Jack and Jill teaches kids leadership through philanthropy
Jack and Jill of America Foundation aims to give children the kind of experiences and skills we all hope our children grow up with.
With outings and activities ranging from educational to cultural to social, the network of African-American mothers strives to raise their own children as leaders and to ensure other children have opportunities for such experiences as well.
The mothers in the West Suburban Chapter believe their children learn much from helping others. The families have packed meals with Feed My Starving Children, spruced up the grounds and collected books for Mutual Ground in Aurora and donated school supplies and winter coats to participants in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Naperville.
The Boys and Girls Clubs, along with the West Suburban Chapter, will benefit from the chapter’s next event — a Children’s Resale Extravaganza. Net proceeds from the sale on Saturday, May 21, will be split between the two groups to support their child-centric missions.
Terri Ranson, president of the West Suburban Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, tells us more about the foundation and the chapter’s local efforts.
Q. What is your organization’s mission?
A. Jack and Jill of America Inc. is a national nonprofit of African-American mothers, which through programming, community service, advocacy and philanthropic giving strives to strengthen children and develop their leadership potential.
The objectives and aims of Jack and Jill of America are as follows:
Ÿ create a medium of contact for children that will stimulate growth and development;
Ÿ provide for children a constructive educational, cultural, civic, recreational and social program;
Ÿ aid mothers in learning more about their children by careful study;
Ÿ seek for all children the same advantages we desire for our own;
Ÿ support all national legislation aimed at bettering the conditions of all children.
Q. How do you work toward those goals?
A. Our chapter sponsors a variety of programs to foster service in our community, to develop leadership skills in youth, to promote healthy living and to enjoy social interaction.
Q. Whom do you serve?
A. Our chapter primarily serves the Western suburbs. We strive to work with children and teens in our community. There are seven chapters, including our own, that serve the Chicago metropolitan area.
Q. When and why did the organization start? How has it grown?
A. Jack and Jill of America Inc. was founded in 1938 in Philadelphia at a meeting of 20 mothers under the leadership of Marion Stubbs Thomas. These ladies wanted to bring their children together for social and cultural exchanges. It is a nonprofit family organization whose members have children ranging in age from 2 to 19. Since establishing its first national service project in 1947, Jack and Jill has contributed to an array of nonprofit organizations and causes. To cement the organization’s philanthropic goals, the Jack and Jill of America Foundation was established in 1968.
Today, Jack and Jill boasts more than 220 chapters nationwide, representing more than 30,000 family members.
Q. What kind of successes have you had?
A. Not only does the Jack and Jill of America Foundation award college scholarships, but it also allows our chapters to submit grants to support local causes. Our chapter was awarded a grant that allowed us to establish a Technology Skills Initiative at the Marie Wilkinson Child Development Center in Aurora. Our members, husbands and children volunteered many hours to enhance the computer skills of both the children at the center and their parents.
Some of the recent past recipients of our fundraising efforts or community service projects include: Mutual Ground Inc. in Aurora, Marie Wilkinson Child Development Center in Aurora, DuPage County NAACP ACT-SO program, Feed My Starving Children, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Naperville.
We also have supported and participated in Mutual Ground’s annual Walk for Hope fundraiser for the past few years. This year we presented the children of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Naperville with school supplies and winter coats.
Q. What challenges does the organization currently face?
A. Obviously the current state of the economy creates challenges for our fundraising efforts. However, that is the beauty of hosting a Children’s Resale Extravaganza for this year’s fundraiser. In addition to providing the public with economically-priced children’s items, we also will generate proceeds to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Naperville and the Jack and Jill of America Foundation.
Q. What would surprise most people if they spent time with the organization?
A. I think most people would be surprised to know just how many service projects we complete each year. Yes, our volunteers raise money through our fundraisers and we receive grants for community projects, but our families also enjoy rolling up our sleeves and performing service in our community.
For the past few years we have performed spring cleaning at Mutual Ground. Mothers, fathers, teens and younger children spruced up the grounds by planting flowers and pulling weeds. We also sanitized toys and donated collections of new and gently used books for their library.
Our families also spent a Friday night packing meals at Feed My Starving Children. Nearly 70 individuals formed Team Jack and Jill, which included elementary-aged kids, teens and their parents.
Q. How can readers get involved?
A. On Saturday, May 21, the West Suburban Chicago Chapter of Jack and Jill of America will host a Children’s Resale Extravaganza from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Krasa Center at Benedictine University in Lisle. Featured items include spring/summer apparel for children (newborns to teens), sports equipment, books, toys, games, DVDs, furniture, strollers, high chairs, outdoor items and more. Admission is $1.
The half-price sale begins at 12:30 p.m., but be sure to arrive early for the best selection. Please note that no strollers are allowed. Cash, Visa and MasterCard will be accepted.
Are you interested in being a seller? Proceeds from the merchandise sold will be shared equally. If you have children’s items that you would like to sell, please access our website, JackAndJillWSCC.com, and review the Seller’s Instructions, or email jjwscc_resale@yahoo.com.
Do you have items to donate? Your donation will make a difference in the life of a child. Gently used items may be dropped off from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 19, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, May 20, at the Krasa Center, 5700 College Road, Lisle.
Would you like to volunteer at the event? Adults and teens may volunteer. Volunteers receive the added benefit of being able to pre-shop on the evening of Friday, May 20.
If you go
What: Childrens Resale Extravaganza
Why: Proceeds support the West Suburban Chicago Chapter of Jack and Jill of America and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Naperville
When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21; half-price sale begins at 12:30 p.m.
Where: Krasa Center at Benedictine University, 5700 College Road, Lisle
Admission: $1
Details: Featured items include spring/summer apparel for newborns to teens, sports equipment, books, toys, games, DVDs, furniture, strollers, high chairs and outdoor items; no strollers are allowed while shopping; cash, Visa and MasterCard accepted
Info: JackAndJillWSCC.com or jjwscc_resale@yahoo.com