Letter from the President
2015-2016
Letter from the President
Since the 1930’s, Junior Welfare League of Enid has been a strong organization committed to the needs of the Enid community. The legacy of our organization includes members both past and present who give of their time, talents, and finances to serve on committees and organize fundraisers which provide requests throughout our community. What an honor it is to serve alongside this group of sixty hardworking women who give of their time and money to help improve our community and promote volunteerism.
Much of the money we raise each year comes from the sales at our consignment store, Return Engagement, where we sell clothing, furniture, and household items. Another ongoing source of revenue comes from the sales of our two published cookbooks: Stir Ups, the official cookbook of Enid, and Cooking by the Bootstraps. These are found in homes and store shelves across the country. Our third source of funding comes from our organized fundraisers throughout the year. In recent years JWL has hosted the Cookbook Marketplace, a tasting event showcasing 25+ cookbooks from across the country; the Warm Your Heart 5K Run, and the Legacy Links Golf Tournament, which increased our abilities to assist in the community.
Our largest fundraiser of the year is our Charity Gala. It is an elegant evening of delicious hors d'oeuvres, live music, live and silent auctions, and great fun! Through the efforts of last year’s Gala we granted $40,000 in requests to the following organizations: Kiwanis Club for a new train depot roof, Hope Outreach for their Abstinence events, 4RKids to purchase a teddy bear machine for autistic children, Sandbox Learning to replace outdated appliances, and Loaves and Fishes to help fund an under-budgeted summer need.
League members spend hundreds of hours each year working on committees which are an integral part of the Enid community. Some of our current committees include Care to Share, Wish Families, Community Donations, and GIVE (Get Involved Volunteer Enid), for which the ladies of JWL give countless hours to over fifteen other organizations. During the past year, the Care to Share committee helped provide classroom needs for many area schools, including supplies for 100 individual children and numerous classrooms. The committee also provided supplies to the entire student body at a local early childhood center, plus assisted four families in crisis.
Through our Community Donations committee, we have fulfilled requests each month to many causes. Some of the requests JWL fulfilled last year were RSVP, YWCA Teen Christmas, Chisholm 5K Stampede, YWCA Girl Rally, Oklahoma Railroad Museum, Chamber for Enid Higher Education Council, OBA banquet, Greater Enid's class project, Garfield County SANE program, K-Life, Lola's Boutique backpack fundraiser for homeless, Make a Difference Day, Leonardo's Children’s Museum, Bennie's Barn, Oklahoma Regional Food Bank, Tri-State Music Festival, Red Cross, National Child Safety Council, Enid Chamber Enlisted Appreciation Night, Jayla Alexis Tuck Cancer Foundation, Longfellow Media Club, the Chisholm Glow Run, Kremlin-Hillsdale After Prom, and the Enid Public School Foundation.
Since its humble beginnings during the Depression, JWL has been successful in reaching out to hundreds of individuals and organizations through fundraisers and service committees. None of this would have been possible without the talents, dedication, and commitment of each member. Thank you to all the Honorary and Sustaining members who have left us with an incredible legacy of volunteerism. To all the current members of JWL, let us continue this legacy of service within our community by helping others and being an example for future members to follow. Isaiah 58:10 says “If you open your heart to the hungry, and provide abundantly for those who are in need, then your light will shine in the darkness, and your gloom will be bright like the noonday sun.” You are an amazing group of women, and it’s an honor to serve as your president of the Junior Welfare League of Enid. I look forward to another meaningful JWL year and witnessing what our organization can accomplish this year!
With highest regard,
Natalie (Beebe) Lobaugh
2015-2016 JWL President
Since the 1930’s, Junior Welfare League of Enid has been a strong organization committed to the needs of the Enid community. The legacy of our organization includes members both past and present who give of their time, talents, and finances to serve on committees and organize fundraisers which provide requests throughout our community. What an honor it is to serve alongside this group of sixty hardworking women who give of their time and money to help improve our community and promote volunteerism.
Much of the money we raise each year comes from the sales at our consignment store, Return Engagement, where we sell clothing, furniture, and household items. Another ongoing source of revenue comes from the sales of our two published cookbooks: Stir Ups, the official cookbook of Enid, and Cooking by the Bootstraps. These are found in homes and store shelves across the country. Our third source of funding comes from our organized fundraisers throughout the year. In recent years JWL has hosted the Cookbook Marketplace, a tasting event showcasing 25+ cookbooks from across the country; the Warm Your Heart 5K Run, and the Legacy Links Golf Tournament, which increased our abilities to assist in the community.
Our largest fundraiser of the year is our Charity Gala. It is an elegant evening of delicious hors d'oeuvres, live music, live and silent auctions, and great fun! Through the efforts of last year’s Gala we granted $40,000 in requests to the following organizations: Kiwanis Club for a new train depot roof, Hope Outreach for their Abstinence events, 4RKids to purchase a teddy bear machine for autistic children, Sandbox Learning to replace outdated appliances, and Loaves and Fishes to help fund an under-budgeted summer need.
League members spend hundreds of hours each year working on committees which are an integral part of the Enid community. Some of our current committees include Care to Share, Wish Families, Community Donations, and GIVE (Get Involved Volunteer Enid), for which the ladies of JWL give countless hours to over fifteen other organizations. During the past year, the Care to Share committee helped provide classroom needs for many area schools, including supplies for 100 individual children and numerous classrooms. The committee also provided supplies to the entire student body at a local early childhood center, plus assisted four families in crisis.
Through our Community Donations committee, we have fulfilled requests each month to many causes. Some of the requests JWL fulfilled last year were RSVP, YWCA Teen Christmas, Chisholm 5K Stampede, YWCA Girl Rally, Oklahoma Railroad Museum, Chamber for Enid Higher Education Council, OBA banquet, Greater Enid's class project, Garfield County SANE program, K-Life, Lola's Boutique backpack fundraiser for homeless, Make a Difference Day, Leonardo's Children’s Museum, Bennie's Barn, Oklahoma Regional Food Bank, Tri-State Music Festival, Red Cross, National Child Safety Council, Enid Chamber Enlisted Appreciation Night, Jayla Alexis Tuck Cancer Foundation, Longfellow Media Club, the Chisholm Glow Run, Kremlin-Hillsdale After Prom, and the Enid Public School Foundation.
Since its humble beginnings during the Depression, JWL has been successful in reaching out to hundreds of individuals and organizations through fundraisers and service committees. None of this would have been possible without the talents, dedication, and commitment of each member. Thank you to all the Honorary and Sustaining members who have left us with an incredible legacy of volunteerism. To all the current members of JWL, let us continue this legacy of service within our community by helping others and being an example for future members to follow. Isaiah 58:10 says “If you open your heart to the hungry, and provide abundantly for those who are in need, then your light will shine in the darkness, and your gloom will be bright like the noonday sun.” You are an amazing group of women, and it’s an honor to serve as your president of the Junior Welfare League of Enid. I look forward to another meaningful JWL year and witnessing what our organization can accomplish this year!
With highest regard,
Natalie (Beebe) Lobaugh
2015-2016 JWL President