Our History
A Legacy Since the 1930's
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: "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.
2000-2006 HJWL's largest fundraiser ‘Festival for the Trees’ was renamed ‘Kids at Heart Evening Event’. The preview luncheon was changed to ‘Kids at Heart Luncheon’. For a few years, the events were held on two consecutive days (back-to-back).
2006: The events were altered to not coincide within a weekend’s time, but rather, hosted at different times of the year. The evening event was moved to the spring and and the Kids at Heart Luncheon remained in November.
2007-2008: HJWL
celebrates their 75th Anniversary.
2008: The first 'BitterSweet' fundraiser takes place at Holland Area Arts Council.
2008: Eet Smakelijk Cookbook was reprinted.
To be continued...!
** Kids
on the Block is an affiliate and limited
licensee of The Kids on the Block Incorporated, Columbia,
Maryland, USA.
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