SPOTLIGHT FAYETTEVILLE JUNIOR CIVIC LEAGUE

It’s time to party large for civic league budget

FAYETTEVILLE - Big Party, bigger impact.

The Fayetteville Junior Civic League will host its annual spring fundraiser, The Big Party, on Friday at Mermaids, 2217 N. College Ave., in Fayetteville.

It’s the largest moneymaker of the year for the league, a group of 50 community-minded women who support Fayetteville families in need by raising money to benefit a wide range of local nonprofit organizations. Last year, the league distributed $67,000 among 12 Fayetteville organizations.

This year, it will provide financial assistance to 14 organizations, says president Jennifer Lewis of Fayetteville.

“What we focus on is women and children,” Lewis says. “I just feel very passionate about the money we raise. There’s definitely a need in this area of the state.”

Lewis, whose term as president runs through May, has been involved with the league for about four years. She had been a member of the Junior League of Northwest Arkansas for several years, butwas about to reach the age of sustaining membership, so she was looking for another organization to join.

She was asked to become a member of the Fayetteville Junior Civic League, which is an invitation-only group. Founded in 1949, the league is capped at 50 members, because meetings are held at members’ houses, a tradition that dates to its earliest years.

“What I really love about the Junior Civic League is all our funds stay right here in Fayetteville,” Lewis says. “It’s just nice to know that every dollar we’re raisingstays right here in our backyard.”

The amount that the league will be able to contribute is dependent on the success of The Big Party. Long known for its festive atmosphere, The Big Party begins at 8 p.m. and lasts until around midnight. There will be a disc jockey, dancing, food, cash bar and live and silent auctions.

Tickets are $50 in advance, $60 at the door.

“It’s a real fun, relaxed atmosphere,” Lewis says. “Anyone in the community can come in and help support the Junior Civic League. It ends up being a great all-around party. People really enjoy the evening.”

One of the organizations that benefited from last year’s Big Party, and one that’s close to Lewis’ heart, is Girls Rock.

Girls Rock is a group of girls from Fayetteville’s two junior high schools, Ramay and Woodland, many of whom do not have access to cultural and community activities. Volunteers work with the girls throughout theschool year, exposing them to new and different life experiences.

“What the Junior Civic League does is we come up with different activities for these girls, whether it be taking them to the Walton Arts Center, or what we’re doing now, which is providing cooking classes for these girls,” Lewis says. “We are helping expose them to healthy eating and basic kitchen techniques.”

Lewis, who teaches cooking classes through White Line Design in Fayetteville, has a passion for healthful, creative cooking. When she volunteers with Girls Rock, she focuses on fresh ingredients and stretching food dollars. (Girls Rock also partners with local nonprofit Feed Fayetteville.)

Recently, Lewis demonstrated how to make a maple-roasted chicken with roasted potatoes, green beansand a salad. Then she used the leftover chicken for another meal, lemon-chicken pasta.

Each girl received a bag of produce and recipes to take home. Some of the girls, Lewis notes, are frequently incharge of providing food for younger siblings.

“We show them what you can do if you get your hands on these ingredients, at a reasonable cost,” Lewis explains.“What I did recently cost less than a trip to McDonald’s.

“It was so exciting to see the expression on their faces. They were just so excited. ‘I can’t wait to show my momand dad how I can cook with sweet potatoes!’” For more information about the Junior Civic League’s Big Party, call (479) 871-4139 or e-mail [email protected].

Northwest Profile, Pages 33 on 03/31/2013

Upcoming Events