By Jeni Fitzgibbon and Katherine Torres
As the Junior League of Salt Lake City turns 90, our members continue to follow in their mother’s footsteps. The Junior League of Salt Lake City has been serving the Salt Lake community since 1931. It began as the Salt Lake Junior Aid and was accepted into membership of the Association of Junior Leagues in 1934 after a probationary period of training and education. As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, we would like to look back at the women of this great organization whose Junior League membership runs in the family. These lovely women have made The League a family affair. We have mothers, daughters, and sisters who have joined after admiring the work the older has done. What better way to bond with the ones you love than to share the joy of volunteering? These women have been giving their time and talents to building better communities. Here is a spotlight of the women who have grown up with The Junior League.
Elaine EllisCurrent Sustainer – League President in 2002-2003
Elaine and her sister Mary Ann grew up watching their mother, Sue Ellis, volunteer first with the Junior League and then with a multitude of other nonprofits. Sue joined The Junior League of Salt Lake City JLSLC in the late ’60s and was president in 1972-1973.
“As children, we helped taste test recipes for the Heritage Cookbook; explored the Museum of Natural History while Sue helped create the curriculum for the Junior Science Academy, a JL project; and ran around Wheeler Farm in its infancy, another League project,” says Elaine.
Elaine’s sister, Mary Ann Ellis, joined The Junior League of Los Angeles in the ’90s and transferred to the JLSLC when she moved back in 2001. She’s the families go-to fundraising expert.
Their mother encouraged them to join JLSLC to get broad training as volunteers but, more importantly, to engage in the community.
Elaine says, “The main thing we learned was having compassion for those in need and to be part of our community by volunteering in social services, educational and arts organizations. No matter what our current project is, we know we can always rely on family to help out in whatever capacity is needed at the time. Never underestimate the impact your volunteering has not only for the nonprofit but also for the family and friends who are watching; the example you’re setting is very powerful.”
Jennifer Kelsey Current Sustainer – League President in 2011-12
Jennifer always wanted to be a member of the League.
“Ever since I remember, my mom was taking my sister and me along with her to Junior League things. Specifically, I remember the pumpkin patch at Wheeler Farm and the Thrift store near 9th and 9th. I was not always happy about going along with her, but I somehow picked up on that she, and the other women, were doing something that was important and was helping other people,” says Jennifer.
Her mother, two aunts, many of her mother’s friends, and her own friends’ mothers were involved in the League.
“I really always just thought that you grew up and became a member just as I was to go to college. Sounds silly, but true,” she says.
Jennifer’s aunt, Daryl Barrett, and her mother’s mom, Susan Cameron, created a program through the JLSLC and then continued with it for years after called ‘You’re in Charge.’ It was a sexual abuse prevention program. They wrote a curriculum, took it to elementary schools (eventually in other states), and taught the teachers and parent volunteers.
Jennifer went active in 1997-1998, was president in 2011-2012, went sustainer in 2014-2015, and was the sustaining advisor in 2019-2020.
Growing up and having parents, relatives, and friends who were active within the city positively impacted Jennifer. As a family, they were always volunteering for something, and it came very naturally.
Lisa OwenCurrent Project VP
Lisa is a second-generation JLSLC member; her mother joined in the late 80s. After growing up with a mother in the League and seeing and experiencing the projects and events, Lisa decided to follow in her footsteps, which included being the director of the Women Helping Women committee.
“I was also the go-to babysitter for many League members. In the early 90s, when the JLSLC moved into the new building, the WHW closet was dismantled and stored in our living room. In 1992, I experienced the Car-a-Van immunization van, which was the beginning of Care Fair. I spent multiple summers at Care Fair assembling car seats and setting up alongside my mom. Seeing the friendships that were made and the satisfaction of being able to give back to the community, I knew I’d be a future member.”
After Lisa completed college and started teaching, she was positive she was going to be a member. After her mother decided to sustain for the 2003-2004 year, Lisa signed up for the spring Provisional class in 2003.
