Our Mission

The Junior League of Reading is an organization whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.

Our Vision

Women around the world acting as catalysts for lasting community change.

Our Focus

The trained volunteers of The Junior League of Reading, PA, Inc. are focused on empowering youth by creating, improving, and expanding the resources and opportunities available for their growth, development and overall welfare, so they can become stewards of leadership in their communities.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Junior League welcomes all women who value our Mission. We are committed to inclusive environments of diverse individuals, organizations and communities.

Who
are
we
?

The Junior League of Reading, PA, Inc. (JLR) has been a leader in volunteer service in Berks County for 97 years! Today, nearly 300 members from every corner of Berks County pledge their support to the League’s mission. The JLR trains women to be effective leaders in the community through seminars, national conferences, and hands-on training in personal and leadership development, organizational management, and community impact.

JLR is part of an international organization, The Association of Junior Leagues International, which has over 295 Junior Leagues throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.

 

What
we
do
!

Our goals are to improve the self-esteem of youth and empower our youth to become community  leaders. We achieve this by increasing access to leadership development programs, increasing awareness of issues affecting the development of positive self-esteem and increasing opportunities for empowerment through youth volunteer service.

Our current programming includes:

  • Young Women’s Summit: a four-day summit designed to empower middle school girls to be community leaders
  • Touch-A-Truck: a community event providing family fun and education to over 2,000 men, women and children
  • Community Connections Club (formerly known as Service Saturdays): done-in-a-day service learning projects with young women at Olivet Boys and Girls Club
  • Educational forums, community documentary screenings and panel discussions impacting over 500 men, women and children

Our efforts over the last year alone have impacted over 2,000 children and empowered over 100 women leaders!

Our Legacy

Organizations and programs that were founded or substantially assisted by the Junior League of Reading and collaborative partners include: Leadership Berks, Opportunity House, Children’s Alliance Center, BEACON House, Emma’s Place, Second Street Learning Center, Safe Berks (formerly BWIC), VOiCEup and the Young Women’s Summit

Our Members

The Junior League of Reading has 84 active members and 153 sustaining members.  Our membership consists of business owners, professional women, working mothers, and stay-at-home moms who devote countless hours to help improve our community.

– Learn About Becoming a Member –

Board of Directors

The Junior League Board of Directors are responsible for the governance and management of the League. They directly plan and oversee the effectiveness of the League’s programs, promote the achievement of established goals, and further the work and impact of the League.

 

Piera Moyer

President

“I joined the Junior League of Reading in order to help build a better community, be a positive example of volunteerism and leadership for my children, and meet like-minded women! The world is so much bigger than just our individual lives… it’s important to take pride and put time and effort back into our communities.”

Lynsay Ladany

President Elect

“I was new to the area and wanted to meet new people as well as get to know the surrounding area and volunteer. I believe in our mission and want to continue to move JLR forward in a positive way for our membership and our community.  JLR is important to me because it is an organization of strong women that are committed to improving the community around them as well as themselves. We are instilling leadership and volunteerism to the next leaders through our youth empowerment initiative- and that’s an amazing thing to watch.”

 

Alyssa Conahan Redding

President Elect-Elect

“I became a member of The Junior League of Reading to give back to the Berks County community, to empower young women, and to learn from the amazing women who are JLR members. My favorite memory from The Junior League of Reading is Fall Fest 2018.”

Katie Williams

Secretary

“I believe strongly in what JLR stands for and does – DEI, youth empowerment, volunteerism, female leadership and training, etc. Taking on a leadership role is a huge privilege because not only do I get to be involved in these efforts but it gives me the opportunity to help shape the direction the organization moves going forward.”

Jess Bialek

Treasurer

“As a member of the Junior League, I have developed wonderful friendships, volunteered in our community, participated in many training and leadership opportunities, and created lasting memories.

My favorite memory from The Junior League of Reading was making blankets with the girls at the Olivet Boys and Girls Club that were then delivered to residents at Phoebe Berks.”

 

Casey Trexler

Member at Large

“I joined the Junior League of Reading to give back and support positive change in my community. The Junior League of Reading’s focus of empowering youth directly aligns with my passion for children.  The Junior League is important to me because it fulfills my desire to give back and engage young women to be healthy and strong.”

Laura Waetjen

Sustainer Representative

“I wanted to meet other women in the area and to get involved by giving back to the community. I love the JLR history, mission and continued impact we were making in the Greater Reading area. I met so many awesome women that I enjoyed spending time with while making a positive contribution. “

Meg Valente

DEIB Vice President

Coming soon

Stacey Hughes

Community Council Vice President

“I am a member of JLR to join together with like-minded women to help empower our youth and volunteer in our community. My favorite recent memory was when our girls from Young Women’s Summit completed their build for the Canstructure competition. Their sense of pride and accomplishment was evident in their smiles, cheers and sighs of relief that they could get the structure to stand.”

Jenna Hiester

Financial Resources Council Vice President

‘I joined JLR to be a part of something bigger than myself. I love working with so many amazing women with diverse talents and backgrounds to achieve lasting change in our community. I truly believe in the positive impact of our League’s mission of Youth Empowerment. I am thankful to learn more about effective leadership and programming from mentors I am now lucky to call friends.”

Carrie Spayd

Membership Council Vice President

“I joined League to meet like-minded women, learn more about our community, and give back in a meaningful way! My favorite JLR memory was our first Fall Fest event because there were so many people in attendance who truly had no idea what Junior League was all about or the impact we made. I loved hearing from people how impressed they were, how inspired they were, and how they wanted to get involved or donate to help us further our mission. Many of those same people became members in future years! It was a super fun night with long-lasting positive impact for League!”

Active Members

Our 84 active members donate 355+ hours per year in community service at a value of over $10,130. These hours include 30+ volunteer events such as Girls on the Run 5K, Thanksgiving dinner and Community Connections Club at Olivet Boys and Girls Club, and Young Women’s Summit.

Sustaining Members

Our Sustaining Members continue to support the Junior League mission.  Since June of 2008 Sustaining Members have donated over $84K to not-for-profit organizations that support children’s issues within Berks County.  In addition to financial support, members volunteer at Done in a Day projects  that support initiatives such as JLR’s Young Women’s Summit and various not-for-profits within Berks County.  While volunteering can keep us busy, we do enjoy time together at book clubs, luncheons, dinners, happy hours and issues trips.