Perspectives Autumn 2021

Perspectives MAGAZINE OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF CINCINNATI

THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF CINCINNATI

WELCOMES FIFTY-FIVE NEW MEMBERS Page 7

4

Tour of Kitchens is back in homes in December

5

Family Nurturing Center New Community Partner

11

Celebrating Forty Years of ProKids

AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE

In this issue 3.

President’s Perspective

10.

Ad Hoc Committee Contributes to Impactful Progress

4.

Tour of Kitchen’s: Holiday Home Edition

11.

Saying “Yes” to Children in Foster Care: Celebrating

5.

Welcome to the Family Nurturing Center

6.

Jody’s Network: Celebrating and Supporting our Members

Forty Years of ProKids 12.

Leaving a Legacy: Spotlight on the Endowment Fund

Membership Engagement Opportunities 7.

New Members Meet and Mingle for Sunday Brunch

8.

Photo Review: Events Are Back in Person & We Are Ready!

Honoring the John and Carrie Hayden Foundation

13.

Reflecting on Three Years of Partnership with the Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank

14.

Member Milestones

Your Perspectives Team

Managing Editor Katie Ziegler

Assistant Editor Talyah Button

Writer Jenn Bakes

Writer Sarah Flohre

Writer Amber Garrett

Thank You

Writer Carrie Starts

Writer Meggan Thompson

VP Communications Sam Zehnder

The Perspectives Committee would like to extend our gratitude to the many women who volunteered their time, knowledge, opinions, and experiences to make this issue possible.

Contributors: Lauren Gonzalez, Casey Burleigh

2021-2022 JLC Leadership BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM

TARA J. MOSLEY, President

TARA J. MOSLEY, President

KATE FORTLAGE, President-Elect

KATE FORTLAGE, President-Elect

MOLLY FLANAGAN, Secretary

EMILY UEBEL, Recording Secretary

ALLISON SMITH, Treasurer

MEGAN BUSAM, VP Training & Development

JJ WALES, Presidential Advisor

PAMELA LONG, VP Membership

SARAH E. RIEGER, Past President

MYRKOL BOLDEN, VP Sustainers Council

KATIE MAY, Strategic Planning Director

​N AZLY MAMEDOVA, VP Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

SARAH HOUSEMAN, Legal Advisor

SAM ZEHNDER, VP Communications

KELLY BARBER, Nominating Chair

LESLIE TOUASSI, VP Community Impact

SARAH CLARK, At Large Member

ERICA BURNS, VP Finance

JUDY DALAMBAKIS, At Large Member

SADIE BONIFAS, VP Fund Development

SARALOU DURHAM, At Large Member

KATIE DULLE, Nominating Vice Chair

SHELLEY POFFENBERGER, At Large Member

ANDREA HENDERSON, VP Sustainer Council

MEGAN STACEY, At Large Member

2

Autumn 2021

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE Dear JLC Members and Friends, Welcome to the 102nd year of the Junior League of Cincinnati! As we engage in this new year, I am thrilled to be surrounded by so many amazing women. It’s no secret that the past year brought forth unforeseen challenges in our personal lives, for our organization, and around the world, but I am so proud to say that in spite of the unknown we have remained engaged and dedicated to serving our community. In the pages of this newsletter, you will learn more about how JLC and its members have remained dedicated to our organization and its mission, along with our community during very trying times, and how we plan to forge ahead with new focus and goals for our future!

To our New Members and Transfers we are ecstatic to have you as a part of our organization and hope that you will jump right into the thick of things and begin finding your stride.

There is so much to learn and so many ways to get involved, and every member is here to assist you in finding your path! To our 1st Year Actives, we certainly recognize that your New Member year looked vastly different from any that we’ve seen before, but I’d like to assure you that you’ve selected the right organization to make a huge impact in our community. We are here to ensure you have the tools needed to dive into the work that JLC does so well. To our Actives and Sustainers, we’re so happy to have you back and couldn’t be more pleased that you have elected to continue your support and efforts during this upcoming league year.

As so many amazing women who have come before me have stated, we are ONE LEAGUE and a mighty force when we come together to drive change in our community.

The reach of Junior League of Cincinnati is vast, and there are very few professions or organizations within Greater Cincinnati which are not touched or impacted daily by one of our members. While the reasons we may have sought JLC are different, the impact that we make on each other, and

our city is invaluable. As a training organization dedicated to doing the work and having the conversations that result in positive change, we are here to grow as leaders and to learn new skills.

