The Junior League of Houston, Inc. continued its 90th anniversary celebration by recognizing the donors to its League Legends Annual Fund on Thursday, May 7, 2015, at the home of Junior League sustaining member Phoebe Tudor and her husband, Bobby Tudor. Their Southampton home, built in 1925, is also celebrating its 90th anniversary

The celebration was presented by Junior League of Houston President Elizabeth Graves Love, Development Vice PresidentTanya Merla Leiber and League Legends Annual Fund Chairman Mary Lee Hackedorn Wilkens. In-kind contributions were provided by Añejo, Jackson and Company, River Oaks Donuts (a Junior League Community Partner) and Katie & Co.

The League Legends Annual Fund supports the building preservation, community efforts and operating expenses of the Junior League of Houston. This year’s campaign raised more than $165,000, exceeding the League’s fundraising goal by an incredible 20 percent.

On the mornings of April 16 and 17, 2015, approximately 70 second, third and fourth grade students from Piney Point Elementary attended the League’s annual Kids in the Kitchen event. Kids in the Kitchen is a national initiative of the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) geared to fight childhood obesity by teaching children about nutrition and lifestyle choices. The program included activities focusing on nutrition, physical fitness and etiquette.

Megan Cooper, Community Special Projects Chairman, kicked off the program by welcoming the students and providing a brief overview of the League’s mission and community programs. Malcolm Rowland, Tea Room General Manager, gave the students a tour of the League building. Students donned personalized chef hats crafted by League VIEW (Volunteers In Evening Workshop) volunteers and colorful aprons as they prepared a salad and healthy desserts for lunch. They also prepared a nutritious entrée to take home with them. The League’s own Ebony Goudeau taught the students about etiquette, manners and proper place settings. Wayne Davis, founder of a Houston nonprofit focused on childhood obesity and exercise, led the students in a fun and energetic workout and emphasized the importance of proper nutrition.

The students ended each day by practicing their proper place settings and good manners while enjoying their delicious lunch in the Tea Room. Each student left with a goody bag filled with a jump rope, a cookbook with recipes in English and Spanish, a cooking spoon and a Family Pass to the Children’s Museum of Houston (CMH).

The children had an amazing time and left with many happy memories and fabulous goodies! The Community Special Projects team – Megan Cooper, Casey Henderson, Courtney Stevens and Danna Davidson White – did an incredible job organizing the event and hosting the wonderful students from Piney Point Elementary. A huge thank you to everyone involved in making the event so special!

Each year the League honors an outstanding active member with a minimum of five years of League service who exemplifies the League’s mission both within the League and in the community at large. First awarded in 2005, the award was endowed by John H. Lindsey to honor his wife, 1957 – 1958 Junior League of Houston President, Sara Houstoun Lindsey.

Susan has “enormous gratitude” at being selected as the 2015 recipient, believing that so many women could have been chosen. “All of the women I work with at the League personify this award,” she says. “We have a significant pool of members to choose from, which is what makes the League such a leader in the community.” She adds that she is honored to have served alongside so many kind, intelligent and thoughtful women and that she has met some of her life-long friends at the League.

Susan grew up in Houston and started her Junior League journey in 2007, a year after marrying her husband, John Barnes. Since joining, Susan has taken full advantage of the opportunities that the League has to offer. Most years she has accepted non-credit roles in addition to her placement, including Provisional Mentor and Outside Board Representative. She has served on the Membership, Community and Finance Councils, as well as the Communications Sub-Council; and served on both the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors. Susan’s wealth of knowledge and familiarity with the inner workings of the League are invaluable, and she is always willing to help in any situation. History is one of Susan’s passions. With a Ph.D. in Higher Education – History from Pennsylvania State University, she continues to study, research, write and speak for various publications and organizations.

As the 2014 – 2015 Communications Special Projects Chairman – 90th Anniversary, Susan used her passion for history in creating a video that celebrates the League’s 90-year legacy. “I have been given the opportunity to help identify great leaders in the League who have dedicated themselves to make substantive change in the community,” she says. “The experience has been an affirmation of what I already knew: how incredibly generous our League sustainers are with their time and stories about how the League has shaped them.” For Susan it has been humbling to be part of the not only the League’s heritage in Houston but of the worldwide Junior League movement.

Although she is not able to choose a favorite placement, Susan’s heart has always been with the opportunities to serve she had at Texas Children’s Hospital. Susan served in the TCH Cancer Center as a provisional and Head Active, and in 2013 – 2014 she served as the Texas Children’s Hospital Chairman. “It is the finest children’s hospital on the planet and it is part of our roots,” she says, “the fact that I got to be a part of that history in some way is amazing. I felt privileged to witness the magic that happens at Texas Children’s Hospital.”

“Susan is a wonderful example of a woman who has fulfilled the League’s mission in so many areas of the Houston community,” shares Brooke Bradburn. “It was my privilege to meet Susan at the beginning of her League journey as one of her Provisional Mentors, and then we served together on the 2012 – 2013 Executive Committee. I have always admired things like her passion for understanding and carrying on the League’s history, her initiative to found Diaper Houston, as well as her personal commitment and love for her church, DePelchin Children’s Center and Texas Children’s Hospital – all to which she gives time outside of her League commitments.”

