March 2016

The Junior League of Houston continues a legacy of partnering with noteworthy community outreach events by participating in Dress for Success’ Send One Suit Month. During the month of March, the organizations will collect professional suits along with interview appropriate accessories, including handbags, closed-toe shoes, portfolios, and scarves. “Dress for Success Houston is grateful for our relationship with the Junior League of Houston,” said Lauren Levicki Courville, Vice President, Dress for Success Houston. “Its members provide a strong voice for us in the community, and this suit drive is just one example of its impact on our clients’ journeys to self-sufficiency. The suit is the first step, and these suit drives, especially during Send One Suit Month, provide 60% of our annual inventory for the women we serve.” The annual suit drive is part of a larger effort to empower women to develop their potential and achieve economic independence by providing them with a network of support and the development tools in order to do so.

February 2016

The Junior League hosted the 68th Annual Charity Ball, Bon Temps Ball, and raised an impressive $904,053 to fund the Junior League’s Community Program and volunteer initiatives. Each evening provided a unique twist on the sights and sounds of New Orleans, with Friday night highlighting the “Downtown Blues,” and Saturday night featuring “Uptown Jazz.” Guests were greeted by a New Orleans horns section as they arrived and were met at the door by a receiving line, including Charity Ball Chairman Amy Dunn and President Mary Margaret “Mimi” Foerster. The receiving line ended at a volunteer wearing a dress made of champagne glasses that doubled as a serving station. The cocktail hour was a chance to preview auction items, which included getaways to Costa Rica, Napa Valley, St. Thomas and a breathtaking 18k white gold and diamond disc pendant featuring 4.5 carats of diamonds on an 18kt white gold diamonds by-the-yard chain handcrafted by one of the League’s Community Partners, Tenenbaum Jewelers. The ball wound its way through the facilities with a seated dinner held in a tent that transformed the Junior League’s backyard into a place of Mardi Gras merriment. The after party took place in the Ballroom and featured an over-the-top Mardi Gras float and dueling pianos, belting out songs at the request of attendees. Each night of Bon Temps Ball highlighted New Orleans-themed bands, along with musical and variety-style acts performed by talented Junior League members as part of a bluesy dinner theater.

Since 1949, the Charity Ball has served as an opportunity to celebrate the pivotal partnerships that enable the Junior League to continue its mission of training volunteers to champion positive change in the Houston community each year. For every dollar received from its generous donors, the Junior League is able to triple its value by pairing it with trained volunteers. As a result, the Junior League will contribute more than $2 million in volunteer time and direct financial support to 38 community projects and volunteer initiatives this year.

January 2016

The Junior League of Houston, along with Recipe for Success Foundation, hosted a national Junior League initiative, Kids in the Kitchen, on Thursday, January 28 and Friday, January 29, 2016. Eighty elementary students from Sylvan Rodriguez Elementary School gathered at the Junior League to learn about the importance of healthy living. The students participated in stations highlighting nutrition, physical activity, meal preparation and dining etiquette. Recipe for Success Foundation’s Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Education Chef Instructor Paola Tello was on hand to demonstrate preparation of a nutritious, yet delicious, meal. Fourth and fifth grade students participated in a fun workout with Wayne Davis of HardCore Pilates, which further instilled the importance of aerobic activity in staying healthy. Students worked up an appetite and enjoyed lunch courtesy of the Junior League of Houston Tea Room after learning how to properly set their own place setting. Each student left with a bag stockpiled with goodies donated from Whole Foods on Voss and Post Oak, Children’s Museum of Houston and Houston Zoo. In addition, students were provided with ingredients to take home and create a meal with their families.

January 2016

Each year, the Junior League provides Community Assistance grants to worthwhile organizations that do not receive ongoing volunteer support or financial assistance through the League’s Community Program. The League’s Community Assistance Committee reviews the grant requests based on their alignment with League and board determined focus areas and conducts site visits before making recommendations for funding. When selecting recipients, the committee considers whether an agency request would address a critical or basic need, fund a pilot project or expand a significant service to the community. On January 25 the Junior League awarded over $150,000 in grants to 10 worthy organizations. The organizations being awarded this year range from youth and family focused, such as The Periwinkle Foundation, ChildBuilders, ESCAPE Family Resource Center and Texas Center for the Missing, to education based Houston A+ Challenge, and health related groups such as The Center, Interfaith CarePartners, His Grace Foundation, The Hope and Healing Center and the Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM). League funds will be used in a variety of ways including search and rescue training, mental health care services for female survivors of trauma and more. More detailed information on how each organization will utilize League funds to further support their cause is listed below.

