The JLC’s Partnership With the Cincinnati Museum Center Continues With Upgrades to the Grin Up Exhibit By: Carrie M. Starts
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he Cincinnati Children’s Museum, consistently ranked in the top 10 children’s museums in the U.S., is a past project and on-going partner of the Junior League of Cincinnati, located in Cincinnati Museum Center at historic Union Terminal. The JLC is thrilled to continue our partnership with the Cincinnati Museum Center and our most recent grant gives big smiles all around. The restricted grant in the amount of $27,719 will be used solely for upgrading or maintaining the CMC’s “Inside the Grin” exhibit or for oral health educational programming, which was created through our Program Development committee project, GRIN UP. As part of the grant, we also provided the Children’s Museum with approximately forty cases of books relating to children’s oral health programming and education and a trademark for GRIN UP. The Inside the Grin Exhibit opened in the spring of 2016 and is a permanent exhibit. The exhibit allows museum patrons to step inside a giant mouth to improve their dental knowledge and learn about proper oral health. The exciting experiences in the exhibit allow children to use giant floss and a massive toothbrush to practice their brushing skills. The exhibit is modeled like a dentist office, complete with a reclining chair, child-safe dental instruments and interactive videos. The exhibit is intended to present oral health in a positive way that will ease a child’s fears and misconceptions about visiting a dentist. For more than five years, it has inspired children to care for their smiles in a healthy way. The exhibit was originally developed in partnership with the JLC as part of an initiative to address the serious issue of poor oral hygiene. Tooth decay is a leading chronic infectious disease in children, with more than 40% of children nationwide experiencing dental decay by kindergarten. This is a preventable condition and through our continued partnership in this project, we will persist in making strides in our community towards healthy smiles. To support the initiative, please visit the exhibit and continue your support of the JLC and Cincinnati Museum Center. There is nothing greater to smile about than to see how our initiatives come to life towards greater health in our community. The partnership is a classic model of the JLC’s commitment to strengthening childhood environments in our community.
JLC Celebrates Volunteer Appreciation Week By: Jenn Bakes
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olunteer Appreciation Week is recognized nationally the week of April 17, and naturally, as a volunteer organization, the JLC had a lot to celebrate! The Membership Engagement and CandO committees organized a Kick-Off Celebration event for Wednesday, April 13th at the Columbia Center to highlight our amazing volunteers, and the work they’ve put into our partnerships with different organizations throughout Cincinnati. Volunteers enjoyed pizza from Taglio, wine (of course!) and scrumptious brownie bites as they reflected on their experiences this year, sharing their stories on why they continue to volunteer, and the impact these experiences have had on them. Attendees also shared their favorite volunteer memories on a Word Wall, and even by supporting one of our past projects, Fernside, by cutting out flowers for paper flower pots to be given to families who have lost loved ones, to feel more connected to each other. Raffle and door prizes were given out, and of course, awards! The awards winners for this inaugural event included: •
Energizer Bunny Award: Samantha Evans, New Member Advisor & DEIB Committee member
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MVPs: Judy Simpson & Erica Bock, New Nember
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Outstanding Communicator: Meggan Thompson, Perspectives Committee Member
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Most Helpful: Stephanie Tillman, Active Member
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Most Reliable: Anne Miller, Nominating Committee Member
A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered on behalf of the JLC in the Cincinnati community this year. We appreciate the time and energy you continue to dedicate to our partner organizations! The intention is to grow this event and engagement every year to celebrate the work we do and one another as volunteers. Junior League of Cincinnati
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