15,450The number of women serving their communities through the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries.

253,222The number of service hours Junior Auxiliary members worked in their communities in 2012-13.

$2,685,420The amount of money Junior Auxiliaries invested in eight southeastern states in 2012-13.

Return on that investmentpriceless.

The hard work goes on year-round, but during the first week of April each year, the Junior Auxiliary of Rogers-Bentonville pauses to say thanks to the community for another great year. A year packed with service to families and children through a variety of service projects that promote literacy, seek to alleviate hunger and provide mentorship to young women. Debra Lewis, the principal of Bonnie Grimes Elementary in Rogers, commends JA of Rogers-Bentonville for their service. She states, “Junior Auxiliary has been a vital program at Bonnie Grimes Elementary for several years. They have provided paperback books to second graders three times a year as well as donated additional books to our school library. In addition to the donation of books, the Junior Auxiliary members come into our building to read with first and second grade students. The support that they have given to the literacy program at Bonnie Grimes Elementary has been fundamental in the literacy growth of our first and second grade students. The services that they have provided is greatly appreciated.”

JA of Rogers-Bentonville has 30 active members who each serve a minimum of 24 hours and seven active life members who each serve a minimum of 12 hours every year implementing the Chapter’s various projects. In 2013 – 2014, JARB active, life and provisional members donated a total of 3,900 hours of their time serving Benton County. JARB raises funds each year to support these projects through “A Night at the Speakeasy”.  This year’s event will be held on Friday, October 17.

“This is such an exciting week for us, because it gives us a chance to thank all of the citizens of Benton County for supporting us in this work, and to recognize our wonderful corporate sponsors who finance these projects,” said JARB President Michelle Sell. “The children, youth and families we serve are so deserving and thankful for this assistance and none of that would be possible without the support of the entire community.”

Junior Auxiliary has a rich history of service and the Junior Auxiliary of Rogers-Bentonville is carrying on that tradition. JARB embraces the founding principles of our national organization, “helping children and making a difference in their lives,” said Leslie Vaughn, NAJA President.

Junior Auxiliary is a part of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA), a non-profit organization founded in 1941 with headquarters in Greenville, MS. NAJA has more than 15,000 active, associate and life members in 100 Chapters in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas.

The NAJA slogan is “Care Today—Character Tomorrow.” Junior Auxiliary Chapters are working more than ever to provide care to those less fortunate in order to make their tomorrows better.

For more information about JA of Rogers-Bentonville or “A Night at the Speakeasy” or to make a tax deductible donation to JA of Rogers-Bentonville, visit www.jarb.org. For more information on NAJA, visit www.najanet.org or call 662.332.3000.