The Junior League of Saginaw Valley completes it mission of helping women, children, and families with the financial support received through our two major fundraisers: Festival of Trees and Between the Lakes, our cookbook.  The money raised from those two projects funds our current signature project, our community programs, and our endowment fund. 

The Junior League of Saginaw Valley’s current signature project involves the Creative Spirit Center’s Facing Forward program and the mentoring of at risk teen girls.  In the 6-week program, the mentors and teens discover the “women within” by completing art projects and journaling exercises that increase self-esteem and an overall sense of personal value.  Both the mentors and the teens leave the program with a more positive self-image and the confidence to attack everyday issues with pride.

The Junior League of Saginaw Valley fundraisers also allow our members to participate in other programs to benefit the women, children, and families in our community.  The holiday party at the Bay Area Women’s Center provides a wonderful evening for victims of domestic abuse and violence.  Our organization provides a wonderful dinner, complete with a visit from Santa to bring gifts for both the children and parents.  It is a heartwarming evening that helps to ease, if only for an evening, the stress and anxiety of being without a home during the holidays.  The fundraisers also help to support the fight against childhood obesity with our “Kids in the Kitchen” campaign.  These are just two examples of many ways our members use the money raised by our fundraisers.

Finally, the Junior League of Saginaw Valley also deposits 6% of the fundraisers’ profits into our endowment fund at the Saginaw Community Foundation.  Recently, the endowment fund cleared the way for an endowed scholarship fund that will forever grant two $500 scholarships to young women in our community that are seeking a college education.

Ultimately, it is the success of our fundraisers that help to determine the impact the Junior League of Saginaw Valley can have in our community.  The Festival of Trees and Between the Lakes provide the financial backing for all of our community programs and projects.