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Junior League of Birmingham — Shanika Gibson (President-Elect), Ellen King (President), Meg Lovett (President-Elect-Elect) at the AJLI Annual Conference. (JLB)

Thousands of volunteer hours. A legacy of community investment. Real, lasting change across the Greater Birmingham Area. If you guessed the group behind this impact are members of the Junior League of Birmingham (JLB), you’re right—and they show up across the Magic City every single day.

As the organization calls a wrap on its 2025–2026 League year, here’s a look at how members made their mark and the difference they delivered along the way.

Junior League of Birmingham volunteer hours drive community impact in Birmingham

2025–2026 JLB Board (L-R): Ashley Paisley, Claire Boykins, Dorothea Staursky, Ellen King, Shanika Gibson, Leigh Haver, Dawn Zink. Top row L-R: Karen Templeton, Casey Hinton, Dessilyn Chappell, Alana Frederick, Katy Killion, Cameron Estes, Kendall Hagood, Tracy Cooper. (JLB)

At its core, the JLB is built on a simple idea: trained volunteers and strong women leaders creating meaningful community impact across Birmingham through hands-on service and investment in local partnerships.

For more than a century, members have stepped up to meet real needs across the city—and this year continued that legacy in a big way.

Their work showed up in schools supporting students, food distribution efforts addressing urgent insecurity and hands-on service projects that brought volunteers together with a shared commitment to serve the Greater Birmingham Area.

Birmingham volunteers balancing careers, families + community service

What stands out to me about the JLB is that its members don’t step away from their daily lives to volunteer. They are working professionals across healthcare, education, law, business and nonprofit sectors in Birmingham, along with mothers, caregivers and community leaders balancing full family and professional lives. Yet they still manage to carve out time to serve their city.

It’s this consistency of showing up again and again—after work, on weekends and during already busy schedules—that makes the JLB’s work possible.

“It has been inspiring to watch so many women lead with passion, purpose and a true commitment to serving Birmingham.”
Ellen King, 2025–2026 JLB President

A legacy of community investment in Birmingham

The JLB hosted a Sleep In Heavenly Peace bed-build last fall, creating beds for Birmingham-area children. (JLB)

2025-2026 JLB President Ellen King (the organizations 104th!) filled us in on one standout example from this League year’s service work: a partnership with Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

Through this project, members helped build beds for children in need, turning a hands-on volunteer effort into something deeply meaningful for local families.

“It’s a reminder of what can happen when people are willing to roll up their sleeves and serve together. The JLB is a powerful force for good. Every day, our members show up to lead, volunteer, advocate, fundraise and serve in ways that create meaningful change across our community.”
Ellen King, 2025–2026 JLB President

Birmingham volunteer impact by the numbers

_{Some of the women driving community impact across Birmingham: (L) Dawn Zink, Ellen King, Tracy Cooper; (Center) Dorothea Staursky & Dessilyn Chappel; (R) Ellen King, Junior League of Birmingham president. (JLB)}

The JLB’s 2025–2026 League year ends this month, and as the ninth largest Junior League in the world, the numbers reflect a major impact across the Greater Birmingham Area.

Here’s a closer look:

Impact areas:

Advancing Education & Culture: 80 volunteers / $52,000 funding
Overcoming Poverty & Financial Instability: 75 volunteers / $101,000 funding
Mitigating Crisis & Promoting Safety: 83 volunteers / $31,000 funding
Improving Health & Well-Being: 75 volunteers / $51,700 funding

In total, the JLB awarded $775,075 in direct funding, including:

$515,000 in JLB Beeson Community Fund
$235,700 in Community Project Funding
$10,000 in Community Impact Funding
$5,625 in Community Assistance Funding

Wondering how many volunteer hours this hard work totals? Across programs, partnerships and direct service, JLB members supported more than 28,000 volunteer hours this League year! This equates to a community investment of $1,011,920.

Join the Junior League of Birmingham

The impact of the JLB isn’t just measured in hours or funds raised: It’s measured in people who consistently show up—not because they have extra time, but because they believe Birmingham is worth it.

Looking for volunteer opportunities or ways to get involved? Learn how you can become part of the women behind the work helping shape a stronger Birmingham.

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