There are so many amazing things ahead for our league this year including a new signature partnership, a revamped approach to technology and our GMM format, and beautiful new Columbia Center renovations. JLC has always been a safe place to explore, learn, and travel new paths. It is our duty to continue to develop the potential of our members thru our leadership and training. It’s my desire that we bring the very best of ourselves to our fellow members and our community by coming to the table at every single opportunity with a servant leader’s heart.

Each of you have the chance to help shape the next phase of the Junior League of Cincinnati, and it is my promise to you that I will be here to support you, encourage you, and work with and for you, as we strive to build a better community!

Always with Love,

Tara J. Mosley JLC President

The Junior League of Cincinnati is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

Perspectives is the magazine of the Junior League of Cincinnati, published multiple times throughout the year. Past issues and advertising rates can be found online at www.jlcincinnati.org.

For more news and events, follow us on social media.

JLCincinnati

JLCincy

JLCincy

Junior League of Cincinnati, 3500 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226 • 513.871.9339 • www.jlcincinnati.org Junior League of Cincinnati

3

Tour of Kitchens: HOLIDAY HOME EDITION By: Amber Garrett

I

t’s the most wonderful time of the year and the Tour of Kitchens is ready to serve us with the best personal flavor and design. The Junior League is looking forward to returning to this event in person again. We will gather together once again and enjoy delicious food with special friends for an outstanding cause. Festivities and joy will be all around for the 11th annual Tour of Kitchens!

This tree will be a wonderful way to involve your family and friends in supporting other local families on an individual basis during the holiday season.

This year’s Tour of Kitchens will feature homes in the eastside neighborhoods of Mariemont and Terrace Park.

In their own unique way, these quaint neighborhoods are reflective of our mission to inspire and build better The event will take place on Saturday, December 4th communities through local engagement and participation. beginning at the Columbia Center. The doors will open at Delicious appetizers and festive drinks will be provided at 10 a.m. for registration. Guests will enjoy holiday breakfast each home by culinary favorites from across the Greater bites, mimosa bar and coffee station sponsored by The Megan Cincinnati area. Each home will have its own unique holiday Stacey Group. In addition to the tour, the Junior League will design tied together with merry sentiments of the families be hosting a Holiday Market in the Auditorium. The market that reside there. These homes will be dressed in their will feature local vendors and artists from across the triholiday best, so be sure to arrive in yours to celebrate this state area, and a raffle containing special items contributed magical moment.

by Junior League members and local businesses. This will be a great time to shop for the holidays, mix and mingle, and The Tour of Kitchens has continued to be a great success review the tour routes to plan your experience for the day. during the past 10 years, raising funds to support the Junior League’s mission and community partnerships. This year’s This year’s fundraiser will also introduce our new event is guaranteed to satisfy the senses and delight the community partner, Family Nurturing Center. We will have spirit. We look forward to seeing you there! a representative at our registration site along with a Giving Tree that will offer opportunities for event attendees to provide holiday cheer to those in need.

4

Autumn 2021

Welcome to the Family Nurturing Center THE JLC’S NEXT SIGNATURE PARTNERSHIP

Dear friends, We are thrilled to be selected as the next signature partnership of the Junior League of Cincinnati. We are also deeply honored, as we know the caliber of the organizations you considered this cycle.

Before we look to the future of this partnership, I want to call your attention to our past, because we have history. In the early 1980s, Family Nurturing Center was a fledgling organization, known then as Citizens Committee Against Child Abuse. The organization wanted to add an important prevention program, but with a small budget and even smaller staff, they didn’t have the necessary resources.

Enter the Junior League of Cincinnati. JLC not only provided funding to purchase puppets, scripts and the rights to this nationally accredited program, but also supplied the manpower – or woman power, to bring it to life. Junior League volunteers served as puppeteers and went directly into the schools to equip children with the tools they needed to recognize and report child abuse.

Fast forward nearly 40 years, and that program continues today, and our partnership is renewed for even greater impact! Much has changed over the past four decades – we’ve grown from a small volunteer-based organization to a regional leader in child abuse prevention and treatment.

