Celebrating all Monmouth County Volunteers on April 4th, Come Join Us

CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF SERVICE TO MONMOUTH COUNTY

In 1939 the U.S. economy was just beginning to show signs of recovery after a decade of the Great Depression. The first air-conditioned Packard came off the assembly line and could be had for $700. Penicillin was being tested on humans and proving to be the first true antibiotic and a cure for tuberculosis. NBC began to broadcast its first black and white images on the almost 1000 TV sets in the New York City area!  Bread cost 8 cents; gas 10 cents a gallon. The most popular kids toys were Batman comics and the View-Master. 

Here in Red Bank, the town was preparing for the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.  John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” was in the bookstores.  The Wizard of OZ, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Gone With the Wind were playing in the local movie houses. Gene Autry was crooning “Back in the Saddle Again” and the Glenn Miller Orchestra’s “In the Mood” was a huge hit.

Against this background, 13 women found themselves ‘in the mood’ to improve life for many who were not as fortunate in the Red Bank area.  We feel certain that they found themselves gathering for luncheon meetings at the Molly Pitcher (which had been opened in 1928), wearing their requisite hats, and gloves and pearls, to do the planning for what would become the important work of the new Junior Service League of Red Bank.  The fledgling organization’s first fundraiser was to sell tickets to the newly opened World’s Fair in New York City, the theme of which was “World of Tomorrow”.  The proceeds from those ticket sales went towards the Junior Service League’s first project, to establish a milk fund for needy children.

We are most grateful to our fore-sisters for their vision and determination and for truly help to create a “world of tomorrow” for so many.  We have been proud to carry their banner for 75 years, touching hundreds of programs and thousands of people in Monmouth through our volunteer efforts and what is now known as the Junior League of Monmouth County.

Please join us on Friday, April 4, 2014 to pay tribute to our 13 Charter Members and to all those who followed in their footsteps, both in the Junior League and in the community.  Wear your hats, pearls and gloves with pride that day.  Bring a friend who volunteers somewhere, anywhere, to help us celebrate!  We will enjoy music from the era and a lovely ladies lunch complete with tea, finger sandwiches and scones.  A Chance Auction will provide further entertainment along with a cash bar and the chit chat of catching up with members and friends from decades past.  A great time will be had by all!

Tickets for the luncheon are $50.  For $75 dollars you can put a candle on our cake and receive a luncheon ticket, recognition, and a sheet of Chance Auction tickets.  Click here to learn more and purchase your tickets.

Remember gals, as Judy Garland so aptly sang for the first time back in 1939, sometimes ‘the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true!’

Linda Bricker
Rumson, NJ