Throughout its history in the Pikes Peak region, the Junior League of Colorado Springs has addressed many important community needs and launched or assisted with the formation of many landmark organizations in our community, including CASA, Ronald McDonald House and the Children's Literacy Center. The JLCS has grown and evolved, both as initiator of projects, as well as a ready partner to other non-profit organizations to address needs in the community. Over the past 85 years, the Junior League of Colorado Springs has returned to the community over $2 million. JLCS volunteers have given over 1,750,000 hours of service to the community.
The JLCS Community Service Corps focuses its effort on community needs that can be met through short term projects. This group performs an average of 8 annual mini-projects to serve the Colorado Springs community utilizing JLCS members, families and friends. Current and past projects have included: Red Cross Homeless Shelter's Child Enrichment Center, Ronald McDonald House, Kids Voting, Community Partnership for Child Development, Habitat for Humanity and other special needs organizations.
Our Signature Project - CARE Fair
The Junior League of Colorado Springs is proud to call CARE Fair our special Signature Project.
CARE Fair is an exciting, one-day, back-to-school event which serves families who are uninsured in Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas. Children receive, at no cost, the following services: immunizations, back-to-school physicals, dental screenings, hearing tests, vision exams and diabetes screenings. In addition, haircuts, backpacks and school supplies are offered to help kids get ready for the upcoming school year.
The 2009 CARE Fair event was sponsored by Peak Vista Community Health Centers, Colorado Springs Utilities Community Focus Fund, El Pomar Foundation, and the Nutrition Camp School Foundation.
Over 488 children registered, receiving: physicals, immunizations, dental screenings, diabetes screenings and behavioral health screenings.
Physicians, dentists, and dental hygienists from the community, more than 45 Junior League members, volunteers from Colorado Springs Utilities, volunteers from UCCS, volunteers from Human Touch of Colorado Springs, Rampart Range Sertoma and volunteers from the T-Gap Lions Club generously donated time to help at the event. Additionally, bilingual volunteers from local military bases translated for Spanish speaking families. Haircuts were provided exclusively by Veda salons.
Dave Pump, director of operations at Peak Vista, stated "The partnership between the JLCS and Peak Vista Community Health Centers is a winning partnership that impacted ten times more than were actually at the event".
More information about CARE Fair can be found by clicking here.
