Organized in 1948 by 30 charter members, the Junior Welfare League of Florence was developed to foster interest in the social, economic, educational, cultural and civic conditions of the Florence community, and to enable the members to serve the community as effective volunteers.
During the first forty years, the Junior Welfare League was involved in a wide variety of community services as volunteers within agencies, but also as initiators of programs when needs were identified. One of the earliest projects was the opening of a day nursery in 1949 following the Junior Welfare League's first successful fund- raiser, a follies. In addition, the Junior Welfare League has published three cookbooks - The Mixing Bowl published in 1950; One Hundred Years of Cooking in 1970; and Stir Crazy which has been on the market since 1986. We have been extremely pleased with the success of these books.
The Junior League has always supported cultural development and has contributed many hours of volunteer service to the museum, performing arts groups, and the symphony, including the annual Arts Alive Festival. The oldest continuous League's volunteer service is the Marionettes Committee. Since the early 1950's, our volunteers have produced, created and introduced Florence's kindergarten children to an enlightening performance of this classic form of art.
The Junior Welfare League grew in size and concept. League members had always wanted to be affiliated with the Association of Junior Leagues. On October 29, 1989, The Junior Welfare League of Florence was officially accepted as part of the Association of Junior Leagues International and our name was changed to The Junior League of Florence, Inc.
As we embarked on a new millennium, the 1999-2000 year saw many changes to our League. The Junior League of Florence held its inaugural Merry Marketplace, a holiday shopping extravaganza. This project raised over $30,000 for our organization's projects and programs. These funds will help support the two new projects adopted by JLF to better service the Pee Dee Area: The House of Hope Life Skills Room and ScienceSouth. The Life Skills Room will service the homeless women and children of our community and will being in the fall of 2000. The League also committed $100,000 over the next 5 years toward ScienceSouth, and interactive learning center for the Florence community. We look forward to the new and exciting challenges in our organization's future.
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Junior Welfare League of Florence Charter Members (1948)
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Mrs. J. B. Aiken, Jr.
Mrs. O. S. Aiken, Jr.
Mrs. Robert Alderman
Mrs. E. M. Allen, Jr.
Mrs. Jessie Maxwell Anderson
Mrs. John Ed Baker
Mrs. F. J. Brand
Mrs. William Campbell, Jr.
Mrs. Maitland Chase
Mrs. Gordan DeFossett
Mrs. James E. Griffin
Mrs. Ralph Hewitt
Mrs. O. Glenn Isom, Jr.
Mrs. E. Durwood Jones
Mrs. Becky Lawton
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Mrs. Marion Lucas
Mrs. James Maxwell
Mrs. Phillip Reece McCown
Mrs. David McLeod
Mrs. Howard Mueller
Mrs. James Player
Mrs. J. J. Richardson
Mrs. S. O. Russell, Jr.
Mrs. Peggy Hite Self
Mrs. Joe Shuman
Mrs. C. W. Smith
Mrs. T. B. Young, Jr.
Mrs. J. Givens Young
Mrs. Dicksie Zeigler
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