In 1977, nine Covington women met to form a service organization dedicated to promoting voluntarism, helping women achieve their potential, and improving their community. In 1999 the Junior Service League of Covington became affiliated with the Association of Junior Leagues International, made up of 296 Junior Leagues throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada and Mexico. Today the Junior League of Greater Covington (JLGC) is 225 members and 150 sustainers strong, and we are continuing to grow and touch lives in our community. Ours is a powerful history of well-researched, valuable service to our community. Many of our area’s most effective and enduring organizations were originated and/or nurtured by the JLGC, including the Youth Service Bureau, Baby Think It Over, PRIDE Puppeteers, Meals on Wheels, and Covington Head Start.

JLGC 30th Anniversary

North Shore Notables JUNIOR LEAGUE MARKS 30 YEARS OF CARING Friday, September 28, 2007 Elizabeth Moore The Junior League of Greater Covington has been a shining light in the community for 30 years, and to celebrate that fact, a festive luncheon was held at Benedict's Plantation on Sept. 8. In 1977, founders Martha Green, Suellen Fey, Judy Wolf, Mary Shoup, Cathy Burns, Joanne Champagne, Nan Nelson, Patricia Gordon and Mimi Curran chartered the Greater Covington Junior Service League. Green was selected as the first president, and other presidents through 1999 were Judy Wolf, Blanche McCloskey, Mary Shoup, Joanne Osterholt, Nancy Baldwin, Clara Muller, Cindy Toomey, Patti Greene, Ann Forster, Pat Smith, Suzanne Motion, Marsha Brown, Patsy Bonneau, Karen Courtney, Sherrie Buras, Debra Patrick, Melanie Tanner, Janie Ellis, Celia Bezou, Allison Penzato and Millie Ryan. In 1999, the organization became the 295th affiliate of the Junior League, and celebrated a new status as the Junior League of Greater Covington. Presidents from that point were Donna Paciera, Dorothy Noriea, Kim Balducci, Phoebe Whealdon, Lisa Barnett, Leslie Martin, Rebecca Dougherty and Amy Moreau. Pam Egan serves as the current president. Through the years, organizations that were either launched by the league or aided by either the dedication of volunteer hours or funding were Highland Park Hospital, St. Tammany Humane Society, Forest Manor Nursing Home, Regina Coeli Head Start, St. Tammany Epilepsy Chapter, Red Cross, St. Tammany Art Association and Traveling Exhibit, Southeast Louisiana Hospital, St. Tammany Parish Hospital, Meals on Wheels, Junior Nature Museum, Youth Service Bureau, YMCA, St. Tammany Parish Library, Battered Women's Program, Lady Beware, Northlake Museum and Nature Center, Highway 190 Beautification Project (Northlake Beautification and Tree Alliance), PRIDE, Crisis Line, For Tooth's Sake, Western St. Tammany Parenting Center, Toys for Tots, Hospice of St. Tammany, Mentor Moms, Family Service Center, Baby Think It Over and the Covington Family Service Center. Also, the Northlake Performing Arts Society, Southeast Louisiana Hospital Adolescent School, Leaguers on Loan, Hope House, Habitat for Humanity and Women Build, Program for Elderly, Career Closet, Done in a Day program, the Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival, Walk of Art, Art Carts, Mandeville Head Start, Helping Hands, Prime Time Seniors, a children's waiting room at the St. Tammany Justice Center, Covington Three Rivers Art Festival Children's Art Exhibit, Sunshine Committee, New Heights Equine Therapy, Girls' Health Day, Kids in the Kitchen and a children's museum. In speaking of the children's museum, 2003-04 President/Children's Museum Chairwoman Lisa Barnett said that the museum has always been a vision of the league. The dedicated land is located at Koop Drive, and the museum will be part of a complex with Kids Konnection playground, an art gallery, a 1,000-seat amphitheater, a children's village and a performing arts center. "This is an opportunity for the Junior League to reach and touch children and families in the entire area," Barnett said. Joanne Champagne, a league founder, was named 2007 Sustainer of the Year. Along with her ongoing commitment to the league as a member of the children's museum committee, Champagne, a retired real estate agent, is an accomplished cook with many blue-ribbon recipes, an artist and an avid traveler. She will be formally honored as Sustainer of the Year at a Christmas party at Penzato's home. Earlier, Champagne and founders Mimi Curran, Nan Nelson and Trisha Gordon cut an anniversary cake. They were given commemorative bricks to be placed in the Sherrie Buras Memorial Gardens. Buras, the 1992-93 league president, passed away suddenly in 2004. A video presentation with the theme of "Pictures From the Past and Present" was shown during dessert. To contact Elizabeth Moore about people and events in western St. Tammany Parish, call 893-0612 or send an e-mail to lizards1960@cs.com. Published on NOLA.com Friday, September 28, 2007 1:37 p.m. Published in The Times-Picayune Sunday, September 30, 2007