1915-1924Mrs. William (Alice) Chester interested ten women in joining her as charter members of the Junior League of Milwaukee (JLM).

Junior League of Milwaukee was formed on October 2, 1915.

• Initiated the first Junior League of Milwaukee project, Confidential Exchange, which was later turned over to a forerunner of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee.
• Worked for the Red Cross, a wartime requirement.
• Initiated Workshop for Occupational Therapy, which became Junior League Curative Workshop at Columbia Hospital (now Curative Care Network) with JLM financing and directing its operation.
• Opened the Junior League Paint Shop to sell toys made by handicapped children at the Curative Workshop until 1937.

1925-1934

• Won first prize with the JLM Welfare Exhibit at the AJLI Regional Conference held in Milwaukee.
• Started News Sheet which developed from a 3 page brochure into a magazine.
• Made a three-year funding commitment to the Visiting Nurse Association for its Occupational Therapy Department.
• Funded Bethany Home for the psychiatric care of delinquent children.
• Began the Children’s Theater, a community activity until 1975.

1935-1944

• Continued involvement with Curative Workshop (now Curative Care Network).
  • Began Sheltered Workshop for adults and children with special needs.
  • Raised $137,636 for a new building.
  • Gained acceptance by the American Hospital Association – the first in the United States.
• Participated in the Federal Rehabilitation Program and began a speech clinic.
• Started a Garden Club which eventually evolved into Garden and Conservation, and later the Environmental Committee.

1945-1954

• • Funded, organized and opened the Blood Center of Wisconsin.

• • Sponsored the first Wisconsin Exhibition of Art.

• Co-sponsored the Children’s Art Program with the Milwaukee Art Center.

1955-1964

• • Added symphony to the Children’s Art Program (now Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra) and turned it over to the Milwaukee Art Center.

• • Started the Happy Ticker, a magazine for homebound children.  Happy Ticker was adopted by the Alpha Phi Sorority Alumnae.

• • Began School for Research on Language Disorders with UWM.

• • Opened Penny Wise Resale Shop.

• Published Be Milwaukee’s Guest cookbook.

1965-1974

• • Initiated Volunteer Services project.  Expanded into eight projects that were honored by the National HUD award, featured in AJLI Magazine, and included on the first League-sponsored TV special.

• • Started Junior League Singers.

• • Published Be Wisconsin’s Guest cookbook.

• Participated in additional projects including:  Riveredge Nature Center Education Program, Historic Walker’s Point, St Michael’s Drug Program, Outreach Detention Experiencing the Art, and Venereal Disease Education.

1975-1984

• • Established a Public Affairs Committee and First State Public Affairs Committee with the Junior League of Racine.

• • Produced and releasedthe film, “Domestic Violence:  The All American Crime” with the financial help of Junior Leagues across the country.

• • Published Be Our Guest cookbook.

• • Helped fund and advocate for the development of Milwaukee’s first Battered Women’s Shelter in partnership with the Task Force on Battered Women.

• • Initiated community programs:  Today’s Girls/Tomorrow’s Women, Citizen Foster Care Review Board, Child Sexual Abuse Prevention and Parents Anonymous (now The Parenting Network).

• • Established Respite Care Project with Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin.

• • Organized the Ronald McDonald House Volunteer Program.

• Started several health related projects including:  Heart Saver/CPR with Columbia Hospital, Improving Medical Services to Milwaukee Inner-City Residents, Penfield Children’s Center, and Early Screening Project.

1985-1994

• Moved the JLM office to the Isabel Miller residence, home of the JLM founder Alice Miller Chester.
• Turned over the Early Screening Project to Children’s Hospital.
• Turned over Today’s Girls/Tomorrow’s Women to the Boys and Girls Clubs Of Milwaukee.
• Created Children’s Horticultural Education Program at Boerner Botanical Gardens.
• Published Gatherings Cookbook which won the International Association of Culinary Professionals Award for Best Community Cookbook of 1987.
• Jointly launched, with the Milwaukee Rotary Club, the 75^th Anniversary Project: the Health Education Center of Wisconsin.  Exceeded the $250,000 fundraising goal for this program.
• Participated in additional community projects including: La Causa Crisis Nursery, 53rd Street School, and Penfield Family Support Program.

1995-2009

• Began Gilda’s Club of Southeastern Wisconsin, a community organization for people living with cancer, their families and friends. Provided $100,000 over four years as the founding sponsor.
• Launched Care Kits Project with the Milwaukee County Courthouse and the Task Force on Family Violence, a program that provides backpacks filled with hygiene products, snacks, and other items for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse. Care Kits are currently distributed by the Milwaukee County Sensitive Crimes Victim Services Unit.
• Celebrated our 90^th Anniversary and announced the three-year, $90,000 project with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a program of In Their Best Interest. CASA is a network of programs that trains and supports volunteers to represent the best interest of neglected children in the courtroom and other settings.
• Established the JLM Endowment Fund.
• Published the JLM cookbook, An Occasion to Gather.
• Participated in additional community projects including: Car Seat Safety Check and Milwaukee Mentoring.

2010-2019

• Awarded over $10,000 in grants to St. Ann’s Center for Intergenerational Care and Curative Care Network.
• Singers celebrated their 50^th Anniversary in 2018.
• Created new fundraisers; Grand Garage Sale, Holiday Boutique and Brew City Bash.
• Unveiled new signature project in 2017 with Aurora Health Care – SHE – and began distributing the first payments of our $100,000 grant. This allowed the hiring of a program coordinator.  Also began our volunteer partnership with SHE, including several direct service opportunities such as meal preparation, a Mother’s Day event and renovation of their Common Room.
• Celebrated our 100^th Anniversary in 2015 with a Centennial Soiree at the Milwaukee County Historical Society building and a Centennial Luncheon at the Italian Community Center.
• Partnered with the Southwest YMCA in 2013 to launch Kids in the Kitchen, an Association of Junior League International (AJLI) program targeted to combat childhood obesity.
• Started Teen Transition Program along with Kids Matter in an effort to prepare foster children for life after foster care.
• Launched Winter Wonderland to provide a holiday experience to underserved children.
• Celebrated our 95^th Anniversary in 2010.

 

2020-TodayCelebrating 110 Years of Milwaukee service in 2025!

• Celebrated 75^th Anniversary of the Versiti Blood Center
• Served the Milwaukee Community by providing volunteers for Girls on The Run, Hunger Task Force, Sojourner Family Peace Center, Kids Matter and more.
• Celebrating 110 years in 2025!