The Junior League of Lafayette began in 1957 as the Service League of Lafayette. The seventeen women who organized the Service League were Mrs. Bella Nickerson Abramson, Mrs. Emalie Comegys, Jr., Mrs. Margaret Ramsey Copeland, Mrs. Azalie Crain, Mrs. Geraldine Fontenot, Mrs. Malise Foster, Mrs. Jean Frazell, Mrs. Martha Green, Mrs. Frances Wallace, Mrs. Barbara Hartwell, Mrs. Irene Hetherwick, Mrs. Susie Hughes, Mrs. Janelle Morgan, Mrs. Woodthrow Meeker, Mrs. Lucille Copeland, Mrs. Mary Ann Sadler and Mrs. Martha Smith. Three Honorary Members were Mrs. W. W. Hawkins, Mrs. Donald Labbe, and Mrs. Bennett Voorhies. This group formed the charter membership. In 1974, the Service League of Lafayette was admitted into the Association of Junior Leagues, and officially became the Junior League of Lafayette.

Since 1957, the Junior League of Lafayette has continued Mary Harriman's vision through its ongoing efforts to affect positive change in the community of Lafayette. Over these 45-plus years, the Junior League of Lafayette has provided trained volunteers for community service in areas of local need including child health/development, education, health/well-being, social services, substance abuse prevention, teens/juvenile justice, voluntarism and the arts. Through the tireless fundraising efforts of our members and the tremendous community support over the years, the JLL has raised over $2 million dollars to fund and support our mission.

Whether through the hands-on work of our volunteers, or by funding League-sponsored community projects, or by making direct grants to non-profit organizations whose interests and priorities are consistent with our mission statement, the rich history and tradition of service of the Junior League of Lafayette continues to grow!

Major Recipients of JLL Community Funds 1957-2002

• Acadiana Shelter for Girls
• The Child Safe Visitation Center of Acadiana
• The Family Tree/Family Tree Counseling Services
• Acadian Village
• Acadiana Arts Council
• The University Art Museum
• Junior Symphony
• Natural History Museum
• Hospice Foundation of Acadiana
• Southwest Louisiana Rehabilitation Center
• The Grief Center
• The Volunteer Center of Lafayette

Fundraising 1957-2005

• Mexican Supper (1957-58) $424
• Follies (1957-59, 1964-65, 1973-74) $30,100
• Silk Stocking Review (1958-59) $4,848
• Riverboat Rambles (1958-59) $1,306
• Doll Raffle (1958-59) $362
• Hawaiian Luau (1959-60) $8,500
• Broadway Theatre League (1960-62) $22,500
• Music Man Production (1962-63) $772
• Gypsy Party (1963-64) $8,300
• International Bazaar (1965-66) $5,561
• Charity Ball (1966-69) $19,800
• Talk About Good I, II and Tell Me More (1967-present) $540,840
• Bayou Oaks Charity Horse Show (1969-70) $10,500
• Southern Shooting Stars Basketball Exhibition (1971-72) $5,400
• Drowning Pool Movie Premier (1975-76) $11,000
• Talk About Tennis Exhibition (1976-78) $67,000
• It Was Great in '58 (1979-80) $30,100
• Christmas Comes Alive (1980-92) $458,943
• Culinary Classic (1990-95, 1997) $106,794
• Talk About Treasures (1993) $36,860
• Tinsel & Treasures (1994-present) over 1.8 million dollars