Junior League of Miami celebrates 100 years with events to highlight service, civic leadership
This fall, members of the Junior League of Miami are marking 100 years of cultivating leadership and commitment to service in our communities.
The group’s latest collaboration is with Food Rescue South Florida through lending volunteer support and distribution of fresh food, as well as annual funding to combat food insecurity.
A yearlong lineup of centennial celebration events began in October with a panel discussion featuring HistoryMiami Museum’s resident historian, Dr. Paul George, and a screening of Carl Kesser’s Emmy Award–winning documentary, “Our Miami: The Magic City.”
Additional exhibitions and community dialogues will run through May 30, 2026. All will focus on the JLM legacy of neighborhood impact, leadership and resilience.
“For 100 years, the Junior League of Miami has brought together women committed to building a stronger Miami through hands-on service, advocacy and leadership training,” said Michelle Vidal, 2025 president of the Junior League of Miami.
“This centennial year is not only a time to honor our past, but to inspire the next generation to lead and serve in ways that meet today’s challenges. Our mission is as relevant today as it was in 1925 — to train and empower women who do a world of good,” Vidal said.
Founded in 1926, JLM has helped establish community mainstays like the original Miami Science Museum; launched programs for survivors of domestic violence; and funded nonprofits addressing food insecurity, literacy and homelessness.
Julia Bianchi, a JLM past president (2001-2002), said “the centennial is a testament to the dedication and vision of generations of women who rolled up their sleeves to make Miami a better place.
“The League’s impact is woven into the city’s history, and its future will be built on the same spirit of collaboration and action,” Bianchi said.
And in partnerships with the Frost Science Museum, HistoryMiami, Books & Books and Westchester Library, JLM is presenting a traveling centennial exhibition. These will be paired with forums on women’s leadership, community health, civic engagement, Miami’s evolving needs and modern-day impact.
Other plans include a Bus Tour + Encore Pop-Up Shop, which is a nod to JLM’s historic Encore Shop, a thrift store the League operated from 1932 to 2004. The pop-up will showcase vintage finds and celebrate the more than 70 years of service through this beloved program.
JLM will also host Centennial Done-in-a-Days (DIAD), a signature initiative featuring one-day volunteer projects that fund and support local organizations in the League’s focus areas. These address family violence prevention and the health, education and welfare of women and children. Past efforts include creating a meditation garden at Lotus House and establishing the Beehive Module at the Miami Museum of Science.
On April 24, 2026, there will be the “Women Who Make a Difference Gala” at the Rusty Pelican to honor outstanding women who exemplify the League’s mission of advancing women’s leadership and meaningful community impact.
Since 2023, JLM has awarded between $150,000 and $200,000 annually in community grants to organizations addressing food insecurity, literacy and homelessness — totaling about $425,000 to date, with another $100,000 expected this year.
Signature programs include the Inn Transition residences for survivors of domestic violence, The Centennial Futures Scholarship for residents to pursue education and an advocacy role in the Florida State Public Affairs Committee continue to serve as models for collaboration. For more, visit www.jlmiami.org or call 305-443-0160.
SIP AND SHOP HELPS SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS
A heartwarming holiday shopping event is now in its ninth year of raising funds for special needs riding programs at Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Center.
The nonprofit is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals facing some of life’s most difficult physical, mental, and emotional challenges — such as Autism, PTSD, and Down Syndrome — through meaningful interactions with horses.
This year, “The Mane Event” is between 1 and 4 p.m., Nov. 2, at 6105 SW 125th Ave., in Miami’s historic “horse country.”
“The gathering is more than a fundraiser — it’s an opportunity for us to engage the community and educate them on the miraculous impact of human-horse interactions. Equine therapy is life-changing, and proceeds from The Mane Event will enable us to continue offering our programs at affordable costs to those facing physical, developmental, sensory or emotional challenges,” said Helen Picard, executive director of Whispering Manes.
The Mane Event guests are invited to wear fashions “with a dash of equestrian chic” and enjoy seasonal refreshments and artisanal bites while exploring gift ideas from local vendors.
Guests will also experience a riding demonstration, as well as a fashion show featuring the latest in trend-worthy styles. There will be performances by local artists and a silent auction. And attendees will meet the extraordinary therapy horses such as Honey, Banjo, Sonny and Chloe while touring the state-of-the-art facility.
Advanced online tickets are $60, while tickets at the door are $75. To learn more, or to register and donate online, visit whisperingmanes.org/maneevent2025/ Contact Picard at hpicard@whisperingmanes.org or 305-596-4204.
Community leaders dedicated to the mission of Whispering Manes continue to raise critical funds for these transformative equine-assisted programs. Hundreds of children and adults with special needs have been empowered by these efforts.
Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.