The Junior Auxiliary of Rogers-‐Bentonville (JARB) was founded in 1969 by a group of women who had the desire to help the less fortunate and wanted to make a difference in the lives of the children in our community. In over 40 years of service, JARB has done some amazing things. They have initiated community efforts that have led to the founding of the Rogers Youth Center, Our Farm, Inc. residential homes for troubled youth and Poplar House Health Clinic for low-‐income families. They have partnered with city, county, state and national organizations to provide educational and mentoring programs such as Just About Moms for teen mothers, their partners and parents, Red Ribbon and Reach Out drug and alcohol awareness programs for elementary through high school students, Teen Esteem for girls in the juvenile court system and Reading Is Fundamental to promote literacy.
In order to fund such amazing programs, JARB has organized everything from beauty pageants, garage sales, book sales and vendor sales to sock hops, disco dances, country dances and balls, to even garden party luncheons attended by Arkansas’ elite including Dr. Spock (no, not the Star Trek character) and Hilary Rodham Clinton. While the fundraising efforts of JARB have been essential to these programs, more important to their success has been the time devoted to the execution of these programs. The women of JARB have directly served the beneficiaries of these programs in many ways. They have taken in homeless children, they have mentored troubled youth, pregnant teens and teen moms and their families. They have provided office support staffing for various community agencies, substituted for teachers receiving continuing education and chaperoned youth dances and activities. They have provided “Children’s Hour” at the public library and birthday parties at Head Start and so much more.
Junior Auxiliary of Rogers-‐Bentonville continues to take its commitment to the community seriously. In support of the National Associations of Junior Auxiliary and its slogan, Care Today….Character Tomorrow, JARB currently focuses on improving the quality of life of children in Benton County. The chapter currently has 34 Active Members. In 2012 – 2013, the organization of women donated more than 800 hours of service to the local community. The projects for 2013 – 2014 include but are not limited to the following: Reading is Fundamental, Kids First, NWA Head Start, Snack Packs for Kids, Dinner with Friends, Crown Club and Adopt-‐a-‐Need. Learn more about our organization and these projects at jarb.org.
To support such amazing projects and programs requires fundraising efforts. Today’s JARB is continuing another tradition by finding creative spins on the dinner-‐dance done so well by their predecessors. The group is currently completing plans for the Second Annual “A Night at the Speakeasy” to be held October 18, 2013. This event was recently recognized at the National Associations of Junior Auxiliary Annual Education Conference in Memphis, Tennessee for Excellence in Public Relations.
