Senate Resolution No. 579 BY: Senator MAYER COMMEMORATING the 75th Anniversary of the Junior League of Bronxville WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding organizations that work to promote the wellbeing of the citizens of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Junior League of Bronxville on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the Bronxville Field Club; and WHEREAS, The event will celebrate a "Mosaic of Members & Mission," highlighting the League's impact across the communities it serves in Bronxville, Eastchester, Mount Vernon, Tuckahoe, and Yonkers; and WHEREAS, The Junior League of Bronxville (JLB) has been in operation for 75 years, serving the local community through promoting literacy, health, wellness and safety for children, women, and families; it continues to hold true and strong to their educational and charitable mission: commitment to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers; since its inception, the Junior League of Bronxville has remained true to its core mission and values; and WHEREAS, Some of the Bronxville Junior League's earliest projects included sewing for the Red Cross, sponsoring a mobile library cart at Lawrence Hospital, and running regular social events for seniors; the organization has been passionate about helping children from the start, with members in the 1940s volunteering at a well-baby clinic; and WHEREAS, In the 1950s, the Junior League of Bronxville had a robust resume of service projects, including a music therapy program for children with cerebral palsy called Musical Participation; the League members sang to the children and taught them to play musical instruments; the organization also brought 1,040 children by bus from Westchester orphanages to the Eastchester High School to watch a performance of Hansel and Gretel by the Children's Theater Group; and WHEREAS, Rich in history of hosting unique service projects, new officers and members of the League hosted a luncheon at the Bronxville Field Club to support local businesses; in honor of fashion week, League members modeled dresses from two local shops: Chez Marie and the Tweed Shop; and WHEREAS, In March of 1963, the Junior League of Bronxville celebrated its 15th anniversary, boasting 300 Active and Sustainer members; these women codified their membership through community service, volunteering in civic, social, and welfare agencies; League members utilized profits from their self-run thrift store, The Penny Wise Shop in Mount Vernon, to provide free classes, such as French Language, Art Appreciation, and Creative Writing, to children who otherwise could not afford the opportunity; and WHEREAS, In the late 1970s, the Junior League of Bronxville began a partnership with the Yonkers Court Assistance Program for Abused Spouses; the program involved 50 volunteers who assisted victims of abuse in more than 850 individual cases; and WHEREAS, The JLB drafted a position statement on domestic violence which was adopted by the New York State Junior Leagues and led to the creation of the Domestic Violence Task Force; soon thereafter, the statement was also adopted by the larger AJLI; a few years after the program's inception, the JLB received the Yonkers Soroptimist Club's Women-Helping-Women Award; and WHEREAS, In 1981, Bessie Jansen pitched the idea of compassionate end-of-life care to the League; the JLB formed a Hospice Task Force led by Sandra Rueb, providing $10,000 in seed funds; Jansen Memorial Hospice joined forces with the Home Nursing Association of Westchester to provide patient care, and throughout the decade, the JLB continued their support of the Jansen Memorial Hospice, and in 1984 established an endowment fund to ensure the long-term financial success of the organization; and WHEREAS, In the 1990s, the Junior League of Bronxville founded the Bereavement Center of Westchester; the Tree House, a special program for children who are grieving the loss of a parent or sibling, was established in 1995; this was one of the first grief centers created solely for children and their families in the United States; and WHEREAS, In 1992, the JLB presented a free public lecture series spearheaded by Past President Nancy Beers-Nix which focused on relevant topics for women who were taking on greater leadership roles in their personal and professional lives; and WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that this Legislative Body acknowledges this exceptional organization and its role in improving the quality of life in its community, fully confident that it will continue to enjoy the sparkling successes it has experienced thus far; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Junior League of Bronxville; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Junior League of Bronxville.