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Community Projects

Each year, the Junior League of Miami selects community projects for which members will devote volunteer hours and seed funding in the next Junior League year. Since the JLM's founding in 1926, more than $2.5 million has been awarded to programs throughout the community. This figure does not include the League's endowment, volunteer hours or financial support provided by individual members.

In addition, the League provides Grant support to select programs every year which address the League's focus areas but do not require volunteer support. 2008-09 Grants

To respond to mounting social challenges in our community, the Junior League of Miami is governed by a strategic plan that calls for development of our own flagship projects, as well as partnerships with other community agencies that share our focus on Families at Risk. Resources concentrate on making a significant impact within the areas of homelessness, family violence, child and women's health, early childhood education and foster care.

Learn how to apply for a Community Project or Community Grant.

Community Projects - 2008-09

All-Aboard Family Literacy

Assisting the Institute for Child and Family Health to provide mental health and prevention services, League volunteers coordinate and facilitate family literacy nights. They provide dinner and conduct storytelling and thematic activities that encourage children and caregivers to practice both verbal skills and print literacy. 

Chairs: Marcia Koo (Chair); Terra Smith (Chair-Elect)

Done In A Day

This committee provides trained volunteers in response to requests from the community agencies for short-term service by volunteers for special events. The committee ‘s primary focus is to assist in community events within the League’s focus areas of Families at Risk, Women and Children’s Health, Homelessness, Foster Care, Early Childhood Education and Family Violence.

Chair: Elena Luca (Chair); Elvira Larrain (Chair-Elect)

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Hurwit Teen Moms

Trained League volunteers will engage in hands-on mentoring of teen mothers in the Hurwit Foster Homes including sessions to teach the teen mothers parenting skills, assist those who are in school with homework, facilitate playgroups for the children and facilitate programs with a focus on the practical reality of becoming trained for the job market.

Chairs: Melissa Tolmach & Cecilia Slesnick

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Inn Transition North

The League's flagship project for the past 17 years has provided housing and resources to women and children who are victims of domestic violence as part of a public-private partnership with Miami-Dade County. Our League volunteers mentor a family and participate in regular outings with the families in residence. (History of JLM's Inn Transition)

Chair: Brooke Roberts-Webb (Chair); Shaila Silverio Patel (Chair-Elect)

Read about Inn Transition history.

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Inn Transition South

Opened in 2002 across from an elementary school, ITS is a gated complex in a residential community that includes 56 two-, three- and four-bedroom garden style apartments, a community center with a children’s library and a playground.  Miami-Dade County manages the facility and administers the support services provided to the residents to empower them to reach self-sufficiency. JLM volunteers provide life skills training and enrichment activities such as job fairs, holiday parties, back-to-school events and parenting classes. (History of JLM's Inn Transition)

Co-Chairs: Veronica Ramirez & Helen Picard

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Kathryn Menke Miller Community Service Awards

The Junior League of Miami awards college scholarships to high school senior girls for outstanding academic performance and community service. Every spring senior high school girls who demonstrated exceptional service to their community, both in and outside of school, while excelling in their academics are honored.

Chair: LaVonia Martin-Chambers

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Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired - "Little Lighthouse"

Now in its second year, this popular community project will continue to provide League volunteers to facilitate playgroups and activities to further develop the skills of the children and parents in the Blind Babies program. League volunteers will also provide social support through weekly sessions with blind and severely visually impaired children. 

Chairs: Claudia Alegrett & Gina Gardner

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Step Up to the Plate

Step Up to the Plate--our local expansion of the Association of Junior Leagues International's Kids in the Kitchen program--will be working with Girl Scouts and their families to provide education, advocacy, and hands-on training on food and their health. The project explores many issues that are strands in the web of our complex food system. Whole Foods Lifestyle Center will host most of our monthly meetings and topics include the role of advertising, community, culture, history, manufacturing and nutrition. Field trips to Publix and the Redland farming community are planned.

Chairs:  Kathleen Duran & Mara Karlinsky

The Sundari Foundation – Project Lift for the Lotus House

The Lotus House women’s shelter in Overtown, operated by the Sundari Foundation, is a newly established shelter providing transitional housing, job training and support services for homeless women.  Project Lift involves League members coordinating donations of furniture, delivery and set-up of new apartments for women transitioning from the Lotus House into homes of their own. 

Chairs:  Marcia Monserrat & Shawn Libman

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Therapy Dogs

League members will undergo testing and registration with their eligible dogs to participate in therapy sessions with children and the elderly at local hospitals, special needs centers, nursing homes and schools.

Chairs:  Nicole Brown & Tania Paredes (chair); Robin Preston (chair-elect)

Community Grants 2008-09

The Junior League of Miami will direct $41,000 into the community in 2008-09 to improve the lives of women and children in our community.

America SCORES Miami

America SCORES Miami is the local branch of the national organization America SCORES, an after school program which seeks to improve the development of youth through sports and literacy.  Partnering with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, America SCORES Miami will provide after-school programs for at-risk children using soccer, creative writing and service-learning activities to teach self-expression, teamwork and leadership skills which transfer from the field to the classroom,.  The League’s grant in the amount of $8,000 will help continue the success of the program while assisting in growth to a provide services to a wider range of students.

Sundari Foundation – Project Back to Work

The Lotus House was established by the Sundari Foundation to provide free, transitional housing and support services for women who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.    By providing free shelter, three meals a day, for up to one year, as well as access to a full continuum of resources and support services, The Lotus House offers guests the ability to achieve greater self- sufficiency and transition to alternate independent or supporting living arrangements off the streets. The League’s grant in the amount of $9,000 will support the program to fund free to low-cost day care for infants and toddlers of newly employed mothers residing at the Lotus House.

Thomas Armour Youth Ballet

TAYB provides dance training, free of charge, to over 400 dance students in four locations throughout Miami Dade County.  TAYB’s goal through its community outreach programs is to diversify the world of dance in terms of race, gender and socio-economic status and create role models for the children in the community.  The League’s grant in the amount of $9,000 will support the purchase of dance clothing and shoes, including shoes for the TAYB’s new tap dance program.

Miami Beach Police Athletic League
Helping Hands Program

Miami Beach Police Athletic League has been serving the youth from low and moderate income immigrant families in Miami Beach since 1958. The program includes hands-on activities, interaction at learning centers, structured recreational activities, and nutritional programs for the community with an emphasis on preventing homelessness and child hunger. The League’s grant in the amount of $5,000 will provide funds for emergency assistance to this community which will include funds for food, utilities and rent to eligible recipients.

Kristi House – Client Fund

Kristi House serves as the Child Advocacy Center for Miami-Dade County, charged with providing the system coordination and direct services for all child sexual abuse cases county wide.  The League’s grant in the amount of $5,000 will support assistance for victims of sexual abuse and their families for urgent, direct needs not covered by existing agencies or funding.

Voices for Children – Transitioning Youth Project Emergency Fund

Voices is a nonprofit organization incorporated in 1984 to ensure that the Guardian Ad Litem program of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit is able to serve as many abused and neglected Miami-Dade children as possible.    Voice’s request for this fund is in furtherance of its goal to support dependent teens and young adults so they can grow into good citizens and, hopefully, give back to the community someday.  The League’s grant in the amount of $5000 will be directed to financial assistance for children aging out of the foster care system for education, food clothing and other necessary living expenses.
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