JLGHC League Log & Annual Report Spring/Summer 2025
UPCOMING 2025 EVENTS
SEPTEMBER 2, 2025
Fall Cohort Membership Applications close
DECEMBER 13, 2025
Charity Ball - at the Ramsey Conference Center
MARCH 28, 2026
Battle of the Brunches
PRESIDENT ’S MESSAGE
A message from President Ashley Davis
SUSTAINER DIRECTOR MESSAGE
A message from Debbie Lawson Davis
BY THE NUMBERS
Membership and Fundraising numbers
DIAPER BANK
The Diaper Bank of North Georgia continues to grow
DONE IN A DAY
The Done In A Day (DIAD) outreach program is the perfect opportunity to give back to the community with an act of service
FEEDING OUR FUTURE, SIGNATURE GRANT, LITERACY FOR HALL AND THE READING CREW
SPRING/SUMMER REVIEW
General Membership Meetings, Mr. Junior Leagues Jeopardy, Hosted Leadership Hall, EmpowHER: Confidence in Colour
SPRING/SUMMER REVIEW
Achievements and milestones outside of the League 01 02 04 05 06 07 08 10 13 14 16
Cheers and Cheese, Egg Your Yard, Past President’s Luncheon, May Dinner
YONAH MOUNTAIN VINEYARD PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Exclusive wine provider and sponsor for the 2025-2026 League year
NEW MEMBERS AND LEADERSHIP
MEMBER UPDATES
Message from the PRESIDENT
Dear Members and Friends of the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County,
It’s truly remarkable how quickly a year can pass. It feels as though I stepped into the role of President just days ago, yet here we are, a full year later. Time really does fly when you’re having fun- and what a fulfilling and impactful year it has been. The Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County saw challenges and victories this year, and our members, our leadership team, and our community- approached it all with patience, grace, and resilience. Our League didn’t just grow; we have truly thrived.
Throughout the year, I’ve watched with pride as our membership grew, our connections deepened, and our impact expanded. We launched new programs, exceeded fundraising and community impact goals, and laid the foundation for our next strategic plan. Most importantly, we continued to build bridges - bridges for opportunity, for service, and for the future.
The word intentional was a theme we wove into everything we did- from our programs and training to our partnerships and interactions with one another; we were purposeful in making this year one of our best yet. And when we take a moment to reflect, it’s clear that our intentional efforts paid off. One more example of that intention is the release of this, our first Annual Report- a new way we’re committing to transparency, accountability, and celebration of our collective impact.
Here are just a few highlights from what we achieved together this year:
• Created the Belle Education Fund, awarding scholarships to each of our Belle Candidates to further their education.
• Distributed 363,650 diapers through the Diaper Bank of North Georgia - an impressive 61% increase over the prior year.
• Fed 1,439 households with 60,239 pounds of food through three school food pantries: The Hub, Lyman Hall, and Sugar Hill Academy. We also proudly celebrated 15 years of partnership with the Georgia Mountain Food Bank.
• Invested $12,000 and 220 volunteer hours through our Done in a Day program, supporting nine local nonprofits with meaningful service.
Looking ahead, we’re poised for another impactful year. We’re excited to launch our new literacy initiative, Literacy for Hall, designed to promote discovery and learning through reading. Be on the lookout for ways to join The Reading Crew, who will distribute books and encourage early literacy throughout the community.
In June 2025, the Diaper Bank of North Georgia will distribute its one-millionth diaper- a major milestone in our mission to support families in need. We’ll also open the next Signature Grant cycle, awarding $75,000 in honor of our 75th anniversary in 2026. These are just a few of the exciting things on the horizon!
As I prepare to pass the gavel to our incoming 75th President, Abigail “Abby” Loggins, I do so with immense pride and optimism. Abby and the incoming leadership team bring passion, talent, and dedication to the table. I can’t wait to see how the League continues to evolve.
Thank you for the incredible honor of serving as President this past year. The future of our League is bright because of you- our members, partners, and supporters. Together, we’ve laid a strong foundation, built lasting connections, and strengthened our community.
Let’s keep building bridges - together and intentionally.
With gratitude,
Ashley Davis
ATTENTION SUSTAINERS!
