The Junior League of Austin is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women ’ s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training
2025 Impact Report:
Women Strengthening Community
Signature Programs
A Christmas Affair® (ACA) began as 30 booths in the Driskill Hotel in 1976, and the event has since grown into the largest and most anticipated JLA fundraiser In November 2024, JLA celebrated its 49th annual market, Christmas in Bloom, which had the highest net revenue of any ACA in JLA history ACA funds JLA’s mission, programs, outreach and allows us to continue our work empowering women and serving our community
3,769 3,769 party tickets sold member reinstatements for
50 A Christmas Affair® is set for Nov. 20–23, 2025. We hope to see you there!
Signature Programs
Coats for Kids (CFK) is an annual community project that collects and distributes coats to eligible children and teenagers across Central Texas. Since its inception 38 years ago, CFK has collected and distributed 1,068,742 coats! JLA gives coats to Del Valle ISD, Austin ISD, and Pflugerville ISD schools, as well as to charter schools and 50 community organizations In 2024, 5,430 dental kits donated by St David’s Foundation were distributed with coats, and 243 baby coats were distributed at H-E-B’s Feast of Sharing event
11,081 ,081
community volunteers donated 5,194 hours of service
33,607 33,607
coats collected for children in need, 2 6k more than the previous year
1185 85
schoolsthroughouttheAustin areareceivedcoats
With my new coat, I can go outside and play in the park and be warm. “ “
Signature Pro
The Kids In Cool Shoes (KICS) program is an annual community project designed to provide a new pair of athletic sneakers for identified grades in Austin ISD Title I elementary schools. During the celebratory annual KIC-Off Day, volunteers fit the children into their new shoes, followed by sports and activities for all participants.
This year, JLA tripled the amount of hours that members volunteered with the program by introducing a KICS shift requirement for Provisionals.
volunteers helped with the largest distribution to date 1160 60
6, 2025
110k+ 0k+
pairs of shoes distributed since 2018
Austin Entertains, JLA’s annual tasting event, attracted 445 attendees to sample culinary offerings from Austin’s top innovative bartenders and chefs.
Participants could apply for one of three fellowships for their business The first place fellowship award of $10,000 was presented to Kendall Antonelli of Antonelli’s Cheese Shop, with Sushmita Malakar of Sushmita Malakar Mobile
Bartending receiving the runner-up award of $2,500 In addition, Tara Godby of Teakeasy was awarded the professional services package (valued at over $7,500)
36 36
local female bartenders and chefs featured this year
$100k+ $100k+ in proceeds to benefit JLA’s signature programs
2024–2025 Community Partners
Bridging the gap
In August 2024, Kealing Middle School of Austin ISD sustained fire, smoke, and water damage. JLA offered an emergency grant to help purchase backpacks usually supplied by the school’s PTA, which was facing unexpected expenses from the fire
Board of directors? Community Advisors
200 200 backpacks donated to Kealing Middle School as an emergency grant after a fire
The Junior League of Austin Community Advisors Council (CAC) is a volunteer advisory body composed of respected community leaders who provide strategic counsel, community insight, and advocacy to support the mission and work of the League. This year, the JLA grew its CAC from 6 to 15 members. We're thrilled to welcome the following new members:
Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes: District 2
Representative, City of Austin City Council
Allison Castle: CEO and President, Castle Communications
Dr Sonia Krishna: Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Owner, Mind Medicine
Andrew Chen: Legal Counsel, Hewlett Packard
Amy Beckstead: Partner, Beckstead, Terry & Ditto
Kristie Bardell: CEO, Every Body Texas
Barry Silverberg: Director, Center for Nonprofit Studies at Austin Community College
Geronimo Rodriguez: Former Chief Advocacy Officer, Seton Healthcare
Nathan Andrews: CTO, GLG Insights
Award Recipients
teer Extraordinaire teer Extraordinaire
Courtney Clark
Sustainer Courtney Clark’s innovative thinking, compassionate leadership, and unique ability to foster collaboration have set a benchmark for excellence and made her truly deserving of JLA’s Volunteer Extraordinaire award Under her guidance, the Kids In Cool Shoes (KICS) program was created in 2016 In addition to chairing Coats for Kids and KICS, Courtney has served as a Nominating Committee Member, Board Member at Large, and Training and Education Chair and was selected as an Association of Junior League International (ALJI) Organizational Development Institute (ODI) attendee.
Courtney founded Austin Involved, a nonprofit that helps young adults find relevant philanthropic opportunities. She also created the Board Internship Program, which is now a part of I Live Here I Give Here, to identify and train young people and People of Color as nonprofit board members. She is an international professional speaker and has served as a philanthropy consultant to clients such as LIVESTRONG, the Austin Community Foundation, and Austin’s Campaign for Philanthropy
Advisor of the Year Advisor of the Year
Pam King
Pam has proven herself to be a trusted advisor: providing valuable expertise, encouragement, and strategic direction that has driven success across The Junior League of Austin She currently serves as a Sustaining Advisor for both the In-League Events and Sustainer Engagement committees Pam created the Sustainer Transfer Gathering Group, which welcomes incoming Sustainer Transfers with a ready-made support system A transfer herself from The Junior League of Birmingham, Pam has served in previous JLA Sustaining Advisor roles, such as Researchers, KICS, and the JLA Leadership Institute
In addition to her JLA volunteerism, Pam runs her own consulting business and is a Certified Wedding and Event Planner (CWEP). She currently serves on the boards of Black Austin Democrats, Little Bit of Good, and Real Queens Fix Each Other’s Crowns. She is a past board member ofYWCA Greater Austin, HandsOn River Region, Austin Kids Can!, and served as President of the Montgomery Sunset Rotary Club while maintaining placements as Logistics Chair and Community Placement Chair in The Junior League of Montgomery.
