2021 -- H 6415

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LC002969

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF RHODE ISLAND ON THE 100TH

ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING

     Introduced By: Representatives Newberry, Fenton-Fung, Casimiro, Messier, Tanzi,
Kennedy, Ranglin-Vassell, Bennett, and Felix

     Date Introduced: June 10, 2021

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Founded in 1921, the Junior League of Rhode Island, Inc., is an

organization of women "committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of

women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained

volunteers." The Junior League's purpose "is exclusively educational and charitable"; and

     WHEREAS, The Junior League welcomes all women who believe in and value its

mission. It is committed to having and promoting "inclusive environments of diverse individuals,

organizations and communities"; and

     WHEREAS, The current membership of the Junior League of Rhode Island is 152

individuals and their current community focus is "Youth Aging Out of the Foster Care System";

and

     WHEREAS, Over the last ten decades, the members of the Junior League of Rhode

Island have generously given their time, talents, and energy in support of many worthy causes.

Together, they "have contributed more than one million hours of volunteer service and over 1.5

million in fundraising dollars. These volunteer hours and dollars have a combined present-day

value of $25 million, all of which provides direct services to women, children, and struggling

families"; and

     WHEREAS, Since their founding, more than "250 nonprofit organizations have benefited

significantly from their collaboration with the Junior League of Rhode Island"; and

     WHEREAS, The total impact of the Junior League of Rhode Island to the community is

immeasurable, as they have touched the lives of many through community projects and have

trained thousands of women to become effective community and civic leaders; and

     WHEREAS, Over the last one hundred years, the Junior League of Rhode Island has

played vital roles in the success of many charitable organizations. In the 1930s, during the Great

Depression, the Junior League of Rhode Island provided much-needed aid to the Bureau for the

Handicapped, the Emergency Unemployment Committee, the Emergency Relief Fund and the

Emergency Health Fund. It also focused its energies on the arts and children's theatre, hosting a

Concert for Young People and assisting the Children's Theatre; and

     WHEREAS, During World War II, the Junior League of Rhode Island opened an

Officer's Club for Naval Officers stationed in Rhode Island. League members served as hostesses

and helped provide entertainment. The grand opening of the club was a gala affair attended by the

Governor and commanders stationed in the area, and was a rousing success, serving more than

2,000 officers of all service branches stationed in Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Since World War II, the Junior League has continued to make a difference

in Rhode Island in numerous ways. In 1951, the League established a gift shop at the Lying In

Hospital, with fifty percent of the profits going to the hospital. In 1961, the Community Arts

Committee of the Junior League of Providence partnered with RISD to create a Museum Forum

and helped to research, plan and create permanent exhibits; and

     WHEREAS, Other significant achievements of the Junior League of Rhode Island

include the restoration of Betsy Williams Cottage, and joining the community coalition that

developed the Ronald McDonald House of Providence for families of sick children. From 1999 to

2003, the League conducted Project Hope, a four-year collaboration with St. Mary's Home for

Children which raised much-needed money for mentoring, tutoring, life skills classes, and career

counseling events. The League also re-built the kitchen at St. Martha's House, and in 2002, was

honored and recognized as a St. Mary's Partner in Philanthropy for its volunteer efforts by both

St. Mary's and the Association of Fundraising Professionals; and

     WHEREAS, Since the turn of the century, the Junior League of Rhode Island advocated

for a Breast & Cervical Cancer Treatment Bill, which was ultimately codified into law. The

League also partnered with Crossroads Rhode Island to support the mobile medical van, and

donated $30,000 towards the purchase of a new respite unit. In the early 2010s, the League

partnered with Project Autism with its members providing visual aids, respite to parents,

donations towards summer camp tuition for several children, and support for the Autism Program

at the U.S. Capitol; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

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recognizes and congratulates the Junior League of Rhode Island on the joyous occasion of the

100th Anniversary of its founding; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Polly Talbott, President of the Junior League of

Rhode Island.

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