The nonprofit Diaper Houston, co-founded in 2010 with fellow League member Lisa Chmiola, seeks to end the diaper need in the Houston. In 2014, over 20,000 diapers were collected and distributed to agencies such as DePelchin Children’s Center and Casa de Esperanza de los Niños. “Service is what matters,” says Susan. “Serving is opening yourself up to really listen. As League members we are invited to serve in other nonprofits to be witness to the work these agencies do. Serving is then being able to take what you witness and find where you fit in the process of helping.”

As for Susan’s future work, she says, “Receiving an award in honor of Mrs. Lindsey is a charge to do better, to continue to serve, to put my hands to work on behalf of the League and the community. The League and Houston are sure to see much more of Susan’s exceptional leadership and commitment to service.

The League hosted its annual Minor League Day event on February 28. Minor League Day serves as an opportunity for League members to share their passion for volunteering with the special children in their lives.In recognition of a much loved, time-honored Houston tradition – the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo – the Community Special Projects Committee planned a fun-filled morning around the rodeo theme, and many attendees donned their favorite cowboy and cowgirl outfits for the festivities. Participants were divided into five groups to rotate through hands-on activities, each of which benefitted one of the League’s community projects:

• Toiletry kits containing shampoo, soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste for Star of Hope;
• No-sew pillows for Overnight Adventures at the Children’s Museum of Houston;
• Storage boxes for arts and crafts supplies and board games for Camp Healing Hearts hosted by Bo’s Place;
• Bookmarks for Story Time LIVE at Baker-Ripley Neighborhood Center; and
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Kids’ Meals to distribute to Houston-area children living in poverty.

Erin Smith, who participated in Minor League Day with her five-year-old daughter shared, “We had great fun at Minor League Day. Charlotte’s favorite activity was assembling the toiletry bags. Thanks for coordinating a service project for our kids!” The Community Special Projects Committee, including Casey Henderson, Courtney Stevens, Danna Davidson and Megan Cooper, thanks the dozens of VIEW and SET volunteers whose enthusiasm and support contributed greatly to a successful event.

On Monday, February 23, Houston City Council Member Ellen Cohen inspired the nearly 100 attendees of the 15th Annual Community Collaborations event hosted at the Junior League of Houston to “Leverage the Power of Women.” The Community Collaborations Council, chaired by the Junior League of Houston’s Community Collaborations Chairman, is a council of diverse, nonprofit organizations in the Houston area that meets regularly to learn about the needs of the Houston community and holds an annual event designed to inspire and educate the Greater Houston Area.

The Community Collaborations Council consists of representatives from the following organizations:
Change Happens!
Children’s Mental Health Action Network
Children’s Museum of Houston
Collaborative for Children
Communities in Schools of Houston, Inc.,
Fort Bend Chapter of The Links, Inc.
Girl Scouts of San Jacinto
Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council
HAEYC (Houston Area Association for the Education of Young Children)
The Junior League of Houston, Inc.
Reach Out and Read Texas

This year’s annual event started with a networking opportunity and agency showcase, which served to educate attendees on the efforts of various non-profit agencies that support the Houston community. Council Member Cohen then provided advice on how every woman can best maximize her talents, resources and networks to make a more powerful impact in the lives of children, families and communities. Yvonne Harris, the League’s 2014 – 2015 Community Collaborations Chairman, stated, “Ms. Cohen not only motivated me, but also she stretched my thinking with actionable items. Starting today, I will connect more with the women in my network to gain different perspectives and creative brainstorming for the challenges I face personally and professionally.”

The Junior League of Houston, Inc. celebrated 90 years of “Building A Better Community” with the 67th Annual Charity Ball, 1925 – An Epic Era, on Friday, February 6 and Saturday, February 7, 2015 with a Preview Party on Thursday, February 5. The sold out event featured an action-packed evening of entertainment with a dinner theatre style musical show and dancing. Each evening featured an Epic live auction and a big board offering one-of-a-kind luxe items. Highlights of the auction included a custom earring and necklace suite by the Junior League’s Presenting Jeweler Sponsor Tenenbaum & Co. featuring 2.27 carats of diamonds, black onyx and 0.90 carats of rock crystal, a true collector’s piece, and “A Car for All Seasons,” provided by Sewell Automotive Companies, the Junior League’s Presenting Automotive Sponsor, which allows the lucky winner to choose a car of their choice four times within the year from each of their dealerships to drive for a season. On Friday evening, guests celebrated into the wee hours at the League’s first ever late night event – the Epic Late Night Speakeasy.

In addition to Tenenbaum & Co. and Sewell Automotive Companies, presenting underwriters for this year’s event include the Junior League’s Premier Community Partner Texas Children’s Hospital, as well as Community Partners Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors, Gallery Furniture, The Iris & Lloyd Webre Foundation, River Oaks Donuts and The Houston St. Andrew’s Ball.