Over the years, we’ve added programs, locations, staff and expertise to better meet the needs of our community. But while much has changed, much has stayed the same – our commitment to providing high quality services to support children and families, our mission to end the cycle of child abuse, and our reliance on community partnerships, like yours, to share in our work.

Mission:

Ending the cycle of child abuse by promoting individual wellbeing and healthy family relationships.

We are grateful for your partnership. The financial support of $25,000 annually for the next three years is significant and will go a long way in helping us build the infrastructure needed to support stronger outcomes for local children and families. But the real gift is the passion, intellectual capital, time and talent contributed by your members. In just a short time, we’ve already gotten a glimpse of what the future of this partnership holds. Every JLC member that we have interacted with has been all-in, and has brought ideas, commitment, skills and leadership needed to make a difference.

The months and years ahead are full of opportunities.

Improving systems and infrastructure, supporting participants directly, raising funds to provide sustainable support for programs, expanding our sphere of influence and elevating the conversation about child abuse are just a few examples of the ways the JLC can help Family Nurturing Center. The need is great. The possibilities are limitless.

It’s been said that we all have a Wonder Woman inside of us, and Sarah Strohmeyer tells us how to multiply that gift: “The power of women united, I am again reminded, is an invincible thing.”

We look forward to uniting with you, and doing great things together to make our community stronger.

Sincerely,

Jane Herms, MSW Executive Director, Family Nurturing Center

Vision

Safe children, Thriving families, Nurturing communities

Guiding Principles

We help create a world where children live free of all forms of abuse and violence through a full range of prevention and treatment programs.

The entire community is needed to protect children. Family Nurturing Center is a leader in educating the community about its role in supporting a nurturing environment for all families.

Families play a critical role in promoting individual well-being and healthy relationships. Our family based services create the greatest opportunity for lasting change.

Children’s well-being is an adult responsibility. Permanent cultural change in the way a community prevents and responds to child abuse occurs by educating adults and empowering individuals. Committing time and resources to do this is an investment in a better future.

Junior League of Cincinnati

5

Jody’s Network: Celebrating and Supporting our Members By: Casey Burleigh

J

LC members support our Cincinnati community in many incredible ways. However, it is important that we support our own community within the Junior League, too.

This year, Jody’s Network will offer support in even more ways than they have in the past. Jody’s Network provides so much more than tangible support — by showing up for each other during times of celebration, bumpy roads, and possible loss — we show that we value our members as the most important part of our organization.

Volunteer Link

Request Link

“After a scary diagnosis and major surgery years ago, Jody’s Network sent flowers and a card, and shared my circumstances with JLC members who came to visit me during recovery, brought meals and provided wonderful support. I am so grateful to have had the care of our incredible organization and strong network of kind, giving hearts during my time of need. I have also enjoyed returning the favor of Jody’s Network to other members via MealTrains, sympathy or congratulatory cards and other acts of love to support them during different seasons of life.” – René Robers, member & Operations Liaison.

Please consider getting involved this year by volunteering with Jody’s Network or requesting support or celebration for a member. Some examples of outreach could include: MealTrain, daily errands, sending flowers, and writing/ mailing cards of encouragement or support.

“I am so grateful to have had the care of our incredible organization and strong network of kind, giving hearts during my time of need. I have also enjoyed returning the favor of Jody’s Network to other members” - René Robers

Membership Engagement Opportunities Tour of Kitchens - Saturday, December 4th, 2021 Holiday Party - Thursday, December 9th, 2021 Annual Meeting - Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 More information about how to register for each of these events is available on the JLC Members portal

Coffee Talk The Coffee Talk program was created to provide members a way to connect 1-on-1 with each other. The first Tuesday of each month, participants receive an email with a random assignment of someone in the league to meet up with virtually or in person for a “coffee talk.” Scan the QR code to register and receive a pairing.

6

Autumn 2021

New Members Meet and Mingle at the Columbia Center for Sunday Brunch By: Sarah L. Flohre

I

n late August, several of the fifty-five women in the 2021-2022 New Member class of the Junior League of Cincinnati gathered at the Columbia Center to enjoy brunch, to bond and to learn more about the League.

