The Junior League of Collin County (JLCC) is celebrating a milestone 40th anniversary, and to celebrate those 40 years, JLCC members and their families will participate in 40 projects throughout the community on one day on Saturday, March 25th. Volunteers will be found stocking food pantries, cleaning-up sites projects, delivering supplies, and much more to serve a variety of issue areas in the community such as family violence, literacy, health, hunger, homelessness, and quality of life.
The day will kick-off at JLCC Headquarters at 9:00am with a presentation by Former Texas State Senator Florence Shapiro and Former Mayor Pat Evans followed by a reception including several Plano Service League Founding Members, Collin County Mayors, Past Presidents of Plano Service League, Junior League of Plano and Junior League of Collin County, JLCC Membership, Community Advisory Board and Community Partners. The 40 project volunteers will depart from there for a day of service. for the beneficiaries listed below.
In 40 years, JLCC has contributed 750,619 volunteer hours and $7,252,726 in direct impact funds to the community through non-profit organizations serving Collin County. At the heart of the JLCC mission is volunteerism. JLCC is a group of 900 women strong committed to developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
Not only does the community benefit from their individual contributions through JLCC, the valuable leadership skills are carried throughout the members’ lives expanding the impact multifold. JLCC focuses on signature impact areas of Family Violence, Literacy, Health, Children and Youth, and Quality of Life.
The Junior League of Collin County started 40 years ago as the Plano Service League by 13 women who wanted to make changes in their community. We are now an organization of nearly 1000 women who volunteer everyday to empower our community in the areas of education, health and wellness, economic security and community services. Our mission is to train and develop women into leaders in their community and their leadership in community service improves the lives of families in Collin County every day. We are still dedicated to continuing that mission today,” stated President of the JLCC, Maria Moffatt.
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
To meet the growing needs of the Collin County area, the JLCC exercises process improvement to remain nimble to serve those in need, and to forecast the issue areas that will face Collin County in the future. JLCC offers open membership selection, welcoming women at all stages of their lives to join. A majority of the membership is employed full-time outside the home and juggles many responsibilities while still meeting the call to serve. It is critical to provide vast offerings of training to equip volunteers today. Courses include Go Govern to expose member to local government service, Facilitative Leadership and Essential Facilitation, Nonprofit Excellence Workshops and personal leadership development.
JLCC HISTORY
This organization was founded in 1976 by thirteen visionary women who fully committed themselves to improving their evolving community at a time when Plano, Texas was becoming one of the fastest growing communities in the country. They formed the Plano Service League as they recognized there were needs in the community, and they wanted to meet those needs. The Plano Service League became the Junior League of Plano, and was admitted to the Association of Junior Leagues International in February of 1984, becoming the 255th League to join AJLI.
In 2011, the Junior League of Plano adopted a new name, the Junior League of Collin County, to more accurately reflect the growing countywide membership and expanding community impact. Our League has a deep history in the Collin County community, and through the decades, our members have remained committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community. Evidence of this impactful work can be seen all across our community, as our members have engaged in community building since the earliest days of the League, and Junior League of Collin County members engage and commit to making positive change and serving as leaders across the community.
LASTING CHANGE
The Junior League of Collin County is a driving force behind the kind of initiatives that make Collin County a healthier and safer place to live. JLCC has played a key role in the establishment and continued development of these organizations:
- Juvenile Detention Center
- Volunteer Center of Collin County
- Children’s Advocacy Center
- Substance Abuse Prevention Agency of Collin County
- Hope’s Door Women’s Shelter
- Serenity High
- Plano Community Garden
- Sci-Tech Discovery Center
- Collin County Council on Family Violence
- Juvenile Mentoring Program (JuMP)
- HopeWorks
40 Anniversary Project List:
- Agape Resource & Assistance Center
- Allen Community Outreach
- ArtCentre of Plano
- Brain Injury Network of Dallas
- Boys & Girls Club Collin County
- Carter BloodCare
- Children’s Health Legacy
- Cornerstone Assistance Network of North Central Texas
- Wylie Draper Intermediate School
- Frisco Family Services ReSale
- Grace Bridge Food Bank
- Grace Bridge ReSale Store
- Grace To Change
- Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
- Heritage Farmstead Museum
- Heritage Guide of Collin County
- Hope’s Door New Beginning Center
- Hugs Café
- Kids in the Kitchen
- LifePath Services
- McKinney ISD Special Olympics
- Minis and Friends North Texas
- My Friend’s House
- My Possibilities
- North Collin County Habitat for Humanity
- Plano Garden Club
- Plano HEAD START
- Plano ISD CORE Store
- Samaritan Inn
- Special Olympics of Plano
- The Birthday Project
- The Family Place
- The Legacy Senior Communities
- The Salvation Army Plano Corps
- The Texas Pool
- The Turning Point Rape Crisis Center
- This Side Up! Family Center
- Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center Plano, Legacy Chapter
Carter BloodCare will be onsite at JLCC Headquarters Saturday, March 25th, from 8:30am – 10:30am, and then at Market Street Plano from 12noon to 4:00pm with the goal of collecting blood to save 40 lives.
In addition, collection drives are in progress to support many of the projects and donations from the community can be accepted at JLCC Headquarters on March 25th or in advance. Items include: canned food, diapers, wipes, small toiletries, individual craft activities, new women’s plain t-shirts, cotton pants, undergarments, plain canvas bags, small journals/note pads, pine sol, razors, and fleece.
