Harriman’s vision for improving communities by using the energy and commitment
of volunteers caught on, and today there are 292 Junior Leagues in four countries
with more than 160,000 volunteers. What started as a small and determined group is now 3,000 volunteers strong.
The first volunteers visited the poor and immigrant families in the settlement
houses on the Lower East Side. They taught music, dance and art to children,
and nutrition to mothers. Today’s volunteers, like Harriman and her friends, do
not shy away from the tough issues that face New York City today. The NYJL still believes that the best way to bring positive change is through the
efforts of highly trained, well-informed and empowered volunteers. Each year,
dedicated women volunteers, 85% of whom have full-time jobs, contribute more
than 250,000 hours of service. These 3,000 volunteers address some of our city’s most critical issues through
volunteer service: domestic violence awareness and prevention, health education
to the at-risk community, life skills for families in transition, and cultural
enrichment for senior citizens and children. | 