Continuing its long-standing tradition, Junior League of Houston members accompanied by a select group of gentlemen performed as part of the famed Charity Ball show. This year’s event helped raise $1 million to support the Junior League of Houston. The annual Charity Ball is the primary source of funding for the Junior League of Houston’s Community Program and directly supports the Junior League’s mission and work in the community, which will provide approximately $2 million in trained volunteer time and direct financial support to 36 community and League-initiated programs to the Greater Houston Area this year.

Commemorating its long tradition of service, the Junior League of Houston observed this milestone with a special 90th anniversary celebration on January 22, 2015. At the event, the League awarded more than $250,000 in honor of the anniversary, including a special gift to seed a Community Health Worker component for Texas Children’s Hospital’s SuperKids PediatricMobile Clinic, a program initially funded by a $1 million grant from the League in 2000. In addition, almost 400 members committed to 90 hours of volunteer service by participating in the 90 Hours for 90 Years campaign.

The League also honored the following agencies, the recipients of the League’s 2014 – 2015 Community Assistance Grants:

Bayou City Blessings in a Backpack
Camp Aranzazu
Camp For All
Devereux Foundation
Fort Bend Family Promise
Houston Area Parkinson Society
Interface-Samaritan Counseling Center
Small Steps Nurturing Center
St. James House of Baytown
The Langham Creek Family YMCA
Volunteer Interfaith Caregivers – SW
Yellowstone Academy

The state of Texas, the city of Houston and Harris County proclaimed January 22, 2015 as The Junior League of Houston, Inc. Day.

The Junior League of Houston, Inc. annually presents the prestigious Adelaide Lovett Baker Award to a sustaining member in recognition of her exceptional service embodying the League’s commitment to “Building A Better Community.” Jan LaMaster Redford received the 2014 Adelaide Lovett Baker Award at the Junior League of Houston Sustaining Club Fall Luncheon on October 20, 2014.

Jan personifies the pillars of the League’s mission to promote voluntarism and improve the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. As an active member of the League, including serving as the 1980 – 1981 President, she became aware of many areas of need in the community and took action; often action that created programs and developed partnerships that made a difference.

Three organizations in particular were profoundly influenced by Jan’s leadership. As one of the founders of Communities in Schools, Jan dedicated herself as a social worker for over 12 years to helping at-risk children stay in school through graduation and gain the academic and emotional tools needed to achieve a successful life. Through her involvement, the Junior League and other organizations became engaged as well. ChildBuilders, an agency centered on the prevention of child abuse, promotion of healthy teenage relationships and instruction in parenting skills, is another organization that benefitted from Jan’s guidance. As a volunteer and board president, the organization can credit many of its achievements to Jan’s commitment. Likewise, Jan helped Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, an organization providing hope, help, support and education to improve the lives of people who have mood disorders, increase its free support groups from five to 70. As a founder, president and interim executive director, her management skills paved the way for this incredible growth.

Jan’s professional expertise grew from earning a doctorate in counseling psychology at the University of Houston, where she became Director of UH Learning Support Services. Among her responsibilities were counseling students who experienced mental health difficulties and leading seminars on stress management, test anxiety, memory improvement and critical thinking.

The Volunteer Center, the Child Abuse Prevention Council, Houston Achievement Place and the Parish School have all profited from our honoree’s expertise. Not content to confine her talents to Houston, Jan regularly travels over 600 miles to participate on the board of Friends of Big Bend National Park. Nancy Powell Moore, one of her successors as Junior League President, recently invited her to become a Trustee of the Powell Foundation.

Jan LaMaster Redford is a gift to the Junior League, the Houston community and to her growing family. She is a loving wife, mother and grandmother of twelve – her finest accomplishment of all.

The full line specialty store showcased pieces from designer collections such as AG Phillips, Alice + Olivia, Badgley Mischka, Black Halo, Elizabeth and James, Herve Leger, Parker, and Tadashi. Leading the helm of this year’s event were League President Elizabeth Love, Development Vice President Tanya Leiber, Tea Room Director Josie Morgan and Special Events Chairman Bethany Buchanan.

The Junior League Ballroom was filled with hundreds of excited guests at the sold out lunch and dinner events. Over the years, guests have come to expect surprises and this Opening Style Show was no exception. This year, guests seated along the runway enjoyed front row views and swag bags filled with treats from Goldenthread Jewelry, Briargrove Animal Clinic, Jouer Cosmetics, Katie & Co, Mattress Firm, Paisley House, Petite Sweets, Natural Pawz, Sam & Lilli, Tenenbaum & Co and Vanity Lounge. In addition, every guest received a $25 voucher from TOOTSIES. Members of the League’s leadership also wore jewelry from Tenebaum & Co, the League’s Presenting Jeweler Sponsor, while enjoying the show. League President, Elizabeth Love, highlighted the League’s nine decades of service to the Houston community which began in 1925 when 12 visionary women came together to form a luncheon club that raised funds to establish a well-baby clinic that now is the Junior League Health Care Clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital.