October, 2009

EXCLUSIVE LEE MICHAELS' PREVIEW FOR JUNIOR LEAGUE MEMBERS

San Antonio, TX - October, 2009 -  Lee Michaels' invites Junior League of San Antonio Members to an exclusive preview of David Yurman's fall collection at 6:00 p.m. at their North Star Mall store on Thursday, November 5th at the All That Glitters Affair. Enjoy wine and complimentary hors d'oeuvres along with your sneak peak.

The drawing for the $1,000 gift card for those who purchased an entry with their gift bag at the Ole Holiday Market will also take place.

Members who wish to attend should RSVP through the JLSA website by clicking here.

ON-LINE SALES FOR OLE HOLIDAY MARKET TICKETS ARE CLOSED.

San Antonio, TX - October, 2009 - On-line sales for event tickets closed on October 21st. Tickets to attend the Preview Party, Ready, Set, Shop, Multi-Day, or Single Day tickets are still available for purchase at the door. 

Tickets purchased in advance may be picked-up at will call. All ornament orders are ready and may be claimed inside the market.

 

September 2009

THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN ANTONIO PRESENTS IT’S 16^TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY OLÉ MARKETPLACE

 Annual event offers an exclusive shopping experience featuring 80 unique merchants to satisfy all styles

 

SAN ANTONIO, TX - September, 2009 –  The Junior League of San Antonio (JLSA) invites the public to shop to their hearts’ content at JLSA’s annual Holiday Olé Marketplace at Alzafar Shrine Temple from Wednesday, October 21^st  through Saturday, October 24^th.  Tickets with special early bird discounts are on sale now at www.jlsa.org. 

The boutique shopping and special events hosted by the JLSAoffers a great marketplace for all of your holiday needs in a casual environment, where you can spendquality time with friends and family.  Net proceeds from Holiday Olé Marketplace support the community programs and projects of the Junior League of San Antonio, Inc; including Literacy San Antonio, our endeavor to eradicate illiteracy.  

Shoppers can visit Holiday Olé Marketplace during general shopping hours or attend special events, including:

Special Events:

• Preview Party            Wednesday, October 21               7pm to 11pm                       

The premier VIP event of Holiday Olé Marketplace features fabulous merchants, food, beer and wine. With something for everyone, it’s the perfect venue to enjoy a night out with friends and family. Tickets: $50/each.

• Ready, Set, Shop            Thursday, October 22            9am to Noon                       

An exclusive private shopping event featuring over 80 unique vendors, delicious breakfast and signature Holiday Olé Marketplace mimosas. Tickets: $45/each.

Shopping Hours

General Admission Ticket – Single Day: $10 Multi-Day: $12

• Thursday, October 22                        Noon to 8pm
• Friday, October 23                         9am to 8pm
• Saturday, October 24                        9am to 5pm

(EARLY BIRD PRICES AVAILABLE AT WWW.JLSA.ORG)

Parking is free and convenient at Alzafar Shrine Temple, located at 901 North Loop 1604 West  close to Blanco Rd.

 

51^st Annual Metropolitan Opera National Council Southwest Region Finals Concert

 

(September 4, 2009) SAN ANTONIO, TX…The Metropolitan Opera National Council (MONC) Southwest Region  will celebrate its 51^st annual auditions with the Finals Concert on Sunday, September 27th.  This event will be held at the Coates -Seeglison Theater Chapel on the campus of Saint Mary's Hall in San Antonio, Texas.  The public is invited, at no charge, to hear some of the most promising young singers in the world of opera.  Curtain time is 2:00PM.

The Finals Concert draws regional, national and international talent.  These rising stars offer an exciting performance before a panel of four distinguished judges.  On hand for this year’s competition will be John Baril, Music Director of Central City Opera in Colorado;  Sheri Greenawald, Opera Center Director for the San Francisco Opera; Jonathan Dudley, a renowned vocal coach in New York City; and Gayletha Nichols, Executive Director of the MONC.   Singers will be accompanied by Richard Bado, Chorus Master of the Houston Grand Opera and Director of Opera Studies at Rice University.   Emcee for the afternoon will be Mark Richter, Founder and Artistic Director of the San Antonio Opera.

The Southwest Region winner announced at the end of the performance will receive coaching from the Metropolitan Opera’s artistic staff, and then compete at the National Semifinal Auditions at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York in March 2010.  Grand Finalists named at that competition will perform on the stage of the Met with a full orchestra before an audience eagerly anticipating the professional birth of future worldwide opera stars.

The Southwest Region auditions have produced more than 35 national finalists, with many joining the permanent roster of singers at the Met.

The tradition of producing the MONCSouthwest Region auditions in San Antonio began in 1959 with Margaret Batts Tobin.  One of San Antonio’s strongest arts philanthropists, Mrs. Tobin was pivotal in developing the National Council’s regional auditions program to identify and develop top operatic talent throughout the US, then keep that talent within US shores.  Not only did she establish the auditions program in San Antonio, Mrs. Tobin also involved The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. (JLSA), whose volunteers have helped stage the Southwest Region auditions since inception.