October 2015

The Junior League of Houston, Inc. presented the Adelaide Lovett Baker Award to Francita Stuart Ulmer. The award is given annually to one sustaining member who has continued to serve and make a major broad-based impact on the community through her volunteer or professional work following her active involvement with the Junior League. As Ulmer best articulated, “The importance of the Adelaide Lovett Baker Award is the ability to remember such an accomplished woman each year in this special way. Over 90 years ago, she became one of the founders of the Junior League that has since made such significant contributions to the Houston community.” Ulmer is a sixth generation Texan and has been a dedicated and selfless servant to the Houston community for over 60 years. A graduate of Wellesley College, Ulmer was chosen to be in the History department’s first graduate studies class at Rice University and has carried her love for history and historic preservation into numerous endeavors, including the Garden Club of Houston, Alley Theatre Board, Houston Symphony Board, Junior League of Houston and more. Ulmer collaborated on the book, Houston’s Forgotten Heritage: Landscapes, Houses, Interiors 1824 – 1914, which received a Citation Award from the San Antonio Conservation Society. She was also the recipient of The Kinkaid School’s Distinguished Alumni Award and obtained a Texas State Historical Marker when she wrote the first published history of the school. She is involved in Christ Church Cathedral and the Women’s Association. Ulmer was the guest of honor at the Sustaining Club’s 2015 Fall Luncheon.

September 2015

The Junior League of Houston’s annual Opening Style Show was dressed to impress! This year, the theme, Passport to Fashion, guided guests through global trends with help from the always fabulously outfitted TOOTSIES. The Junior League of Houston provided fashionable wanderlust showcasing haute designers such as Alice and Olivia, Ralph Lauren, Elizabeth and James, Rag and Bone, Mansur Gavriel, and Jimmy Choo. Fady Armanious, Creative Director of Tootsies, excited the crowd with “Fady’s Fall Faves,” listing pastels, high waisted bottoms and fur as this season’s must-haves. Event goers enjoyed inspiring words from this year’s featured speaker, Nancy Levicki, Co-Founder and President of Dress for Success Houston, while dining on inspired international fare such as a French Salade Verte, Italian Veal Picatta, and Spanish Flan. Attendees had access to full bar service and a swag bag stuffed with impressive mementos generously donated by local favorites including TOOTSIES, Cordua Restaurants, Blow Dry Bar, DEFINE, Crave Cupcakes, Petite Sweets and more.

“The Opening Style Show serves as a perfect kickoff to the League year. The volunteer time and effort to plan this event truly exemplifies the membership’s desire to champion positive change in the community while continuing to build the League’s 16 year relationship with Dress for Success,” said President Mary Margaret “Mimi” Fraser Foerster.

The Opening Style Show supports the Junior League’s mission and work in the community, which will contribute more than $2 million in trained volunteer time and direct financial support to 38 community projects and volunteer initiatives to the Greater Houston Area this year. This year’s event raised close to $40,000.

August 2015

Chairman Tanya Merla Leiber and The Junior League of Houston’s Community Special Projects Committee carefully selected a top-notch Houston-based etiquette coach Michelle Hollander to work with partner, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, for a special inaugural luncheon focusing on dining and social graces. The event began as the attendees entered the room with each boy escorting a girl to her seat at the table and pulling out her chair. Hollander led the group in a variety of topics including social graces, dining and table manners, and writing thank-you notes. Attendees dined on a three-course meal prepared by the Tea Room starting with broccoli and cheese soup, followed by parmesan-crusted chicken topped with fresh tomatoes and basil, with a side of green beans and macaroni and cheese. The meal was punctuated by a dessert of fresh summer strawberries in a candy lace basket topped with whipped cream. Guests left the event with two hours of practical etiquette lessons as well as their own set of thank you notes prepared by League volunteers. The favors also included a colorful long-stemmed tissue paper flower, used as a centerpiece for decoration during the event, and a laminated placemat to help them with proper place settings. The League hopes to continue this event for many years and may one-day make plans to expand into different age groups and community agencies.

