About Us

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JLS Today

Funding Our Projects

President's Page

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JLS Store

• Next-to-New Sale
• Cookbook
• Kitchen Tour
• Other Fundraisers

The Junior League of Springfield, Inc. has three major fundraisers: Next-to-New Sale, Cookbook, and the Kitchen Tour. In addition to the money we raise ourselves, we also receive funds from grants and various Project Partners, who help to sponsor particular projects. Funds raised by The Junior League of Springfield, Inc. are returned to the community through projects and services that meet specific needs. The Junior League of Springfield, Inc. also has a Community Fund and an Endowment Fund, which help to insure future service to our community.

By far, the largest proportion of our funding in any given year comes from the Next-to-New Sale. Next-to-New is a large rummage sale, started in 1951 by The Junior League of Springfield, Inc. Over the years, the Next-to-New Sale has raised nearly $500,000, all of which has gone back into the Springfield community. JLS members not only volunteer 6 hours of work to staff the Next-to-New Sale, they also donate gently used clothes, toys and various sundries to stock the sale. The 2008 Next-to-New Sale will be  held in the fall at a location to be announced.

Our League's current cookbook, Honest to Goodness, celebrates the rich ethnic dishes inspired by our forebears. Straight from Abraham Lincoln's hometown where honesty, fairness, and integrity are still an important part of our daily lives. We hope Honest to Goodness will inspire you to savor the rich history that abounds in Illinois' capital city.

Held in the spring, the JLS Kitchens in Bloom Kitchen Tour provides a peek into some of Springfield's most elaborate kitchens. Many of the homeowners open up the rest of their homes for the tour as well, providing an opportunity for tour attendees to gather decorating ideas for their homes. Various vendors from the Springfield community provide a sampling of food or refreshments as guests depart each home. JLS members host a bake sale each year at one of the homes on the tour. Many of the goodies for sale are straight from the Honest to Goodness cookbook. The date of the 2000 Kitchens in Bloom Kitchen Tour scheduled for a Sunday in Spring 2009, noon until 4:00pm will be announced.

JLS also participates in other fundraisers throughout the year. We are currently selling Historic Springfield Scarves. A perfect gift for birthdays, Mother's Day, or for your favorite history buff! A nationally known artist designed these beautiful scarves especially for the Junior League of Springfield. The rich hues of azure blue, deep gold and black would compliment anyone's wardrobe. The images of historic landmarks in Springfield are framed in an intricate pattern that matches the metal work of the balcony of the Illinois State Capitol.

Profits from all fundraisers are used to support the purpose and programs of the Junior League of Springfield.