JSL's Sculpture in the South Liaison, Kristen Cornette and Community Service Chair, Sheri Weber present Charlotte Carroll, director of Sculpture in the South, with a contribution during the year end meeting.

By Kelly Lax
The Summerville Sun

In the final meeting of the year, The Junior Service League of Summerville disbursed checks totaling approximately $20,000 to local charities. The League raised over $23,000 in the annual John Tupper Golf Tournament held last month. Members also served well over 3,000 volunteer hours within the community.

The Junior Service League was founded in 1998 by Beth Mills and eleven other ladies in an effort to provide a consortium of women who would be of benefit to the community both with their time and fund raising efforts. The League now has 160 sustainers, or retired members, 61 current members and a brand new provisional class of more than 30. Over the years, the JSL has donated more than $339,000 to local organizations and hundreds of thousands of hours. One of their most substantial monetary donations was made to the Playground Project in 2001. The Summerville Junior Service League gave $30,000 to assist in funding the community built playground at Gahagan Sports Complex. League members also provided a considerable amount of volunteer hours in the 18 month project which ended in a six day build. Most individuals on the steering committee were past or present JSL members.

Several organizations' representatives joined in the festivities Monday evening and personally received the contributions designated. New this year was the Miracle League which is a baseball league for special needs children. Games began recently at Laurel Street Playground. The Junior Service League continued their support of the SPCA, Meals on Wheels, the Palmetto House and The Summerville Dorchester Museum, to name a few. One recipient commented, "You ladies come through for us year after year. The work you do in the community is so valuable."

"This has been a great year and I really appreciate everyone's hard work", said outgoing president Cindy Chitty. New officers were sworn in during the evening as well as the new members' induction.