This was the first New Member event of the year, and a welcome contrast to last year, when COVID-19 kept members from gathering at the Columbia Center until the end of the year. New Members engaged in small group discussions and learned from many speakers across the league, including Holly Dahmus (First Year Active), Rachel Maley (Active), Melissa Barclay (Senior Active), and Martha Steier (Sustainer). President Tara Mosely and VP of Communications, Sam Zehnder, also spoke to the eager attendees. Erika McShay, New Member Co-Chair, shared that members were engaged throughout the event and that the energy in the room was high.

After hearing from the speakers, New Members broke up into their small groups to enjoy boxed brunches and ice breakers – including trying to guess films made in Cincinnati in the last five years (Hint: one of these movies is about an infamous serial killer; another stars an actress who had a major role in the Lord of the Rings trilogy).Each New Member

has been assigned to a small group of seven to eight women with a Junior League advisor. New Members were able to spend time getting to know each other and share their hopes for the upcoming year.

The 2021-2022 New Member class was recruited during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person events were not possible. Despite planning for lower numbers, the Recruitment Committee’s mix of Zoom sessions, one-onone calls, and a handwritten postcard campaign expanded the reach of the Junior League - resulting in this year’s vibrant and large new member class.

New members will be meeting throughout the year as a group each month and have a roster of events planned to help them grow in the League. These community-focused activities include a poverty simulation with St. Vincent de Paul, the annual New Member bus tour of the Cincinnati area, and a New Member holiday party. If you are interested in supporting the New Member Co-Chairs and Vice Chairs by welcoming these women or through planning events for the New Member class this year, please email newmembers@jlcincinnati.org.

WELCOME TO OUR 2021-2022 NEW MEMBER CLASS!

JENIFFER ABDULLAH KATIE ARENDT MEGAN BIERER ERICA BOCK STEPHANIE BRENNAN NINA BRILLHART LESLI BROWER EMILY BRYANT SARAH CLARK GRACE DANIS ADESUWA EKUNWE MOLLY ELLIS BROOKE EVANS TRACI GARCIA

BRITTANY GARDNER MEREDITH GOEBEL MARY HARSH CASSIDY HEMM KAREN HILTON HALLE HOMAN MADELEINE HOOD ELIZABETH JANESS SARAH JANESS JAYNE JOHNSTON KATIE KALIS MEGHAN LEWIS CINDY LIANG JENNIFER LINDEMAN

DANIELLE LINOWES RACHEL MARKLE ELIZABETH MASON JENNY MAUCH EMMA MCAVOY MOLLY MCMANUS EMILY MEEK CHRISTEN MORRISON JACQUELINE MURPHY EMMA NIES AIMEE PAXTON SAMANTHA PEASE ALI PUCKETT REBECCA RESTREPO

HANNAH RICH KAYLEIGH ROHRER MADELEINE RUSSELL LEIGH SCHLECHT LAUREN SHOKER JUDY SIMPSON ANNAKATE SPOTTS JESSICA STARK STEPHANIE TILLMAN NICOLE TRUMAN EILEEN WATKINS GWEN WHITE ERICA ZARETSKY Junior League of Cincinnati

7

EVENTS ARE BACK IN PERSON & WE ARE READY! 101st Annual Meeting JLC Members celebrated the closing of the 2020-2021 year while looking forward to the next by recognizing our graduating class of New Members, welcoming incoming leadership, honoring annual award recipients, and reviewing important updates from our Program Development team.

New Member Brunch & Orientation New Members met for a delicious brunch and bubbly mimosas at the New Member Brunch & Orientation. The event gave New Members an overview of the League and an occasion to meet fellow New Members. The President, as well as members from all levels of the League, spoke to New Members about their League experiences.

September GMM Members were welcomed back for the JLC’s 102nd year by President Tara Mosley with encouraging words about the Columbia Center renovation. Tara welcomed the New Members and our partner The Family Nurturing Center.

The Program Acceleration Committee introduced Jane Herms, Executive Director at Family Nurturing Center.

Members voted on a new organizational structure for the league.

Sustainers September Meeting The Junior League Gardeners kicked off their year in Indian Hill at the home of Marsha Lindner. She has made gardening her passion and is specializing in dahlias. It was a drizzly day, but made bright with all the color around her courtyard. She showed them the waddle wall she had built herself out of sticks and vines, see Darci Beattie and Laura Pease standing in front of it. We finished by having lunch in her barn, complete with tablecloths!

