Celebrating 125 years of history, The Junior League stands as an organization that has built a remarkable legacy through leadership and service. Founded in 1901 by Mary Harriman, a 19-year-old New York debutante, who used her status, network, and privilege as a platform for social reform. This era marked a turning point for social change movements, and The Junior League distinguished itself with a clear and enduring mission: to empower women through leadership development while creating lasting community impact through meaningful volunteerism—a focus that continues to define it today.
A Brief History of The Junior League
From its earliest days as a small group of prominent women, The Junior League’s purpose was to better conditions in their communities. Guided by this vision, its first initiatives focused on addressing critical needs among immigrant populations in Manhattan, including improving living conditions, nutrition, and literacy. These early efforts reflected both compassion and a commitment to practical, hands-on change.
What set The Junior League apart was not only its dedication to service but its insistence on effectiveness. It was never enough to simply do good—the organization sought to train its members to do the greatest good, as skillfully and sustainably as possible. This commitment to developing capable, informed volunteers became a hallmark of The Junior League’s approach and a key driver of its long-term impact.
Over time, The Junior League has contributed to meaningful advancements across a wide range of areas, including child welfare, education, literacy, healthcare, and community infrastructure. Its influence has been both broad and enduring, shaped by generations of women committed to leadership and service.
Its membership has included influential women across many fields—from public service to the arts. Notable members have included figures such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Barbara Bush, as well as Julia Child and leaders of organizations like the Girl Scouts of the USA. Together, they reflect the breadth of impact and leadership that the Junior League continues to cultivate among women.
Impact of The Woodlands’ Local Chapter
Over the years, The Junior League has grown into a global movement across six countries, with nearly 300 leagues worldwide—each united by a shared mission to cultivate women’s leadership through meaningful community impact.
Within this expansive network is our local chapter in The Woodlands. Established in 1990 and boasting over 800 members, it is among the largest and fastest-growing leagues in the country.
“This proves there are women in our area who want to jump in, get involved, make an impact, and grow themselves,” says Jessica Huxel, President of the Junior League of The Woodlands.
A defining feature of our Junior League is its dual focus on service and leadership development.
“We’re not just a volunteer organization—we’re a leadership incubator,” says Huxel. “We like to think of ourselves as a launch pad for women.”
This philosophy is reflected in a diverse membership that spans generations and backgrounds, with the majority balancing careers alongside their Junior League commitments.
Central to the organization’s impact is its leadership development program, which equips members with skills in community engagement, strategic leadership, and project management, among others. These experiences not only strengthen Junior League of The Woodlands’ work but also prepare women to lead beyond it.
“When I joined the Junior League, I was definitely looking for a group of women that I would align with,” says Huxel. “What I found was lifelong friendships—and the ability to jump in and impact the community in ways that maybe the average citizen isn't aware of.”
Through this approach, Junior League of The Woodlands empowers women to understand community needs better, develop meaningful expertise, and step into broader leadership roles in service of lasting impact.
Initiatives and Influence
The organization creates its impact through a combination of leadership development and hands-on volunteer work within the community. To support these efforts, Junior League hosts fundraisers throughout the year, the largest of which is their annual Holiday Market, held the week before Thanksgiving at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott. This signature event helps fund key initiatives that directly serve local needs.
Among its most impactful initiatives is the Healthy Appetites Promote Positive Youth (HAPPY) program, which aims to alleviate food insecurities by providing children with backpacks of nutritional meals. This effort has grown significantly over the last few years. Today, the program serves approximately 50 schools and provides more than 31,500 backpacks annually across Montgomery County.
“We’ve been able to stand in the gap,” says Huxel, “and help ensure that those elementary-aged children have consistent weekend nourishment.”
The Junior League’s reach extends beyond students to educators through its Increase and Motivate Positive Awareness in Children and Teachers (IMPACT) conference. Designed to inspire and equip teachers, the conference reinforces the League’s broader commitment to strengthening the community through education.
“We're able to help fund those programs because, ultimately, it's giving right back into the kids, which is super important when it comes to a community impact, because the children are the future,” says Huxel.
These are just two of the numerous programs the Junior League offers that directly impact our local community.
“I really hope that we are continuously known for our ability to identify and support any of the programs or pillars that are making a difference in the community and continue turning out leaders, because it strengthens us from the inside as well,” says Huxel.
A Singular Movement
“There is power behind a group of 800 women, all focused on the same thing,” says Huxel.
That collective purpose is evident in the Junior League’s lasting impact—women coming together with intention can create meaningful, measurable change.
“It is a movement for community impact, led by women who are very interested in building a better community and leading alongside each other,” says Huxel. “That's really what we're here to do—to support the area we live in and make it the best place possible.”
Strengthening the community we live in is a shared responsibility, and the Junior League of The Woodlands offers a powerful way to be part of that work. For those interested in getting involved, more information can be found at thewoodlands.jl.org.
“There is power behind a group of 800 women, all focused on the same thing,” says Jessica Huxel, the President of the Junior League of the Woodlands.