Cooking and serving

A lot of people know that the Junior League publishes some mighty fine cookbooks. But they may not realize the money raised from those cookbooks is used to serve local communities.

"Our mission is to improve the lives of women and children in our community," said Pearl Wright, a past president of the Junior League of Salt Lake City, which is celebrating more than 75 years of service. "And, we also do social things because most people don't want to join an organization that doesn't have a social aspect to it."

The first Junior League was founded in 1901 in New York City by Mary Harriman, daughter of wealthy railroad executive Edward H. Harriman. The group's first project was a settlement house for the city's poor.

"She was a socialite who saw that people needed help, and she motivated her personal friends to go out and help with her," said Wright.

Other communities followed suit. In Utah, a group began as the Salt Lake Junior Aid in 1931, with Helen Hotchkin Means as its first president. Today it has about 600 members, according to current president Missy Greis.

A few of its many service projects through the decades include the YWCA (1930s); the Traveler's Aid Society (1940s); Hearing and Speech Foundation (1950s); Commmunity Mental Health Center (1960s); Rape Recovery Center (1970s); Hansen Planetarium (1980s); Utah AIDS Foundation (1990s); and Community Nursing Services (2000s).

"We have made a lasting impact in all areas that affect quality of life issues in the community," said Kimberly Thomas of the group's public relations committee. "A few of the projects initiated by the League either wholly or in cooperation with others include the formation of KUED, Wheeler Farm, Ronald McDonald House and Freedom Garden at Volunteers of America Utah's Center for Women and Children."

As a side benefit, members gain skills in leadership, finances, public relations, grant-writing, fund-raising, event-organization and so on.

"The idea was that you were expected to use this training in Junior League as a springboard for other service in the community, so you had to resign from the group at age 40," said Wright. "But now the age-40 deadline has been removed. However, numerous people have used the training to start their own businesses or to work in nonprofit organizations."

Friendships are another benefit. "I was new to the area and didn't know a soul, when I ran into a college friend whose wife was in it," said Susie Kirkland. "It's a great leveling field, because we all come here for different reasons, and there's no right or wrong reason to join, whether you are a lawyer or a stay-at-home mom."