Dear Sustainers of the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County,
Let’s Reinstate 75 Sustainers for $75.00 in our 75th year!
Calling all Sustainers who may have let their dues lapse. We want and need you to return to your League. Within the pages of this League Log, you will see that the League has regained our strength and importance after the rough patch Covid dealt us.
All inactive Sustainers have the opportunity to be reinstated now with no reinstatement fee, simply pay your $75 dues to show your support for this vital organization in our community addressing the needs of women and children.
We all remember the importance of our League friendships over the years, please help us achieve this goal of 75 reinstated sustainers in our 75th year. We really need your support and pledge to keep you informed of events and initiatives. We will have at least 2 Sustainer activities during the year and a special end of year celebration in May 2026.
Please mail your reinstatement dues to P.O. Box 1472 Gainesville GA 30503 or drop off at 1547 Riverside Drive, credit card payments for a small fee may be made by calling the League Office 770-535-1951.
Please help us spread the word to other Sustainers…75 Sustainers for $75.00 in our 75th year.
Regards,
Debbie Lawson Davis
Debbie Lawson Davis Sustainer Director, 2024-2026, Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County
Our Mission & Vision
Our Mission:
The Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.
Who We Are:
Women around the world as catalysts for lasting community change.
Molly Pettitt Recruitment Director
Darby Shank Immediate Past President/ Nominating Director
Courtney Gillis, Holly MacNellis, & Macie Lee Reeves - Battle of the Brunches Tri-Chairs
Annalise Gregory & Devin DiMizio-Marshall - Diaper Bank Co-Chairs
Dr. Whitney McDowell-Robinson - Done in a Day Chair
Casey Abernathy - Feeding our Future Chair
Shelley Hazard - Director of League Operations
Ashley Davis President Abby Loggins President-Elect
Bri Terry Treasurer
Leah Stewart Secretary
Kaitlyn Vann Community Outreach Director
Debbie Lawson Davis Sustainer Director
Margaret Christie Facilities Director
Haley Barrett Fund Development Director
Lauren Hunter Communications Director
Build Your Own Experience points earned by membership
9,213
1,100
Books Donated During Pre-K Week to all Hall County Pre-Ks that receive CAPS Childcare and Parents Services (CAPS) funding. The CAPS program assists low-income families with the cost of childcare.
$309,881.85
$6,545.06
DIAPER BANK
654
Hours clocked in the Diaper Bank by Junior League Members
61%
MORE DIAPERS DISTRIBUTED
210,000
130,000+
Our Partner Agencies:
• Family Promise of Hall County
• SISU
• CASA
• My Sister’s Place
• Hope Not Abandoned
• Goshen Valley Peace and Purpose
• The Place of Forsyth County
• Tree House
• Gateway
• United Way
• Peach State Health Plan
• Rooted Interiors
Diapers collected v. distributed:
210,000 vs 363,650
Diapers donated Diapers distributed in the community
989,700
Lifetime total diapers donated since the creation of the Diaper Bank of North Georgia in 2018
15 Years of Partnership with Georgia Mountain Food Bank
FEEDING OUR FUTURE
The Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County’s Signature Grant is a grant program awarded every five years to a local nonprofit organization. The purpose of the Signature Grant is to support a project or program that aligns with the League’s mission of improving the community and promoting the well-being of children and families. Applications will open in the fall of 2025.
In honor of the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County’s 75th anniversary, $75,000 will be issued in 2026.
Objectives:
Launching June 2025
• Encouraging literacy for all by promoting early reading through (1) interactive activities, (2) book distribution and educational resources, and (3) championing local literacy programs and the fostering of these skills.
• United Way of Hall County’s Community Game Plan notes as of 2022, 45% of students in the Hall County School System and 50% in the Gainesville City School System are reading below grade level by the 3rd grade.
2025-2026 Goals:
• 3,000 Books Distributed into the Community
• 3 Character Reads
• 3 Community Events
• 1 Comprehensive Literacy Resource Guide
• 75th Anniversary Reading Challenge
LITERACY FOR HALL AND THE READING CREW
In-Home Meeting/Nonprofit Roundtable
Our first General Membership Meeting of 2025 saw the return of an old favorite: in-home meetings! Several Sustainers opened their homes to membership for an evening spent hearing from community nonprofits Some of our members even made some new feathered friends!