August 2015

The Junior League of Houston, Inc., 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, recently participated in the 10th annual Cameron Childspree, benefiting Child Advocates, Inc. on Saturday, August 15, from 6-8 a.m., in conjunction with fellow sponsors Cameron, Atwood Oceanics, Spark Energy and Target.

“We’re proud of the longstanding relationship the Junior League of Houston has established with Child Advocates and the vital role it plays to help grow this remarkable event,” said President Mary Margaret “Mimi” Fraser Foerster. “For close to 28 years, League members have worked with Child Advocates in a multitude of capacities, including as Life Books volunteers and Special Projects volunteers.”

The Junior League of Houston sponsored and assisted in the Cameron Childspree, benefiting Child Advocates, Inc., by sending over 120 volunteers to assist 625 children ages four – 18 with back-to-school shopping. Junior League volunteers served as personal shoppers to help the children select back-to-school clothes, compliments of Target, and accompanied them to an in-store breakfast party. Children also received backpacks filled with school supplies and other necessities for the new school year. The participating children, who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect, are now equipped to get the school year off to a great start.

The Cameron Childspree took place across nine Houston-area Target locations this year with Junior League volunteers represented at three of the locations: Atascocita Super Target, Pearland Super Target, and Houston Central. “Our children usually don’t have new items for the school year,” said Suzanne Ronne, Community Outreach Director for Child Advocates. “It is because of the generosity from our sponsors, like the Junior League of Houston, that we are able to help set them up for a successful start to the school year.”

This year, Junior League volunteers will continue to serve as champions of change in the community, contributing more than 65,000 hours of service through 38 community projects, including partnerships with Texas Children’s Hospital, Child Advocates, Inc., Bo’s Place, Children’s Museum of Houston, Houston Food Bank and Dress for Success Houston. The Junior League also offers one of the only free CPR certification courses in the city.

The Junior League of Houston, Inc., 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, recently announced its 2015 – 2016 Executive Committee and revealed the theme for the year, “Heart of a Champion.” The newly selected leaders bring a great deal of experience to the organization.

Incoming Executive Committee of the Junior League of Houston:

• President: Mary Margaret “Mimi” Fraser Foerster
• President-Elect: Shannon Beirne Wiesedeppe
• Community Vice President: Abigail Swalick Khatiblou
• Development Vice President: Katie Montgomery Mears
• Financial Vice President: Jennifer LeGrand Howard
• Membership Vice President: Jennifer Scheifley Roberts
• Recording Secretary: Mary Catherine Sharman Sears

The gavel was officially passed on Sunday, May 31, as the Junior League of Houston turned over its executive leadership team and Board of Directors during The President’s Tea, which was held at the West University home of 2011 – 2012 League President, Perry Ann Davis Reed. Members celebrated a successful 2014 – 2015 year, during which the Junior League of Houston celebrated its 90th anniversary and contributed over $2 million in volunteer time and direct financial support to the Houston community. Outgoing President Elizabeth Graves Love accepted an antique, hand-engraved sterling silver tray generously donated by Tenenbaum & Co. as a token of appreciation and support for her rock solid leadership over the past year.

Newly minted President Mary Margaret “Mimi” Fraser Foerster introduced her theme for the year, “Heart of a Champion,” as a representation of the Junior League’s legacy for education and empowerment. This year, Junior League volunteers will serve as champions of change in the community, contributing more than 65,000 hours of service through 38 community projects, including partnerships with Texas Children’s Hospital, Child Advocates, Inc., Bo’s Place, Children’s Museum of Houston, Houston Food Bank and Dress for Success Houston. The Junior League also offers one of the only free CPR certification courses in the city.

“After celebrating the League’s 90th anniversary, it is fitting to appreciate the members who freely give their time and energy back to the Houston community. These women embody the heart of a champion,” said President Mimi Foerster. “Each new committee member provides diverse expertise that will augment the League’s efforts to better Houston and our members during the process.”