Improving the Community

PITP

In the past few years, the Junior League of San Jose has:

  • Launched our Season of Service from Mary Harriman’s (our 1901 Junior League founder) birthday, November 17, through Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Together, our members have regularly volunteered over 25,000 hours during this time.
  • Sent many members to Leadership Conferences including AJLI Leadership and CalSPAC Spring Conference
  • During the early pandemic we launched a community effort to provide 500+ meals to transitional-age foster youth by partnering with women-owned businesses as well as volunteering countless hours in our communities ranging from making masks, to supporting schools, to delivering meals, and contributed $6,000 to Pivotal’s Emergency Assistance Fund, with many members contributing directly as well
  • Hosted our a Women’s Leadership Conversation in 2021, highlighting and learning from local women leaders
  • Hosted Racial Equity: A Conversational Experience to explore racial equity and how to be an ally and Candidly Speaking:  where people of different backgrounds join together to talk in small groups about each other’s life experiences, culture and challenges for a better understanding of one another through our similarities and our differences.
  • Granted $24,500 to our community partners: Pivotal, The Hub at Bill Wilson Center, and First Place for Youth
  • Supported $10,000 in scholarships to tranistional-age foster youth through Pivotal and Razing the Bar and created 122 college-care packages for Pivotal scholars
  • Provided $4,500 in accelerator grants to Kinship, Adoptive & Foster Parent Association (KAFPA), Women’s Achievement Network and Development Alliance (WANDA), and St. Andrew’s Residential Programs for Youth (S.T.A.R. Programs)
  • Successfully advocated for the nation’s first Basic Income pilot that will provide $1,000 per month to eligible transitional-age foster youth between 21 and 24 years of age in Santa Clara County

JLSJ has played an integral part in the development, improvement, and support of Santa Clara County.

  • The League raises money to fund its current projects and has funded grants to nonprofit agencies that help young children enter elementary school ready to learn and thrive. League members worked as trained volunteers on community projects and services. Past projects include partnering with Grail Family Services to encourage children to read and to teach parents the importance of reading. Beginning in 2013, the League partnered with Resource Area For Teachers (RAFT) to develop the Make, Build, Play program to expand children’s access to educational activities beyond the school day.
  • Since 2016, JLSJ has partnered with local non-profits in helping foster youth successfully transition out of foster care in both a funding and volunteer capacity.
  • The League is an incubator for future community leaders, providing volunteer skills through placements on in League, fundraising and community committees.
  • Along with 16 other California Junior Leagues, JLSJ actively participates in the State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) working with state legislators on specific legislation relevant to four focus areas – family support, education, health, and violence prevention.