Mr. Junior League Jeopardy
A new addition to our General Membership Meeting lineup: Mr. Junior League Jeopardy! Several of our members’ husbands put their Junior League knowledge to the test with a Jeopardy-style game. Can you tell how it went based on the looks on their faces??
HOSTED LEADERSHIP HALL
We were thrilled to host the 2025 Leadership Hall class at the League Lodge in January. This important program educates some of our community’s leaders on everything GainesvilleHall County has to offer. While at the League Lodge, the group learned about the League’s various initiatives, as well as learned how to pack diapers!
The Junior League is all about helping women feel their best
That includes EmpowHER-ing them to look their best! Our latest EmpowHER event, Confidence in Colour, invited Cantonbased House of Colour to the League Lodge to help members find the seasonal color that suits them. The sessions included one-on-one consulting with a HOC specialist, and attendees left knowing their best colors for clothing, jewelry, and makeup!
EMPOWHER: CONFIDENCE IN COLOUR
Who DOESN’T love a hands-on cooking class?? Our Sustainer membership social, Cheers and Cheese, on February 28th delivered with a fresh mozzarella making experience. Participants learned how to make the delicious cheese with Chef Vincent Scafiti of Lake Burton. Sustainers were also invited for a diaper packing that afternoon.
In keeping with our Strategic Plan, the League introduced a new fundraiser this year. Egg Your Yard raised $3,015 to benefit our new literacy initiative The Reading Crew. This initiative will help get books into the hands of students throughout Gainesville and Hall County.
Egg Your Yard invited families in Hall County to sign up to have their yard “egged” before Easter Sunday. Plastic eggs filled with candy and treats were placed around the families’ yards by League members for them to find later. Fun was had by the hiders and the seekers!
EGG YOUR YARD
CHEERS & CHEESE
PAST PRESIDENTS’ LUNCHEON
Previous League presidents met at the Lodge on April 22 for the annual Past Presidents’ Luncheon. The event gave previous presidents an opportunity to hear from current leadership about the League’s initiatives, fundraising, and overall progress this year. This group of leading ladies has played a large role in getting the League where we are today. We are grateful for their vision, insight, and leadership!
MAY DINNER
This year’s May Dinner took place at the Quinlan Arts Center with the theme “Tying Up the League Year”. This annual event closes out the League year and gives our Provisional, Active, and Sustainer members a chance to reflect on and celebrate our achievements.
As part of the evening’s programming, members with 100 or more Build Your Own Experience points were recognized as part of the 100 Club. In addition to this recognition at the event, members also received a custom Junior League boat tote.
MAY DINNER
Sustainers who earned 10 or more points in the League year were also recognized as members of the new Perennials Club. They received a custom Perennials Club pin, modeled after the front cover of the Perennials Cookbook.
A special part of the May Dinner programming is recognizing members who have gone above and beyond in the League year with the Idalu Slack Outstanding Member Awards. There are three of these awards: Provisional Member of the Year, Active Member of the Year, and Sustainer of the Year. This year’s winners were Rebekah Welborn, Darby Shank, and Robyn Lynch.
The President of the Junior League of GainesvilleHall County also gives a Virginia Stallworth President’s Award to a member. This year’s winner was Kelly Conklin.
Special thank you to our Membership Director, Kristin Varnadore, and Membership Services Chair, Macie Lee Reeves, for a wonderful May Dinner, as well as all membership events this year!
Rebekah Welborn
Darby Shank
Robyn Lynch
Kelly Conklin
May Dinner Photo Credit: Thea DuBose, Naturally Posh Photography
The Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County (JLGHC) is proud to announce a strategic new partnership with Yonah Mountain Vineyards, naming the celebrated North Georgia winery as the exclusive wine provider and sponsor for the 2025-2026 League year.