Strategic Plan
In 2024, The Junior League of Austin launched a new 3-year strategic plan to support the advancement of the organization’s mission and vision The Strategic Planning Committee created the plan based on the results from the League-wide Organizational SelfAssessment (OSA), which surveys members about their experiences within JLA and their desires for the future. This original plan integrated strategic pillars across all operational facets, spanning the board, council, committee, and general membership levels.
This first year of the plan, the Strategic Planning Committee, under the new Operations Council, completed several of the objectives, including: recommending a change to the League's minimum age for membership; researching and writing program evaluations for Austin Entertains and Food In Tummies, which informs the future direction of those programs; and organizing Gathering Groups for our members Additionally, moving forward, they decided to consolidate the Strategic Plan into four distinct pillars
Board of directors?Social Media
Presence
While maintaining the main @thejuniorleagueofaustin Instagram account, which has 8,540 followers, JLA launched separate Instagram accounts for promoting Coats for Kids and A Christmas Affair® JLA also debuted on LinkedIn, allowing for public promotion of organization initiatives, as well as recognition of members’ professional and philanthropic accomplishments Members can connect with one another in two private Facebook groups, one being designated for Sustainers only.
Find the Good Day
On Sept. 19, 2024, JLA participated in the third annual Find the Good Day, an international day created by the Association of Junior Leagues International (ALJI) “to celebrate the good in and all around us. ”
Supporters
Leadership:
Mahj Social Club, Lauren Maria Photography and Film, Dana Fisher, Amanda Trevino, Jazlyn Wiles, Matt King, Thrall Enterprises, Anna Kraft Fine Art Portrait Artist, Leslie Moore, Eden Rose Botanicals, Courtney Dickey, Gruene Hall, Dulce Vida Tequila, Lauren Maria Photo & Films, Plush Fabric Home Interiors, Josephine Goodson, Marcella Viktorin, Clare Stedman, Kristen Reynolds, The Goff Financial Group
Contributor:
Kendra Scott, Edible Austin, 787 Social, Tribeza, Four Seasons Hotel Austin, Koncept Garage, Jordan Wat, FastSigns, RX Fit - A Personal Training Corp , Courtney and Ed Dickey, Knights of Columbus 8156, Redeemer Lutheran School, Beth Plater, Cynthia Kozmetsky, Amanda Beck Foster, The Sherill Family Foundation, Stacey Moore, Dealey & David Herndon, Betsy Kirksey, Leslie & Jason Pardue, Austin Kid's Directory, Buddy Schilling, Nannette Stone, Lisa Cogliati, Sandra S. Heinrichs, William Watson, KimleyHorn Foundation, Anne Van Nort, Browne House Interior Design LLC, Scott Pfotenhauer
Supporter:
Dean Elazab, Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection, Kelly Davison, The Treasured Accessory, Donald Lancon, Container Management, Squire Livery, Junie Meskey, Bloody Revolution, Linda May, Accenture, Karen Goodman, bespoke food, Intero, Creekhaven Inn and Spa, Kate Wintemitz Jewelry, Austin Laser Dentist, Nixon Freeze Dried Candy, Carpenter Hotel, Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection, Keri Bellacosa Walling, Carolyn Waddle-Ford, Karen Freund, Lone Star Legacies, Heather Pate, Georgine Peacock, Soy Austin Candles, Thrivent, Carolyn Cooper, Hadassah Schloss, Karen Preis, Liz Merkel, Sarah Gutierrez, Jasmonae Joyriel, Jamie Zerwas Mills, Hena Venkatrao, Chris Attal, Grace Crutchfield, Tracey Cooley, Marisela Herrera, Colin Marquardt, Butler Injury Law, Beth B. and Robert S. Jones, Terry and Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, Jim Matthews, Steve and Kat Albert, Carolyn Ragsdale, Themmi Hamilton, Ashley Bias, Lindsay Branson, Lillian Rundio, Steven Hodges, Amy Miller, Barbara Cappa
Friend:
Valkyrie Training ATX, Wipstitch Needleworks, Stephanie McArthur, Tressa Aleshire, Jerry Valdez, Pecos Outdoor, Brown Distributing, Cornucopia, Love Talla Fingerprint Necklaces, Pink Boat Austin, Becky Wise, Jackson Hamilton, Gloria Petersen, Pat & Bob A. Kahn, C3 Presents Austin City Limits, Jack Brown Cleaners, Austin FC, Hotel Viata, Dripping Springs Distilling, Tecovas, Fibres Of Life, Vibe, High Brew Coffee, Stacey Thompson, Tammy Carter, Jim Long, Kimberly and Jim Taylor, John Wagner, Chris Mill, Jan Archer, Beverly Reeves, Susan Montry, National Property Management Association Austin Chapter, Two Goose, Sue W. and Michael G. Smith, Lauren Mezaraups, Bookshelf Sketches, Jennifer Holt, Sheldon Richie, Island Getaway Rum, Susan Smith Dorsey, Salvation Spirits Distilling, TULA Life Balanced, Inc., Juliet Italian Kitchen, Kara von Schnackenberg, Rosemary Wynn with Unique Adventure Vacations, Brenda Grands Design, Wynnell Noelke, Kim Nearburg, Ultimate Outdoor Movies & Entertainments, Melissa Jackson, Jamie Wolter, Noelke Maples St. Leger Bryant LLP, Kim Brown, Susan Hull, Steve Greinert, Austin Yard Cards, Steve Thomas, Schwab Charitable, John Warren, Beverly Degutis, Doris Grabo, Dianne Wilbur, Cienda Amato, Wealth of Health LLC, Zilker Theatre Productions, Winkelmann Charitable Foundation