Junior League of Dallas

The new millennium brought with it many challenges and opportunities for growth for the JLD. To keep up with the changing needs of the League and its members, with over 70% now working outside the home, a Technology Committee was formed and trained to help the JLD expand.  In addition to many technological advances, the JLD focused efforts on branding, diversity and expanding training opportunities.

• In 2000, the JLD adopted a new tag line, "Developing women to develop communities."
• The JLD staffed and trained new committees for two new "firsts" – the Finance Advisory Committee to oversee the strategic plan of JLD finances and the Technology Committee to improve the technology planning process, website and internal information systems.
• The JLD took a significant step in maintaining its Active membership base by revising the outgoing Active member age from 45 to 49 to accommodate the changing face of our members – those who join at an older age as well as those who want to extend their volunteer service.
• In 2002, the JLD celebrated its 80th anniversary. In honor of this milestone, the JLD selected the "It's Always Something" room at the Dallas office of Gilda's Club as funding designee.
• The Dallas Historical Society recognized JLD with the Jubilee History Maker Award – the first time for an organization to be honored with this award.
• The JLD hosted the AJLI Annual Conference, which marked the 100th Anniversary of the Junior League movement in the U.S. At the Annual Conference, JLD member and Dallas civic leader Ruth Altshuler was named the 2002 Mary Harriman award recipient. This was a first for a JLD member.
• In 2003-2004, the JLD introduced three new fundraising initiatives: the reprint of the 1976 Dallas Junior League Cookbook, the return of JLD Greetings and the first annual Spring Market, which generated $130,000 for the Community Program.
• With leadership of the Beaird Agency, the JLD launched its award-winning branding campaign "If You Think" in September 2004.
• In 2005, the JLD launched Dallas Dish, our first endeavor in the cookbook business in 20 years.
• In the fall of 2005, the JLD was one of three beneficiaries of the Nordstrom NorthPark grand opening, granting the JLD approximately $75,000.
• In 2005, the JLD responded to the needs in our city due to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, with more than 200 volunteers serving at The Red Cross and The Salvation Army.
• We participated in the first-ever Crimes against Women Conference in 2006 in collaboration with the Dallas Police Department and Genesis Women's Shelter.
• In 2006-2007, the JLD celebrated its 85th anniversary year.  In addition to the $1 million and 120,000 hours of volunteer service typically given to the Dallas community each year, the League distributed $85,000 to three outstanding anniversary projects at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Parkland Hospital and the Dallas Public Library (each received $25,000), with the remaining $10,000 distributed throughout the year through the Community Outreach Committee.
• Impacting more than 22,000 students throughout the DISD, the 2007-2008 Grants for Innovative Teaching Committee awarded its largest number of grants to date, providing 268 teachers with 97 grants totaling $110,000 for the school year. The project supports excellence in teaching by awarding grants to Dallas Independent School District teachers for unique programs that are not funded by school budgets.
• Created in 2007-2008, the Junior League of Dallas Legacy Circle recognizes individuals – both members and non-members – who make a planned gift by including the JLD in their wills and estate plans. 
• In 2007, the JLD received the Volunteer Service Organization of the Year award for outstanding service as hosts of the Dallas iMedia’s Youth Channel Launch Party. 
• In August 2008, the League became the proud recipient of a $250,000 grant from the T. Boone Pickens Foundation.  The bulk of the grant funds were used to establish the League’s T. Boone Pickens Leadership Institute, which enables members to receive training on the critical social and community needs in Dallas.
• In late 2008, renovations to JLD Headquarters were completed.  Improvements included a freshly painted exterior, an updated kitchen and an refurbished Creative Arts room.  The ladies’ room received a complete facelift, and the men’s room was converted to a family restroom.  The renovation also included upgrades to the audio/visual system.  Funding for the improvements was approved by the League’s Endowment Fund.
• In 2008, a Diversity Task Force of 18 women was formed with a purpose of strengthening and improving diversity outreach to prospective members to better fill the League’s mission.
• In 2009, The Linz Award celebrated its 80th anniversary year; the award is considered the highest and most prestigious civilian honor presented to an individual or couple residing in Dallas County and is given for extraordinary service to our community at large.  For close to two decades, JLD Sustainers have organized this high-profile and inspiring event, and all proceeds benefit the JLD’s Community Service Fund. 
• In 2008, as part of its Centennial celebration, “100 Years, 100 Women,” the YWCA honored 100 women in the Dallas community with the YWCA Centennial Award. Among the honorees were 21 Sustaining members or past members of the JLD. 
• In 2009-2010, JLD is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in Dallas, with more than 5,500 members, almost 2,000 of whom are Active.  Of the Active members, 74% are employed outside the home.
• The Provisional class for the 2009-2010 year included 487 Provisional members – the largest class to date.