8

Autumn 2021

CandO at The Children’s Home of Cincinnati The Children’s Home of Cincinnati put on a fantastic event to recognize their “Every Child Succeeds” preschool program graduates. Our volunteers took pictures, made and passed out gift bags with supplies donated by the league, and helped to celebrate children and families.

October GMM League members had a special opportunity to learn from three guest speakers; Dr. David Childs, Dr. Kimberly Haverkos & Dr. Brittany Mention.

The meeting was primarily focused on the topic of Critical Race Theory and its current impact. Members broke into small groups to discuss race and personal experiences before coming back together as a group to wrap up with a discussion on empathy.

CandO at Family Nurturing Center The CandO Committee provided our first of many volunteer opportunities at Family Nurturing Center. Volunteers helped clean the facility and created a festive fall banner full of motivational quotes.

CandO Saturday Hoops Volunteers helped out with the Saturday Hoops’ 18th Annual Dribblethon at Ziegler Park in Over-the-Rhine. It was a great family-friendly event!

Sustainers Wine Down at Unwind The Sustainers have been gathering this summer and Fall at Unwind in Hyde Park for a Final Friday “Wine Down”.

Junior League Gardeners at High Grains The Junior League Gardeners toured the HighGrains Brewing Co. in Silverton.

Through their partnership with One Tree Planted, they are using part of their proceeds to help plant new trees. Owner, Matthew Udder, told them about the growing and harvesting of locally grown hops from Perch Farm and they enjoyed a tasting.

Junior League of Cincinnati

9

Ad Hoc Committee Contributes to Impactful Progress

By Meggan Thompson

I

mproving engagement, role manageability and overall satisfaction at the leadership level was determined an important action area by our Board of Directors. In early January 2021, an Ad Hoc committee – which became known as the Leadership Structure Ad Hoc - was formed to discuss this topic. The committee established four goals they wanted to achieve: to enable strategic, longer-term planning for our organization, improve satisfaction and engagement at the leadership level, increase manageability of leadership roles, and to facilitate better collaboration between leadership.

After almost three quarters of a year of extensive research, the committee proposed amendments at the September 2021 General Membership Meeting. The following changes were approved: creating a stronger strategic and annual planning process; separating JLC Policies and Procedures so that The Policies would be governed by the Board and the Procedures would be governed by the EMT; and forming a new Core Leadership Team. Kate Fortlage, President Elect, and a member of the Ad Hoc Committee said, “Truly, this was one of my favorite committees I’ve participated in and cannot wait to see the plan in action next year because I believe it is really positive for our organization.”

10

Autumn 2021

The Core Leadership Team will be made up of the President, President Elect, Managing Director and two new roles of Executive Vice President (EVP) and Executive Vice President Elect (EVPE). The EVP and EVPE will support the day-today operations of the Junior League of Cincinnati and will preside over the meetings of the Executive Management Team.

These changes are intended to allow us to divide leadership responsibilities between governance (the Board) and management teams (the EMT). Because of this division of responsibilities, the changes should allow our organization to dedicate more time to longer-term strategic planning and enable us to have a stronger focus on helping our Cincinnati community.

This investment in the League by way of thorough selfassessment and commitment to research demonstrates the continual advancement of our organization. Fall leadership applications for the 2022 year became available in midSeptember, including three of the new Core Leadership Team roles as well as a board position with our new community partner, The Family Nurturing Center.

Saying “Yes” to Children in Foster Care CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS OF PROKIDS By: Sarah L. Flohre

F

orty years ago, ProKids was started to advocate for the “The Junior League – they were the first people to say ‘yes’ to then four thousand children in the child welfare system our kids,” writes Tracy Cook, current Executive Director of in Hamilton County. Frustrated with the number of children ProKids. “Without them coming forward we may never have needing homes and the length of time launched and been able to grow for a child might stay in foster care in Ohio the last four decades. Junior League (at the time ProKids was founded, members were also our first class of “The Junior League - they “the average length of temporary CASA volunteers and we’re proud to were the first to say ‘yes’ to placement was six years,”) Darlene be a part of Junior League history.”

