[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8332]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATING THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF INDIANAPOLIS ON ITS 95TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 23, 2017

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and 
celebrate the Junior League of Indianapolis on the occasion of its 95th 
Anniversary. JLI's primary mission is to promote voluntarism, to 
develop the leadership potential of women, and to improve the community 
through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. For 
an astounding 95 years, JLI has worked diligently to promote these 
ideals and to enrich the lives of its members and the community in 
which they reside. The people of Indiana's Fifth Congressional District 
are forever grateful for the contributions to our Hoosier community, 
and as a formerly active member and current sustaining member, it is my 
distinct privilege to honor the Junior League of Indianapolis.
  Ten Indianapolis women founded the JLI in the fall of 1921 to promote 
voluntarism throughout the city. In 1922, their first major project put 
JLI to the test. They successfully opened an Occupational Therapy 
Clinic for Riley Children's Hospital, which served Indianapolis over 
two and a half decades until 1948. Since then, the lasting impact of 
JLI's community involvement has been felt constantly throughout the 
city. Committed to preserving Indianapolis' rich history, the League 
held its headquarters in the historic French Romanesque Schnull-Rauch 
House from 1979 to 2009, and maintained the historic monument during 
their residence. Several projects like Kids in the Kitchen, Susan G. 
Komen Race for the Cure, and the Ronald McDonald House have endured 
through the years and even through a few decades. The women of the 
Junior League choose to take on our most pressing and difficult issues, 
notably in their project regarding Early Prevention of School Failure 
in Indianapolis Public Schools from 1984 to 1990. Today, education 
remains a priority, with members volunteering at Stephen Foster School, 
IPS 67. Through a three-year partnership, the Junior League in their 
Signature project, ``Partners Advancing Student Success'', will work on 
tutoring, stocking the food pantry, and more at IPS 67. JLI also holds 
annually their service event, ``Around the Community--Around the 
Clock'', an event in which members perform 95 hours of continuous 
community service.
  The League has nearly 1,000 members today dedicating over 16,000 
hours of uncompensated service each year. Through grant making, roughly 
$200,000 was invested into Indianapolis last year alone. In education, 
more than $500,000 has been invested since 2011. This year's projects 
are as charitable as ever. Tutors in Action provides program funding 
and volunteers for one on one or small group tutoring for families in 
transitional housing. The Kids in the Kitchen program provides 
nutritional information and healthy cooking techniques for families to 
combat childhood obesity.
  The Junior League of Indianapolis has proven time and time again that 
it is committed and vital to the wellbeing of our city. It serves as a 
role model for all charitable organizations like it. The focus on 
developing the potential of women in our community has served as an 
invaluable training ground for the next generation of amazingly, 
talented and generous leaders. JLI states that it seeks to be a 
catalyst for lasting change in the lives of children and families in 
our community, and it has exceeded this role for 95 years and counting. 
These selfless women and the families that support them, deserve our 
gratitude. On behalf of Indiana's Fifth Congressional District, I would 
like to congratulate this wonderful organization on 95 years of 
exemplary work within our community, and wish the JLI, and all their 
members, the best on their journey to another 95 remarkable years.

                          ____________________