New York, May 20, 2016 – The Association of Junior Leagues International today announced that the Junior League of the City of New York’s DeNora Getachew and the Junior League of Phoenix’s Jessica Eldridge are the recipients of its 2016 Rising Star Awards. The awards, which recognize and celebrate emerging leaders from within the 292 independent Junior Leagues, were made at AJLI’s 94th Annual Conference in Atlanta on May 14th.
AJLI President Ellen Rose said, “Reading through the many applications for the Rising Star award is an inspiring experience. Like DeNora and Jessica, these young women from many different backgrounds are drawn to The Junior League because of the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and, working with other members, create lasting community impact.”
Vice chair of her local community board in Manhattan, Ms. Getachew is an accomplished attorney specializing in advocacy. She is the campaign manager and legislative counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice in New York City and serves on the boards of the Union Settlement Association in East Harlem and for Planned Parenthood NYC Votes.
As the co-chair of her League’s Advocates for Public Policy committee, she has worked diligently to ensure that the committee is focused on issues with the greatest impact on women and children. Ms. Getachew also partners closely with the New York State Public Affairs Committee of the Junior League to help form critical relationships with statewide organizations and other Junior Leagues throughout the state.
As chair of the Junior League of Phoenix’s Community Impact committee, a mentor to new League members and a graduate of the League’s Leadership Development Institute, Ms. Eldridge has, in only a few years, become a dynamic leader in the organization.
But it was the work she did in the expansion of her League’s Kids in the Kitchen program (part of an Association-wide initiative called Junior Leagues’ Kids in the Kitchen) that demonstrated the breadth of her leadership skills. Under Ms. Eldridge’s leadership, the program has grown from two events serving 250 kids in 2012-13 to twelve events serving more than 1,200 kids in 2014-15. In doing so, Ms. Eldridge established and maintained important community partnerships, including a two-year partnership commitment from the Boys and Girls Club of Arizona, and also led the development of her League’s new “KITK University” nutrition education curriculum.
About The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.
Founded in 1901 by New Yorker and social activism pioneer, Mary Harriman, the Junior Leagues are charitable nonprofit organizations of women, developed as civic leaders, creating demonstrable community impact.
Today, The Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) is comprised of more than 150,000 women in 291 Junior Leagues throughout Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States. Together, they constitute one of the largest, most effective volunteer organizations in the world.
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