Kamine of the Young Lawyer’s Section our kids, without them coming And grown they have – in 2020 alone, of the Cincinnati Bar Association and forward we may never have ProKids served over one thousand Judge David Grossman of Hamilton launched and been able to grow youth in foster care in Hamilton County Juvenile Court designed the County (Cite: ProKids website). for the last four decades.” project that would become ProKids Congratulations to ProKids on four and approached the Junior League decades of service, and stay tuned of Cincinnati for support. ProKids for more information on how you assigns a trained volunteer (a Court Appointed Special can volunteer with ProKids as a CASA as they are planning Advocate or “CASA”) to children who have been adjudicated to host a virtual session for interested Junior Leaguers in dependent, abused or neglected. The Junior League the near future. You can also find out more information on contributed $75,000 and agreed to provide the first class their website at www.prokids.org. of volunteers1.

1

Cite: ProKids: A Project of the Junior League of Cincinnati

Junior League of Cincinnati

11

Honoring The John and Carrie Hayden Family Foundation By: Carrie M. Starts

I

t is the pleasure of the Junior League of Cincinnati to highlight and honor one of its biggest supporters and its contribution to the Centennial Campaign, The John and Carrie Hayden Family Foundation. When Carrie Hayden was approached regarding the Centennial Campaign, she and her daughter, JLC member Katie Hayden Gamber, jointly made the decision to support the campaign on behalf of the foundation.

There was no hesitation after considering the impact the JLC has made on Carrie, Katie and the community. Carrie joined the JLC when she was twenty-three years old. She made lifelong friends through the JLC, who have supported her through all of her life’s ups and downs. Carrie loves how the JLC looks for a need in the community and fills that need through it’s projects. She supports the JLC because of what it has meant to her life and because it gives women the opportunity to learn how to become a volunteer leader in the community. The JLC propelled her into the role of Board Chair of the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, and she attributes her success in this role to the skills she learned in the Junior League of Cincinnati. Carrie strongly believes the JLC “makes things possible that might not otherwise be so.” The JLC is so thankful for the ongoing support of Carrie, Katie and the foundation; their generosity will support the four pillars of the Centennial Campaign, including training, the Columbia Center, the endowment fund and our projects.

John and Carrie Hayden

Leaving a Legacy

SPOTLIGHT ON THE JLC ENDOWMENT TRUST FUND By: Lauren Gonzalez

T

hroughout the years, the Junior League of Cincinnati’s membership has funded the JLC Endowment Trust Fund (the “Endowment”) through gifts of all sizes, as well as a dedicated Endowment Campaign in 2006. Currently, the Endowment is valued at approximately $2,130,000, of which approximately $1,980,000 is unrestricted, meaning these funds can be used for any Junior League Cincinnati need.

It is carefully overseen by eight current Trustees and four ex-officio members. Each year, the Endowment makes an annual distribution to the JLC of approximately 4% of the average value of the unrestricted principal of the trust.

Since the Endowment was established in 1994, nearly $600,000 has been distributed.

12

Autumn 2021

The importance of donating to the Endowment is that any funds donated are invested—and the larger the Endowment grows, the larger the contributions to help fund the JLC each year. Very tangible uses of these funds have included improvements to the JLC’s parking lot and updates to the JLC’s technology.

The Centennial Campaign in 2019 aimed to add $300,000 in additional funds to the Endowment in order to ensure the JLC’s enduring legacy; this is achieved by strengthening the organization’s financial foundation, helping us to maintain our commitment to our mission, and providing a dependable supplement to the JLC’s annual operating budget.

Reflecting on Three Years of Partnership with the Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank By: Sarah L. Flohre

I

n 2014, Megan Fischer came across an article on diaper banks. Pregnant with her second child at the time, Megan had assumed that if a lower income family needed diapers, they would be able to get them; but the article proved that this was not true. She decided she wanted to get involved in diaper bank work in the Greater Cincinnati area – and started looking for a diaper bank to volunteer with. There were none.

The lack of a diaper bank was not due to a lack of need in the community. An estimated one in three United States families experience diaper need, a problem that has been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic1. In addition to diapers, these banks may also meet other unmet material basic needs, such as period kits and adult incontinence supplies.

NE

AN

CH

LI

Megan set out to meet this need, supported by family and friends when she applied to the Junior League’s Program Development RFP process in 2017, Sweet Cheeks had THE BOTT OM NG already distributed 400,000 diapers and was reaching GI 1,100 children each month. Unfortunately, at the time this “equates to less than 7% of children in the Greater Cincinnati area experiencing diaper need. Dramatic growth I A P Ediaper R B A N Kneed and provide a stable is necessary to wipe Dout R foundation for children F A to grow,” N E per their application for MILIES IN partnership.

