what we do

citizen's advisory committee

grants

projects and grants policies

accomplished projects

project and grant applications

Current Projects

Anniversary Park Project.  The Anniversary Park Project celebrates JLS's 50th year as a Junior League and the 100th year since the founding of the Association of Junior Leagues International!  This initiative will give Springfield its first fully accessible playground in the newly developed Centennial Park .  In collaboration with the Springfield Park District, JLS will build a rest and relaxation area adjacent to the playground.  The area will be paved with engraved bricks purchased by community and League members.  The playground will enable children of all abilities to play side by side.

WSEC-TV "Fun Time Station."  In such an age of technology, children are receiving a great deal of information from media such as computers and television.  WSEC-TV's goal is to ensure that what children learn from TV is educational.  JLS members will help plan and volunteer at Fun Time Station, a one-day event promoting the educational goals embodied in children's educational programming.  Volunteers will help with a hands-on educational day for families in the Springfield area.  The event fosters nine developmental skills in 2 to 8 year olds.  Activities for the families range from live dance and music performances, story-telling, puppetry, and character visits from PBS Kids programs.

Senior Services of Central Illinois "Daily Bread."  Many JLS members have expressed interest in a volunteer opportunity benefiting elderly people throughout the Springfield community.  Since many older people live alone, on fixed incomes, they often do not consistently eat well-balanced meals.  Our volunteers will provide not only nutritious meals, but also friendly personal contacts, to participants in this program. Volunteers deliver lunch to homebound  senior citizens.

Positive Options, Referrals, and Alternatives  (PORA) "Cooking With Pizzazz Economically."  Volunteers will provide one meal per month for 6 months for women and mothers in residence who have decided to change their lifestyle from prostitution to productive citizenship.  The sessions include a balanced menu, recipes, shopping for ingredients, meal preparation, and enjoyment of the meal as a family.  The meal may be breakfast, lunch or dinner and may be based on a holiday or ethnic theme.  The Junior  League funds recipe books, ingredients, and table settings.

SPARC "Residential Picnic" and "Respite Camp Field Trip."  Volunteers provide social interaction, games and fun activities to developmentally disabled individuals.  The Junior League provides food and beverages for the picnic in September and activities for the camp in August.

CAMP Care-A-Lot.  An educational camping experience for 6 to 10 year olds from low to no income families is held in June at Lake Springfield .  Volunteers and counselors help with lifeguarding, arts and crafts, serving meals, chaperoning hikes, teaching swimming, camp set-up and luggage transport.  Men, women, and students volunteers are welcome.

1990 - Present
BoardWALK (1990)
Business Skills and Grantsmanship Workshop (1990)
Helping Hands of Springfield, Inc. (1991)
Mini O'Beirne Crisis Nursery Auxiliary (1991)
Sojourn Transitional Housing (1991-1993)
Student Mother Child Care Program (1991-1993)
Easter Seal Society (1993)
Lincoln School Provisional Class Project (1993)
Health First Community Clinic (1994-1996)
Clinic for Kids (1994-1995)
Sesame Street PEP (1994-1995)
"Christmas in Mr. Lincoln's Neighborhood" (1994-1997)
Provisional Class Projects: (1995)
    Caroling for Kids-Ronald McDonald
    Children's Museum-Gift shop feasibility study
    Mini O'Beirne Crisis Nursery-room remodeling
    St. John's Breadline
Provisional Class Projects: (1996)
    Caroling for Kids-Ronald McDonald
    St. John's Breadline
    Memorial Medical Center Nutrition Education Program
    Contact Ministries
    Done in a Day Events
Breast Care Peer Education (1996)
Friends Talking to Friends About HIV and AIDS (1996)
Withrow School Safe Haven Project (1997)
Parent Help Line (1997)***
Teen Parent Support Program (1997)
Adopt-a-Family Program (1997)
Provisional Class Projects (1997-present)
    Memorial Medical Center's Nutrition Education Program
    Contact Ministries
    PACT (Parents and Children Together)-Boys and Girls     Club/Imani/Jewish Federation

