinator, says this experience has positively challenged her as well. “I have really tried to embrace the thought process of ‘how can I make this better’.” The committee embraced their role as innovators, building processes for the League’s future virtual events. Co-Chair Hayley Reteneller sums it up this way, “I think I learned that things don’t always turn out just how you planned them, but they can still turn out great!”

We saw the fruits of the HGM team’s labor starting on November 14^th with the launch of the first-ever virtual Holiday Gift Market. Visit www.holidaygiftmarket.org to learn more.

Return to 1926 Blog

The post The Women Behind the Market appeared first on www.jltampa.org.