FO

ED

Sweet Cheeks

Enter the Junior League, which selected Sweet Cheeks as Diapers are a basic need for children in the U.S., MISSION: its community partner for Program Acceleration in 2017. as essential to their health and well-being as As part of the the JLC committed to provide to eliminate the partnership, food, shelter and a parent's love. Yet 1 in 3 $25,000 Cheeks annually over clean thediapers. next three existenceto of Sweet families struggle to afford enough years, in addition to volunteer hours.

Reflecting on the Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank partners with social diaper need in service agencies to provide free diapers to Junior League’s contributions to Sweet Cheeks, Megan our community low-income families “army while raising shared that the Junior League’s of awareness womenofwho are basic health needenergy for diapers.and People say smart, talented andthe ready to give enthusiasm,” diaper need will disappear when pigs fly. We say provided support to Sweet Cheeks that proves “hard to welcome to Cincinnati: where pigs fly, we put quantify.” chili on our spaghetti, and diaper need is being eliminated, one baby atwith a time.Sweet Cheeks, the During its three-year partnership

THE FACTS ARE STAGGERING

1 in 3

families in America struggles to afford diapers for their children.

Over 16,000 children in the Greater Cincinnati area do not have enough clean diapers.

JLC’s work has included creating potty training toolkits, supporting Sweet Cheeks in participating in the National Diaper Network Conference, planning and volunteering at fundraising events including a “Bottoms Up for Babies” happy hour, holding diaper drives, and organizing and leading diaper wrapping volunteer shifts. Junior League women have also worked with Sweet Cheeks to raise awareness of diaper need across Ohio. Last March, Junior Leaguers participated in National Diaper Network Bank lobby days, and met with members of Senator Sherrod Brown and Senator Brad Wenstrup’s staff; the team also had a chance to speak directly with Senator Steve Chabot about diaper need2.

Sweet Cheeks has seen the “dramatic growth” realized that they hoped for when Sweet Cheeks applied to partner with the Junior League of Cincinnati. Since 2017, Sweet Cheeks has grown from distributing 75,000 to 200,00 diapers monthly; from partnering with twenty-two agencies to fifty-eight HOW DOESagencies; LACK OF and in 2020 distributed almost 2.3 million diapers (compared to 762,445 in 2018), in addition to DIAPERS AFFECT providing 550,000 period supply kits and hundreds of FAMILIESover & CHILDREN? potty training kits to families in the community.

Not enough diapers has many negative “I feel it was a blessing to In 2020,forSweet Cheeks Bank so distributed almost outcomes children and families, Diaperreceive many diapers.

2.3 million and provided over 550,000 period including a lack ofdiapers physical, mental, I live on a tight budget emotional, kits and educational well-being. supply and hundreds of potty training kits to and free diapers helped families in the community. me be able to buy more Although JLC’s partnership term with Sweet Cheeks Mostthe immediately, an inadequate supply food this month.” of diapers forces many parents to leave

has been completed, we remain a strong member of the their child in a soiled diaper longer than — Cradle Cincinnati Connections Client is appropriate. family.

This frequentlyElisha leads to Sweet Cheeks Herrmann is a Sweet Cheeks diaper rash, and may cause staph and board member and current chair of the Facilities, Planning urinary tract infections. & Operations Committee. Morgan Eberlea single serves as a "Just became committee member on they the Advocacy & Policy Committee.

When parents run out of diapers, father so these diapers forced to withdraw to their children JLC willarecontinue offer CandO volunteer opportunities are a blessing. So happy I from child care. Without proper child with Sweet Cheeks. can signcame up totovolunteer a future care, parents cannot workYou to support the pantryat today." their families and cannot attend the diaper wrapping via the calendar on the Digital Cheetah — Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank Client schooling that will help them provide a memberfirmhomepage. economic base for their family.

WHAT CAN I DO?

22%

of all children under five years of age in the US live in poverty

34%

of families surveyed had cut back on basics such as food, utilities or child care in order to purchase diapers for their child

Donate Today: Your generous donations allow us to buy 2-3x more diapers through our nonprofit partnerships. sweetcheeksdiaperbank.org/ take-action/fund-ourmission

Follow Us: Since beginning distribution in April 2016, Sweet Cheeks has donated over

7 million diapers

1 2

WIC & Food Stamps do NOT cover diapers

Volunteer:

Learn More:

Participate in diaper wrapping, order filling, and inventory sorting.