This exciting collaboration marks a shared commitment to community, empowerment, and excellence, and includes Yonah Mountain Vineyards’ generous sponsorship of several key League initiatives:
• Exclusive Wine Provider for all official JLGHC events throughout the League year
• VIP Room Sponsor for the highly anticipated 2025 Charity Ball, JLGHC’s premier annual fundraising gala. Guests can purchase a ticket or VIP table to access the exclusive Yonah Mountain Vineyards’ VIP Room at the Charity Ball. There will be a special wine tasting and cigar bar for guests with VIP access
• Volunteer Opportunities for League members at Yonah Mountain Vineyards’ community and vineyard events
• Discounted Tickets for League members to selected Yonah-hosted experiences and special events
• Hosting of a brand-new Galentine’s “EmpowHER” Event- a celebration of women, friendship, and empowerment, debuting in February 2026 at Yonah’s stunning estate
Located at the base of iconic Yonah Mountain, the winery has built a reputation not only for award-winning wines but also for its dedication to supporting charitable causes and community initiatives throughout North Georgia.
“We are thrilled to partner with Yonah Mountain Vineyards, a brand that shares our passion for leadership, service, and community impact,” said Abby Loggins, 2025-2026 President of the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County. “This partnership adds incredible value to our members while elevating our events with a touch of local elegance and hospitality.”
Yonah Mountain Vineyards’ General Manager, Eric Miller, said: “At Yonah Mountain Vineyards, we believe that strong communities are built through service, connection, and shared experiences. Partnering with the Junior League of GainesvilleHall County allows us to support a remarkable organization of women who are making a real impact in North Georgia. We’re honored to elevate their events with our wines and hospitality, and we look forward to building something meaningful together this year.”
For more information on upcoming events or to get involved, visit www.jlghc.org or www.yonahmountainvineyards.com.
New Members for 2025-2026 League Year
Lindsay Allison
Tatiana Ayala
Baylor Aycock
Alex Azbell
Abigail Carr
Kenzlee Denton
Catherine Dutton
Ashley Dykes
Natalie Echols
Nosleivys Falcon
Charlotte Gordon
Brittany Guy
Willow Hill
McKenna Kauffman
Elizabeth Kelleher
Alicia Manley
Arianna McCarthy
Katelyn McClung
Keegan McGoldrick
Caroline Mercer
Savannah Moody
Katie Murray
Melba Payan
Wittney Pruitt
Ansley Reed
Emily Reid
Ansley Rochester
Lauren Shubert
Madison Smith
Rachel Weaver
Rebekah Welborn
Jenna Welch
Morgan Wingler
INCOMING LEADERSHIP
Congratulations to our incoming leadership for the 2025-2026 League year!
2025-2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Abby Loggins - President
Molly Pettit - President-Elect
Macie Lee Reeves - Secretary
Bri Terry - Treasurer
Abigail Carr - Communications Director
Kristin Varnadore - Community Outreach Director
Devin DiMizio-Marshall - Facilities Director
Leah Stewart - Fund Development Director
Ashley Davis - Immediate Past President/Nominating Director
Dr. Whitney McDowell-Robinson - Done In A Day Chair
Willow Hill and Karen Hill - Diaper Bank Co-Chairs
Kaitlyn Vann - Signature Grant Chair
Kelly Conklin & Margaret Christie - Literacy for Hall Co-Chairs
Membership Updates
We are proud to recognize our League members for their achievements and milestones outside of the League. Below you will find some of our members’ personal and professional accomplishments, as well as announcements for weddings and new babies!
PROFESSIONAL & PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to Sustainer Katie Crumley, for winning the 2024 Gainesville Jaycees Young Woman of the Year award! This prestigious award is given to a young woman in recognition of her community involvement and achievements.
One of the League’s Active members and several of our Sustainers were recognized with prestigious awards by the Rotary Club of Gainesville.
Pictured left to right: Lindsay Allison, Rotary Club of Gainesville’s Rotarian of the Year award; Beth Baldwin, W. Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence award; Carole Ann Daniel, Rotary Club of Gainesville’s Woman of the Year award; Christina Jones, President of the Rotary Club of Gainesville.
Ansley Reed married Ben Turner on May 17, 2025
Madison Smith married Ross Tipton on April 26,
Adeline Ruth Anne Ogles (Born January 22, 2025 to parents William and Brooke Ogles)
Grant Rhodes Lewis (Born April 9, 2025 to parents John and Ashton Lewis)
Amelia Brooke Manley (Born May 14, 2025 to parents Ethan and Alicia Manley)
