The Junior League of Greater Covington is honored to announce the 2020-2021 Sustainer of the Year as Phyllis Distefano. In 2007 Phyllis joined the Junior League with interest in helping to bring a children’s museum to St. Tammany parish. Through the years, she has volunteered many hours to JLGC. Phyllis is always thrilled to help the people and nonprofits in her community, and she is especially grateful for all the wonderful women that she has met through the Junior League. As a JL volunteer, she contributed to the now retired Career Corner in which she shared much of her experience in interviewing skills and other work related issues.  She served on various committees including Project Prom, Girl’s Health Day, the Nominating Committee and many Sudden Impact activities. As a sustainer, Phyllis continues to volunteer as an advisor to Project Prom.         

As an inaugural member of the Board of Trustees for the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany, she served as chair of the Finance Committee. Phyllis spent numerous volunteer hours in helping to develop the operating foundation for the museum, assisting in day-to-day budget operations and in fundraising activities. She has also volunteered for other nonprofit organizations such as the Mary Payton Miracle Foundation, Children’s Advocacy Center/Hope House, and Safe Harbor. She has also been involved with several local philanthropy groups.

 In her free time Phyllis, loves listening to all types of music and enjoys dancing with her husband. Cruising the lake front and visiting the small towns of St. Tammany is an ongoing shared pass time.  She says the greatest joy of her life was the birth of her daughter and that while they share a wonderful mother-daughter relationship, they are also best friends. And now with two beautiful granddaughters, nine bonus grandchildren and four bonus great grandchildren on the scene, Phyllis is busy enjoying the role of a grandmother.

“The Sustainer of the Year Award is presented each year to a league sustainer who has shown outstanding volunteer service both supporting the JLGC and within other community service organizations over a significant number of years,” said JLGC 2020-2021 President Shelley Winstead. “Phyllis’ strength and character embody our League’s mission, “Women Building Better Communities. Phyllis is an inspirational role model for all members of the Junior League of Greater Covington.”

The Junior League of Greater Covington is a nonprofit organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Founded in 1977, its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. Aside from volunteer hours, financial assistance is also provided to the above projects and many other community interests through Community Assistance Grants. Our members provide much-needed support to many other local agencies through “Sudden Impact” projects. You can learn more about the Junior League at www.jlgc.net.