1980-1989
Jack Knight Artist in Residency (1980)
Adult Day Care (1980-1982)
Sound and Light Management (1980)
LincolnFest (1981-1986)
Continuing Assessment of Rehabilitation Efforts (CARE) (1981-1982)
Capitol Connection (1981)
Prevention of Alcohol and Chemical Abuse through Education (PACE) (1981)
Baby Talk (1982)
Springfield Symphony "Family Concert" (1982)
Springfield Central Area Project (1982-1984)
Save Sound and Light (1982-1985)
United Cerebral Palsy Project (1983-1985)
Children's Performing Arts Enrichment Project (1984-1986)
Life Planning Seminars for People over 55 (1984-1985)
Omnibus (1985-1987)
Emergency Housing (1985-1986)
Project Shared-Sojourn House (1985-1988)
Vachel Lindsay Project (1985-1988)
Freddy Firefly (1986-1988)
Teen Conference (1987-1988)
Moving Out Hunger (1987-1991)
Lincoln Home Reopening (1988)
Community Awareness-Big Brother/Big Sister (1988-1989)
Volunteer Service Program, Epilepsy (1988-1989)

1970-1979
Day Care Center (1970-1971)
Sangamon State Scholarship (1970-1971)
Paper Bag Players (1970 and 1974)
Free Neighborhood Theater Workshop Program (1971-1972)
Mini Parks (1971-1974)
Coloring Book (1971-1976)
School Referendum (1972 and 1974)
Attention Home (1972-1976)
Zoo Project (1972-1976)
Move, Inc. (Low Income Housing Project) 1972-1975)
Sustaining Guides -Executive Mansion (1973-1976)
Community Orientation (1973-1976)
Know Your Springfield (1973-1980)
Dancers in the Schools (1974)
Carver Memorial Clinic (1975-1977)
Salvation Army Project (1975-1977)
Sound and Light (1975-1978)
Education Maps for Elementary Schools (1975-1978)
Attention Home for Girls (1976-1979)
Springboard (1976-1978)
Illinois Chapter National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse (1977-1981)
Shakespeare's Ladies (1979)
Kaleidoscope (1979)
Theatre Guild Project (1979-1982)
"Because They Love Me" film project (1979-1981)

1960-1969
Lincoln Heritage Program (1960)
Information Center-Corneau Home (1961-1962)
Courthouse (1961-1963)
Landscaping of Lincoln's Home (1963)
Legal Aid Society (1963-1964)
New Salem Open House Project (1963-1968)
Sabin Vaccine Clinic (1964)
School Volunteer Coordinator (1966-1967)
Lincoln Home Area Survey (1967)
Young Audience Concerts (1967-1970)
Beautification and Outdoor Education (1967-1972)
Ballet in the Schools (1969-1979)

1950-1959
Subsidized Foster Homes (1952-1956)
Puppetry (1952-1976)
Boys Farm (1953-1954)
School for Trainable Mentally Handicapped (1953-1959)
Speaker's Bureau (1955-1961)
Distribution of tickets to Amateur Musicland Symphony (1955-1967)
Children's Symphony (1957-1960)
Boys Club Craft Shop (1957-1969)
Museum Guides (1957-1974)
Hospital Volunteer Coordinator (1959-1961)
Lincoln Heights Youth Center (1959-1960, 1963-1968)

1939-1949
Placement Bureau (1939-1941)
Dental Clinic (1940-1944)
USO Recreation Room (1942-1945)
YWCA Youth Center/Sky Ranch (1945-1949)
Children's Radio Program (1948)
Children's Civic Art Center (1949-1952)
Puppet Making (1949-1953)
Leather Crafts (1949)
Painting and Drawing (1949-1952)
Children's Theater (1949)