The Junior League traces its origins back to 1901, when Mary Harriman, a 19-year-old New York City debutante with a social conscience, founded the first Junior League. Deeply moved by the suffering she witnessed among immigrants on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Harriman mobilized 80 young women — hence the name “Junior” League — to improve living conditions through organized volunteer efforts. Her vision of improving communities through the dedication and training of volunteers inspired others nationwide. The second Junior League was established in Boston in 1907, followed by the Brooklyn League in 1910.

In 1921, the Association of Junior Leagues was formed to provide professional support and governance. Today, the Association of Junior Leagues International governs 298 Junior Leagues across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, and Kenya.

The Junior League of Austin (JLA) joined the Association on February 9, 1934, with 50 active members. Since its inception, JLA has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to volunteerism and community service through various projects and initiatives. JLA has grown to 2,300+ members and is currently the fourth-largest League in the world. League members dedicate their time to funded projects as well as other community placements annually.

One of JLA’s earliest endeavors, the Resale Shop, began as The Thrift Shop in 1934 at a location on Ninth Street and Red River. The shop sold gently worn clothing, accessories, toys, housewares, appliances, and home furnishings. When the construction of Interstate-35 required relocation, the League purchased a new building at 522 East Sixth Street in 1970. For nearly two decades, the shop operated there before moving to 6555 Burnet Road in 1996. Ultimately, JLA’s Resale Shop closed its doors in May 2009, as we prepared for a new provisional program to support our community.

In 1976, JLA introduced A Christmas Affair®, a 4-day holiday shopping event showcasing premier holiday gifts, decorations, and celebrations. Over the years, A Christmas Affair has grown into a cornerstone fundraiser, raising approximately $1,000,000 annually to support the League’s community projects and programs. It has become a beloved Austin tradition, welcoming over 25,000 guests each year. 

In 1976, JLA published its first cookbook, The Collection, which quickly became a hit and earned features in publications like Harper’s and Reader’s Digest. In 1987, the League released Necessities and Temptations, a celebrated reference cookbook for beginners and brides-to-be, selling over 100,000 copies by 2001 and earning a Tabasco Community Cookbook Award. In 2000, JLA introduced Austin Entertains, recognized as “The Official Cookbook of the City of Austin” for its menu-driven approach to entertaining. Austin Entertains also inspired the League’s fundraising event of the same name. Austin Entertains is a culinary celebration focused on women in the culinary arts, and brings together Austin’s top chefs and mixologists to showcase their talents while raising funds to support JLA’s community programs. The event highlights the city’s vibrant food scene and reflects JLA’s dedication to addressing critical community needs through innovative initiatives.

In 1983, JLA purchased The Square on Parkcrest Shopping Center, a retail-oriented complex that served as League headquarters and generated revenue to support its operations. In 2019, JLA opened its new headquarters at the Community Impact Center (CIC), located at the intersection of Loop 360 and Bluffstone Lane near the Arboretum in Northwest Austin. This state-of-the-art facility serves as a hub for League operations and a collaborative space for events in our rental ballroom and meeting spaces. Situated on 10 acres, the Community Impact Center includes rentable spaces for community use and provides ample room for the League’s programs and operations.

The Junior League of Austin’s commitment to addressing critical community needs is exemplified through its signature programs, which focus on supporting children and families in the Austin area. These programs include:

• Coats for Kids: Providing warm winter coats to children in need across the Austin area, ensuring they are prepared for the colder months
• Food In Tummies (FIT): Addressing food insecurity by delivering weekend meal packs to students in underserved communities, helping bridge the gap when school meals are unavailable
• Kids In Cool Shoes (KICS): Providing new, properly fitted athletic shoes to children, promoting physical activity and self-confidence

Over the decades, The Junior League of Austin has invested millions of dollars into programs and agencies benefiting the Austin community. JLA has also helped fund and build several programs over the years including CASA of Central Texas, Settlement Home, Con mi Madre, UT Art Project, UT Strings, League House Seton Hospital, Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build, Austin Smiles, and more.

Today, JLA continues to build on its legacy of service, adapting to meet the city’s evolving needs while upholding its mission to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.

See the League’s current projects and programs.

“A Christmas Affair” is a registered trademark of The Junior League of Austin.