Western Reserve Junior Service League hits $1 million mark in raising funds [The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio]

Nov. 29--Most would agree that a million dollars is not what it once was.

But when members of the Western Reserve Junior Service League met last week to give away nearly $23,000 to several nonprofits, it put the amount contributed by the group since it began over the million-dollar mark.

There's little doubt that the Northeast Ohio community has benefitted exponentially from the League's money-raising efforts. One of its best known fundraisers is the black-tie Candlelight Ball, which each year takes place at the Kirtland Country Club. Its 44th annual holiday season ball is Dec. 10, and reservations are being accepted.

Conversations about the accomplishments of its milestone million are as common among members now as what they'll be wearing for the Ball.

Early on, WRJSL contributed the "seed money" that led to the formation of Laketran. Its $19,000 donation to the transportation program operated then by the Lake County Health and Human Services,resulted in the purchase of a new van, dubbed "the little van that cares."

It kept specialized transportation services going in the early 1970s when seniors and those with disabilities increasingly needed them.

"Now, 38 years later it's easy to see how the dedication of the Junior Service League women resulted in one of the key turning points in Laketran," said Raymond Jurkowski, Laketran general manager. All the specialized transportation services eventually merged into Laketran, which now has become the 124th largest bus system in the country.

"Today, Laketran helps more than 700,000 riders a year access jobs, health care, higher education, recreation and social services," Jurkowski said.

Last year's Candlelight Ball boosted the League's coffers by $20,000 and its every-other-year "follies" raised another $35,000. This year's follies, also called the Red Stocking Revue, took place May 20 and 21 at Harvey High School in Painesville. It was a musical comedy in which members and people in the community -- including Lake County Sheriff Dan Dunlap and News-Herald Editor Emeritus Jim Collins -- auditioned to perform singing and dancing numbers.

A full house both nights filled the auditorium with those paying $15 for the pleasure. See a preview of that performance online at http://bit.ly/ueAKB3.

This year, area diabetics are among those to benefit from the League's largesse. As baby boomers age and obesity increases, the incidence of Type 2 diabetes has become almost epidemic.

But a $3,235 grant to the Lake County Free Clinic to begin a program for diabetic care and another $3,361 grant to Lifeline for its diabetic assistance program will help fill that need.

Carrie Dotson, executive director of Lifeline, said that WRJSL funding has helped that agency make an even deeper impact on its clients.

"We've been fortunate to receive League funding many times over the last few years," Dotson said. "Their grant has allowed us to provide medical service and prescriptions to our Lake County residents who lack insurance," she said. "These are folks who would go without health care service without Lifeline's programs."

She said WRJSL grants have allowed the agency to enroll additional people in its job training programs so they can pursue careers.

"We'd have served a lot less clients over the last few years without WRJSL funds," she said.

"Twice a year we accept grant applications in Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties," said member Chris Price.

The league's community research committee reviews the applications and sends a committee member to interview a representative from each agency. "The committee then makes funding recommendations to our membership, who vote on the requests," Price said.

Elizabeth Pitorak, director of the Hospice Institute, approached the league for funding four different times, starting in 1978 when she spearheaded the establishment of Hospice of the Western Reserve. "Today our local Hospice is the fifth-largest among the nation's 4,000 nonprofit hospices," she said.

In 1979, the league granted Hospice $400 to pay part of the salary for the first volunteer coordinator, followed in 1980 by a $5,500 grant toward salaries for hands-on nurses. With a $4,000 grant in 1980, the league enabled hospice to become a certified home health agency and a $5,400</money> grant in 1985 enabled the formation of a bereavement program.

"To show how valuable WRJSL has been for us: Today our budget is in excess of $90 million," Pitorak said about the Hospice of the Western Reserve. "We cover six counties and provide services for 1,250 patients each day."

Grants made are not always in the thousands of dollars. This year, for the first time, the Coaches Corner received money from the Western Reserve Junior Service League.

Begun by a group of Harvey High coaches to establish a group home for displaced young men, the Coaches Corner home is a dream four years in the making. It finally opened in September, and is now housing four at-risk teens. The League granted it $150 for maintenance tools.

Candlelight Ball

6:30 p.m.Dec. 10

Kirtland Country Club

39438 Kirtland Road

Kirtland

Tickets: $125 per person, $250 per couple

Order online at www.wrjsl.org or call 440-376-7919

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