Patricia Wilfong describes the Junior League of Charlotte's 88-year track record helping young people through programs like Funky Fit and partnerships that raised one school's grade-level proficiency from 20% to 80%. The Teen Health Connection has reached over 140,000 teens with health and life-skills services.
So here's the deal. So the Junior League of Charlotte, amazing organization of wonderful women who for many, many years have served this community. And when I say served this community, I don't mean they just put their dollars into this community. They rolled up their sleeves and they put their hearts into this community. Yeah! You see it everywhere where there's a positive program, service, There's an impact for adolescents. They've been a part of it. It is called Funky Fit. It's just a really great time to let loose, and the girls are able to expel some of that energy they have built up. It's basically getting girls from 7th and 8th grade to come together and learn things about being a girl and finances, working out, being healthy. We really have been impacting Children and families in Charlotte for the past 88 years. If you look over the years, the programming's always changing, the funding's always going to different areas where we see the greatest need. I'm Patricia Wilfong. I'm here because I want to make a difference in children's lives. For me, it feels better when you talk to someone just to— and they're there for you. The Junior League's dedication to teenagers is practical and it's about action. They can read a proposal and they can give money like any other organization, but they don't do that. They give of their time. The Junior League is such an important piece of this community. They have been dedicated to children and adolescents for years. Their commitment to adolescents was really one of the first Big community members to stand up and say, you know, adolescents are important. The Junior League of Charlotte, they get it. Our adolescents every single day are making life-altering decisions that truly do have a long-term impact. With the League involvement, we know those decisions are much more likely to be positive. We started Sugar Creek Charter School with 20% on grade level, and we just had lunch the other day, and we have 80% on grade level. From a Ronald McDonald House perspective, of course, we serve children of all ages. Our Junior League volunteers are there setting up their guest rooms and helping to put on activities. Can you move straight for me? I believe that a good leader is always looking behind them to pull up the next leader. So these teens that are here today are future teachers, doctors, lawyers, governors, mayors, and we need to let them know that we're supporting them, that they Even at this age, can make a difference in their community. The U.S. Attorney's Office has partnered with the Junior League on anti-bullying initiatives and human trafficking. They're easy victims. We have runaways. They're not as knowledgeable about their rights. They're easily persuaded. 1 in 5 of us is affected in one way or another, either ourselves, our friends, our family members. And prevention is so much more than substance abuse prevention. It's really teaching life skills and teaching communities how to create things that we call protective factors that protect our children. The Junior League of Charlotte has always had a huge impact on our adolescents. It's not just, you know, giving them their immunizations. It's teaching them, they're getting just guidance on living a healthy life, which is something that's going to stay with them forever. So it's just a comprehensive place for them to go and get whatever their health needs met. A great idea, you know, who— that is still a great idea. That's That's what's wonderful 20 years later. Whether it's acute care or something chronic, they need help, they need assistance, and I'm so glad that Teen Health Connection was able to be a part of helping them through that. When I look at all the stuff we've done, obviously for the last 7 years the Junior League has been focused on the Healthy Child Initiative. And probably 75% or more, the balance of all of those, all of that programming, all the volunteers, all the dollars that are given to those relate to adolescent issues and things that make adolescents exactly what the Teen Health Connection mission is, which is empowering them to be healthy, safe, and successful. The way they approach you is they're really nice. I can tell they really care. In the 20-plus years that Teen Health Connection has been here serving teens and families in our community, over 140,000 teenagers have been impacted. Thank you, Junior League of Charlotte, for making that possible. Thank you.
