Welcome to the 2025-2026 League year!

The Junior League of the City of New York (NYJL) remains steadfast in its mission to lead, advocate for, and impact the New York City community, and it is an honor to serve as President for our 125th year.

As I reflect on our long legacy, I am struck by the fact that our collective service, and our mission as an organization, is as relevant today as it was at the time of our founding in 1901. Then, a 19-year old Mary Harriman organized a group of other young women to work directly with New Yorkers in need in the tenements of the Lower East Side. At the forefront was a drive to make an immediate impact on the lives of women, children and families in our community. She understood that women, working together, would create far more impact than any individual could make working alone.

Today, the needs of our city have grown ever more complex. Yet the NYJL remains poised at the center of meeting the challenges of our times. We are as driven and as effective as ever. We are focused on the future by continuously delivering new programs and evolving the way we serve; for as long as there are New Yorkers in need, the NYJL will be here.

As women and trained volunteers, we lead with experience, knowledge, and passion and deliver a high standard of excellence in all that we do. Above all, we know how to take action! And, we do it together, in sisterhood and friendship. Our diverse membership is the foundation of the organization, and every volunteer represents the NYJL’s values with integrity and pride.

• We are passionate about our community. We believe in maximizing our impact through strategic external partnerships, advocacy, and volunteer action to achieve our mission.
• We respect individuals. We respect each other, those with whom we work and those we serve in the community. We strive to understand others, to respect differences and to treat everyone with dignity.
• We act responsibly. We recognize that our decisions and our actions can affect others. We strive to uphold our commitments and act honorably in all that we do.
• We promote opportunity. We are committed to helping each other achieve our potential. We foster a supportive and motivating environment that enables continuous learning, encourages mentoring, and develops future leaders.

Today, we offer expertly designed programs that target four areas of need in New York City serving 60 community partners—Adult Education & Mentoring; Children’s Education, Culture & the Arts; Child Health & Welfare; and City Impact. Our volunteer work spans a variety of signature initiatives, including:

• The Personal Advancement and Leadership offers mentoring for young women (ages 9-15) on continuing education opportunities, broad career aspirations, and life skills.
• The Playground Improvement Project creates safe, beautiful play spaces for New York City residents.
• The Community Improvement Project renovates a partner organization’s facility to increase the organization’s community impact. We do this through a one-year partnership with a Manhattan-based nonprofit organization, providing funding, womanpower, and management oversight for the renovation.

Our goal is to build upon our full slate of events and volunteering, and the NYJL leadership is fully committed to our 2,500-strong membership and to fostering a supportive and motivating environment that enables continuous learning, encourages mentoring, and develops leaders. We are laser-focused on member experience, re-strengthening our bonds with our community partners, advancing training to highlight both the needs of our community partners and that of our members, and raising funds to ensure our work continues.

A Special Invitation – Celebrating 125 Years!

For 125 years, the NYJL has stood at the heart of New York City’s philanthropic community — empowering women, transforming neighborhoods, and advancing opportunity through volunteer action. Over decades, our volunteers have been inspired by an enduring spirit: deeply rooted in tradition, yet ever inspired by progress and purpose.

This year marks the kick-off of a year-long celebration leading us through 2026, filled with signature events, community initiatives, and stories honoring generations of women whose leadership has shaped the city we love.

I invite you to join us as we celebrate this extraordinary legacy — 125 years strong, and shaping the next 125 together.

If you believe in our mission, that all women, children, and families should have equal opportunity, the resources to unlock their potential, and the structures to support them, we invite you to take action today.

• To support our 501c3 organization, donate as an individual donor.
• To fund community programs and the leadership development of women, partner with us as a corporate sponsor by emailing development@nyjl.org.
• To strategically align and advocate with us, join as a partner in the community.
• To inquire about membership, join us at our next New Member Orientation.

I personally invite you to join us and become a part of this powerful legacy.

As always, together we remain, Women Powered. Mission Driven.

Yours in Service,

Yours in Service,

Jeri Powell

President 2024-2026