Holland Junior Welfare League (HJWL) began
in 1932. From developing a cookbook in the 60's to establishing
'Kids on the Block'** in the 80's, HJWL has gone through many
changes throughout the decades. Despite the changes, our mission
has been steadfast; helping improve the welfare of children.
1932: HJWL was founded by
Betty Becker. There were 8 founding members. The first
meeting was held on November 3rd, 1932. Nineteen women attended. They
hosted 10 fundraiser events that first year including a charity
football game, a white elephant and bake sale and several dances.
Membership requirements were: to be voted in, have a college
degree or equivalent and to be no older than 30. During
the first decade needy families could apply for aid from HJWL.
Eye exams and glasses were also provided for many needy children.
Layettes and OB kits were donated to many women and their new
babies. Meetings were held on a weekly basis.
1940: HJWL was still
providing layettes, glasses and OB kits. Our organization began
providing "Christmas baskets" to needy families.
In 1940, the first children's play "Hans Brinker and the
Silver Skates" was held as a fund raiser. The Claire Tre
Major Production Company was hired to put this on at a cost
of $150. Admission was $0.25 for children and $0.35 for adults
-- a profit of $26 was made. The war brought some new
projects such as packing Red Cross kits for soldiers and knitting
turtleneck sweaters for Dutch servicemen. Servicemen dances
were held. Several members had to take "war leave"
as they left town with their husbands. Members spent
a lot of their time at meetings making crafts, etc. to be sold
at upcoming fundraisers. In 1946, $1,500 was
disbursed to Holland Hospital to go towards the purchase
of several Hummel bassinette units.
1950: Claire
Tre Major Productions were still being held each
year until 1952. A wide variety of other fundraisers began including
a style show, candy sale, plum pudding sales and bridge parties.
HJWL began sponsoring "Kiddie Karnival" for
all area children.
1953: HJWL
was named one of the 250 Honor Clubs in the
U.S. by the national magazine "Women's
Home Companion."
1954: Members began presenting
puppet shows at local elementary schools.
1955:
$1,150 was disbursed to Holland Hospital for the pediatric playroom
and $500 was given to Herrick Library.
1958: The
by-laws read that "membership applicants must be between
the ages for 21 and 35 and good workers." HJWL's
first "Follies" were held. Members
spent months producing and practicing
for this variety show. The show was
performed for several nights to very
receptive audiences. A profit of
$5,443.40 was made on this fundraiser.
1959: Brought
on the first Candy Cane Ball (Silver
Bells was the theme) and made a profit
of $1,147.33. $5,000 was given
to Herrick Library for furnishing
the children room and is now in the
reading carousel on the upper level.
1960: Kiddie
Karnival, Candy Cane Ball,
Fruitcake and Candy sales were
still going on. HJWL
was still providing layettes
and eyeglasses.
1961:
Work on a cookbook began.
1964:
The cookbook Eet Smakelijk is introduced and proves to be a
big success.
1969: "The Follies" returns.
1970: Disbursements
increase from around
$5,000 per year in
the early '70s to
over $15,000 per
year in the late
'70s. The Charity
Ball, fruitcake sales,
candy sales and Follies
continue as fundraisers.
Eet Smakelijk also
continues to be a
huge success.
1973:
The Ottawa Area Center was the New Girls Project. Through this,
the OAC Christmas Party and Spring Carnival were born.
1976:
A bicentennial edition of Eet Smakelijk is published with a
copy presented to Susan Ford (President Gerald Ford's daughter)
during Tulip Time.
1977:
A record amount of cookbooks, 15,056, were sold in a 10 month
period.
1978: The "Art Reaches Out" service project begins.
League
members
visit local
elementary
schools
and introduce
children
to famous
artists
and their
work.
1979:
HJWL's disbursements increase to over $25,000.
1982: "The Kids on the Block"
are
introduced.
League
members
visit
local
schools
with
these
large,
colorful
puppets
and
talk
with
kids
about
issues
that
are
currently
facing
youth.
1989: First
"Festival of the Trees" fundraiser
is held.
1990: Bowling fundraiser begins
1993:
Day Care books project begins.
1994: A
new cookbook committee
is formed. The Festival
Preview Luncheon is added
to the "Festival of the Trees" events.
1996: The
Dawn to Dusk cookbook
is introduced. It
becomes a Tabasco Community
Cookbook Award regional
winner.
1997: 2,500
Dawn to Dusk cookbooks
are sold on nationwide
TV via the QVC home
shopping channel. "Festival of the Trees"
is renamed "Festival for the Children".
1999: The
first "Speaker Night" fundraiser
is held hosting Chicken
Soup for the Soul
author, Marci Shimoff.
The "BitterSweet" fundraiser takes over for the
formal "Annual Dinner" fundraiser. In 2007/2008 HJWL
celebrates their 75th Annual Renunion.
In 2008 Eet Smakelijk Cookbook to be reprinted.
** HJWL Kids
on the Block is an affiliate and limited
licensee of The Kids on the Block Incorporated, Columbia,
Maryland, USA.*
*©The Kids
on the Block, Inc. All puppets and program
materials are protected by United States and other copyright
laws. Unauthorized use is prohibited. All Rights Reserved. |
