The Junior League of Houston, Inc., and HISD have partnered for many years to provide exciting
educational enrichment programs for HISD students. From the initiation of the Volunteers in Public Schools
(VIPS) program to “Adopt a School” to Project Apple, the Junior League has been an active participant and
leader in HISD’s creative and innovative community programs. The 2002-2003 school year was no exception!
In 2002-2003, over 170 of the League’s trained volunteers worked with elementary, middle school and
high school students from HISD schools throughout the district to provide encouragement, inspiration, cultural
development and educational enrichment through a variety of community-based programs. While the students
benefited from the special programs and fun educational opportunities, League volunteers also benefited —
seeing smiles as students tour a museum for the first time, hearing laughter as young children watch a theatrical
performance, reading life stories as students open up and share with newly formed pen pal friendships, and
watching children and their families take steps to ensure that they will proactively address family health needs.
Highlights of 2002-2003 School Year Activities:

• Cultural and Literary Programs: Junior League volunteers performed Pinocchio in the Pershing
Middle School auditorium, capturing the dreams and imaginations of over 15,000 kindergarten through third
grade students, most of whom were from HISD elementary schools. For some, it was their first opportunity to
view a live theatrical production. The League’s Pen Pal program paired over 175 fourth and fifth grade students
from Braeburn, Piney Point and Pilgrim Elementary Schools with League volunteers to correspond throughout
the school year building reading, writing and vocabulary skills.

• Fun Museum Experiences: Junior League volunteers provided educational tours and cultural
enrichment programs at four Houston-area museums for HISD students. At the Houston Museum of Natural
Science, League volunteers introduced approximately 3,000 fourth and seventh grade students to the scientific
wonders available at the museum by conducting interactive tours. In addition, League volunteers also visited
second grade students in their classrooms to present various parts of the science exhibits using specially
prepared science boxes. At the Holocaust Museum of Houston, League volunteers provided dynamic
educational tours to HISD middle and high school students to educate them about the dangers of prejudice,
hatred and violence against the backdrop of the Holocaust. At the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, volunteers
introduced thousands of third grade students to the world of art and art history through informative tours of the
exhibits. In addition, League volunteers read stories to preschoolers through first graders, including students
from the Jefferson Davis Project Grad Feeder Program, relating each story to a particular piece of artwork.
And, at The Children’s Museum of Houston, League volunteers served as positive role models to over 770
fourth-grade girls from 35 schools in at-risk areas who attended one of several special Overnight Adventures at
the museum.

• An “Out of this World” Exploration: In a collaboration with Communities in Schools, Junior League
volunteers and over 830 at-risk elementary school girls spent the night in Space Center Houston and explored
the world class facility and its scientific and technological exhibits and experiments, stimulating their interest in
science, math and aerospace.

• Staying Healthy and Happy: The SuperKids Mobile Pediatric Clinic is a collaborative effort between
the Junior League, Texas Children’s Hospital and many other community partners that served approximately
1,700 children and their siblings at Pilgrim, Piney Point, Braeburn and Cunningham Elementary Schools. The
Clinic provides well-child exams, treats minor illnesses and offers vaccinations for students at these schools and
their siblings under the age of 18 without health insurance. The goal of the SuperKids Clinic is to find a
permanent medical home for each child that it sees. In addition, the Junior League has developed an
educational health curriculum which teaches students about their nutrition and dental needs.

The Junior League of Houston, Inc. is an organization of more than 4,800 women that will donate over $1.5
million in volunteer time and direct financial support to the community this year. Since committing its first
volunteers to a well-baby clinic in 1927 that stands today as The Junior League Children’s Health Care Center
at Texas Children’s Hospital, the primary focus of the Junior League of Houston continues to be improving the
welfare of children. Throughout its 78-year history it has worked to build a better community by supporting
Houston-area programs, publishing award-winning cookbooks and a children’s book, as well as operating the
Tea Room and hosting Charity Balls to generate funds.