Our website has more information about diaper need in our community.

sweetcheeksdiaperbank.org/ take-action/volunteer

sweetcheeksdiaperbank.org

Contact Us:

513-402-1450 sweetcheeksdiaperscincy 1400 State Ave Cincinnati, OH 45204 sweetcheeksdiaperscincy info@sweetcheeksdiaperbank.org @SCDBCincy SweetcheeksdiaperbanksOrg

washingtonpost.com/business/2021/03/01/diaper-banks-pandemic-poverty sweetcheeksdiaperbank.org/who-we-are/our-corporate-partners/our-jlc-partnership

Junior League of Cincinnati

13

MEMBER MILESTONES

Lisa Nolan and René Robers

Lisa Nolan, Executive Director of Dress for Success Cincinnati, and René Robers, Senior Manager of eCommerce for Heineken USA, were named to the Cincinnati Business Courier’s 2021 Forty Under 40 class.

Sarah Pharr

Alicia Taylor

Sarah, JP and big sister, Caroline welcomed Molly Rixey Pharr to the family on August 16, 2021!

Alicia Taylor and James Wallace were engaged to be married in Chicago, IL on August 21, 2021.

Kimberly Perros

Lauren Christine Gonzalez

Kimberly and husband Anthony welcomed their second child, Margaret Grace Perros, on May 21, 2021. Charlie is loving his new role as big brother!

Lauren transitioned from Dinsmore & Shohl LLP to top Silicon Valley tech law firm Fenwick & West LLP August 2021.

Lauren is an associate in the mergers and acquisitions group, buying and selling wellknown companies.

Submit Your Milestone

Morgan Busam

Katie May

Lauren Shoker

Morgan Busam and Brian Thomas were married on September 4, 2021.

Katie May (Blank) married Sam May on October 2, 2021 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Alexander and Lauren Shoker welcomed their son, Jonathan Alexander Shoker on September 2, 2021.

Nikki Shenk

Emily Bergmann

Ellie Kelly

Nikki & Andy’s hearts (and hands!) are full with the arrival of Emanuel & Xavier, born March 13, 2021. Henry is a happy big brother.

Emily Uebel

In July, Emily passed the exam to become a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). She continues to work as a registered dietitian and outpatient education program coordinator at The Christ Hospital.

Emily Bergmann was promoted at General Mills to Brand Experience Assistant Manager, Shopper Marketing.

Deanna Hillard

Deanna has recently started as Program Officer at Interact for Health. Interact is a health foundation that promotes healthy living for people in Greater Cincinnati through grants, education, and policy.

Ellie and husband Julian welcomed their first baby, Carolina Botella, on April 22, 2021.

Chelsea Jones

Chelsea Zesch and Joshua Jones were married on September 18, 2021 at the Meshewa House at Turner Farm.

The couple mini-mooned in Sedona, Arizona and are planning on an eventual, more extensive honeymoon in Italy in April. Photo by: Claire and Barrett

We love to celebrate you! Share your promotions, retirements, awards & nominations, new babies, engagements, weddings, and other milestones! Submit your milestone by logging into the JLC member site online at members.jlcincinnati.org.

14

Autumn 2021

WORK WITH AN EXPERT

OUR SERVICE Our

Advisors

ensure

you

immersive and

we

trip

a

true

only

get

experience.

ensure

logistics the

do

not

along if

that the

anything

deep

No

does way

one

off

into

value,

not

and

goes

dive

great

wants

a

happen!

be

your

every

but

you

trip

also

they

run-of-the-mill We

main

will

handle

point

plan

receive

of

a

to

truly

vacation, all

contact

of

the

during

plan!

ABOUT US Byrd

Bergeron,

award-winning Each that

one you

travels

a

member

travel

specializes are

take

getting

of

the

agency in

a

truly

League,

with

over

different expert

owns

20

area

and

Advisors of

advice

no

the

operates on

world

matter

the to

this

team. ensure

where

your

you!

byrd@travelbyrds.com

www.travelbyrds.com

504-358-8982

Junior League of Cincinnati

15