Impacting South Hampton Roads since 1925

“I wish to dedicate myself to worthwhile endeavors. There is a most remarkable group of women, led by Mary Harriman who do important work. I want to be a part of that spirit.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt, a founding member of the Junior League, on the spirit of the voluntarism.

In the early part of the 20th century, a group of talented women set out to use their time and energy to address serious social issues facing our cities. They founded the Junior League, in New York City, in 1901. The history of The Junior League is rich, filled filled with passionate women serving their communities, including a few familiar faces.

Established as the first Junior League in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the 75th League in the United States. The Junior League of Norfolk was founded by ten local women dedicated to making a difference in the community and was admitted into what is now the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) in January 1925.

Decades Posters – Centennial

  • 1925 - 1935It begins here.

    • Workshop for the Blind
    • Circulating Library established
    • Assisted at the King’s Daughters free baby clinic
    • Sponsored Lynchburg for admittance to AJLI
    • Edited and distributed the Ledger-Dispatch
    • First Children’s Play produced – Cinderella
    • Second Children’s Play produced – The Steadfast Tin Soldier
    • Third Children’s Play produced – Sleeping Beauty

  • 1935 - 1945

    • Major emphasis on wartime volunteer activities
    • Volunteered with Red Cross
    • Goodwill Industries
    • Social Service Exchange
    • Mental Hygiene Clinic
    • Began preserving the Myers House
    • Created the Civilian Defense Volunteer Office
    • League sponsored the Children’s Entertainment Bureau
    • Storytelling hour for children, “Land of Make Believe,” broadcast every Saturday
    • Professionals organize recreation program for enlisted men at Navy Y.M.C.A.
    • During “Women-at-War Week” League inaugurates a concentrated bond-selling campaign – $34,000 bonds and stamps sold
    • Child Welfare Bill, supported by four Virginia Leagues, passed by Virginia Legislature

  • 1945 - 1955

    • Free dental clinic for school children
    • Organizing the Cerebral Palsy Training Center
    • Sponsored cultural projects that brought music, theater, and special radio programs to Norfolk’s children
    • Created the Day Nursery
    • Sponsored creation of the Central Dental Clinic

  • 1955- 1965

    • Worked with the Council of Social Agencies and the Volunteer Service Bureau was organized, which became VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads
    • Sponsored the Conference on the Handicapped with the Virginia Council on Health and Medical Care
      • Created the Rehabilitation Center with an donation of $26,000
    • Provided scholarships to Old Dominion College
    • School tours and tours of the Myers House
    • The founding of the Norfolk Historic Foundation
    • Combined efforts with the Historic Foundation to restore the Willoughby-Baylor House
    • Co-sponsored Conference on the Gifted Child
    • First Azalea Ball in 1960
    • Donation to William and Mary Speech and Hearing Center for a testing booth and equipment

  • 1965 - 1975

    •    $20,000 gift to the Virginia Aquarium for the touch tank
    •    $20,000 contribution for an Art Education Director at Norfolk Museum
    •    Volunteer at Tidewater Rehabilitation Institute
    •    Norfolk Museum Docent Program, which continues as the Chrysler Museum Docent Program
    •    Work with Norfolk Symphony Association to underwrite the salary of Business-Volunteer Manager
    •    Work with Health, Welfare, Recreation Planning Council to create the Family Life Education Project
    •    Financial contribution for the development of a probation camp sponsored by the Friends of the Juvenile
    •    League name changed to Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach in 1970-1971 league year
    •    Financial support for Drug outreach Center for an educational resource library
    •    Financial support for C.W. Young Summer Camp sponsored by Friends of Juvenile Court
    •    Support for Tidewater Association for Retarded Children promotes the continuation of Area Developmental Training Centers
    •    Development of girl’s group home under auspices of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court
    •    Co-sponsored The Family Fair
    •    Co-sponsored the Symposium on Child Abuse
    •    Assisted the Tidewater Conference on the Handicapped
    •    Virginia Beach Historical Exhibit
    •    Co-Sponsored SPAC legislative packet on criminal justice presented to the General Assembly

  • 1975- 1985

    •    Tidewater on the Half Shell debut
    •    First annual “Whale of a Sale”
    •    Girls’ Group Probation Home – Lake House opened
    •    Financial support of the Metropolitan Arts Congress
    •    Co-sponsored symposium, The Arts and the Audience in Tidewater

  • 1985 - 1995

    •    Home Front Days Program
    •    Project LEAD
    •    Growing UP Great

  • 1995 - 2005

    •    A Panel of American Women
    •    Toast to Tidewater debut
    •    Virginia Zoo Project
    •    Career Clothes Closet
    •    Children’s Creative Adventure
    •    Friends of the Taylor –Whittle House
    •    Partnership with Edmarc Hospice for Children
    •    Partnership with Excellence Girls Club
    •    Partnership with For Kids, Homework and Hot Meals Program

  • 2005 - 2015

    • Kids in the Kitchen at Pembroke Mall and Mobile
    • Partnered with Whole Foods to promote healthy eating habits for children
    • Annual Blood drive with the Red Cross
    • Partnered with CHKD to promote the Milk Bank
    • Partnered with St. Mary’s Home
    • Partnered with Habitat for Humanity
    • Partnered with Park Place Child Life Center
    • Partnered with Excellence Girls Club
    • Established the annual Touch-A-Truck in 2015, a hands-on learning experience for children of South Hampton Roads.

  • 2015-2025

    • Established Little Hands, Big Difference children service day program designed to teach the benefits of voluntarism and actively involve to children age 3-12
    • Partnered with CHKD to expand the CHKD Milk Bank program to include Saturday donation days
    • Partnered with Girls on the Run to be Snack Fairs and Running buddies for elementary school girls
    • Continued partnership with Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia to sort over 50,000lbs of food and working annual  Mayflower Marathon food drive
    • Launched Little Black Dress Initiative to raise awareness and funds for period poverty
    • Funded installation of feminine hygiene product vending machine in Bayside High School
    • Continued partnership with Union Mission, Park Place Child Life Center, Ronald McDonald House and others.
    • Provided New Mom bags to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth NICU
    • Built and installed 4 Little Libraries and provided over 1600 books to Little Libraries around the region
    • Hosted professional clothing drives and collected over 2000 items to be donated to local women’s shelters
    • Hosted shoe drive and collected 2500+ shoes for Funds2Org shoe drive
    • Established Elevate to Educate program to makeover Title I elementary school. Supported four local elementary schools with over 900 volunteers providing over 5,000 hours of direct service to include:
      • Painting 100+ murals
      • Building two butterfly gardens and one outdoor classroom
      • Painting 15 outdoor basketball courts
      • Updating three teacher’s lounges
      • Building 20+ outdoor asphalt games