For additional information on the Southwest Region auditions, please contact Heather Welder Russo, Publicity Chair, at (210) 854-9906.  

 

JULY 2009
COMMUNITY WORKS TOGETHER TO INCREASE LITERACY LEVELS: MAYOR CASTRO GIVES SUPPORT
2009 Summer Reading Academytargets Windcrest Elementary students

SAN ANTONIO, TX - July 6, 2009 - Rackspace® Hosting, (NYSE: RAX), The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc.,  H-E-B, Valero and North East ISDhave teamed up to launch the 2009 Summer Literacy Academy. Through a daily curriculum at the Academy, more than 70 kindergarten through fifth-grade students at Windcrest Elementary are being targeted to significantly and permanently increase their literacy levels. This is one of a number of initiatives included in the Read SA plan developed by Rackspace and Junior League. ReadSA is part of LITERACY San Antonio, a citywide effort to improve literacy levels and education attainment in San Antonio through community collaboration and strategic planning. San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro will visit with students on July 16 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Windcrest Elementary, to announce that the group of 54 students will receive a $200 college scholarship through the City’s new initiative - Cribs to College. This will be the first pilot program for the City under the Cribs to College initiative at the elementary school level.

At the Summer Literacy Academy, students work on vocabulary as well as their reading skills through individual andgroup work. Teachers also work independently withstudents with the goal of increasing the student’s reading level and frequency. In addition, students learn math, social studies and science curriculum. Student performance will be measured using pre- and post-tests at the academy, attendance rates, informal assessments at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, and results from the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). 

“We believe that projects like the Summer Literacy Academyat Windcrest are necessary for this community,” said Mari Aguirre, manager of Community Affairs for Rackspace. “A literate community is important to Rackspace, our partners and this entire community.  We believe it leads to the creation of a vibrant community.”

“This is a fantastic project that brings together the resources of many businesses and organizations to benefit the children of the Windcrest community,” said Richard A. Middleton, superintendent of schools. “It is partnerships like this that can begin to make sustainable positive change for the future of San Antonio.”

The 2009 Summer Literacy Academy is June 15-July 30 from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday. The camp also included a Parent Literacy Night facilitated by the United Way of Bexar County on July 14, and will include a field trip to the Witte Museum on July 23 and an end-of-year cake-decorating celebration, courtesy of H-E-B.

Families have received a library card and enrollment in the summer reading program by the San Antonio Public Library and hunger prevention support from the San Antonio Food Bank.  Those funding this innovative project include: Valero Energy Foundation, H-E-B, Rackspace, the Junior League of San Antonio, The Mayor of San Antonio, Councilwoman Ivy Taylor, The City of Windcrest and the City of San Antonio.

About NEISD:

North East ISD has close to 70 schools andmagnet programs with a fall 2008 enrollment more than 63,000 students. NEISDemploys nearly 9,000 people. It is the second largest public school district in the San Antonioarea andthe ninth largest in the state. NEISD has 19 Exemplary schools, the most in Bexar County, and is a Recognized district. More information about NEISDcan be found at www.neisd.net.

About Rackspace Hosting:

As the leader and specialist in hosting services, Rackspace® Hosting is changing the way businesses worldwide buy IT. Rackspace delivers computing-as-a-service, integrating the industry's best technologies into a flexible service offering, making computing more reliable and affordable. A trusted partner to companies of all sizes, Rackspace enables IT departments to be more effective. Rackspace is distinguished by its award-winning Fanatical Support®, furthering the company's mission to be one of the world's greatest service companies. Rackspace is recognized as one of FORTUNE Magazine's 100 Best companies to work for in the US, ranking number 43 on the list. Rackspace's portfolio of hosted IT services includes managed hosting (www.rackspace.com), email hosting (www.rackspace.com/apps) and cloud hosting (www.mosso.com). For more information on Rackspace Hosting please visit www.rackspace.com.

About Junior League of San Antonio:

The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. http://www.jlsa.org/. 

MAY 2009
THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN ANTONIO, INC.HONORS GRANT RECIPIENTS AT COMMUNITY RECEPTION
Over $26,000 awarded to San Antonio area community programs
SAN ANTONIO, TX - May 13, 2009 - The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. (JLSA) proudly announced its 2009 Community Assistance Grant recipients on May 12th at the Bright Shawl. For 85 years, the JLSA has played a vital role in San Antonio by providing necessary funding to community organizations and mobilizing thousands of volunteers to serve those in need. Click here to view the full article.

APRIL 2009
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN ANTONIO WINS 2 PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS FOR MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
SAN ANTONIO, TX – May 7, 2009 – The Junior League of San Antonio received 2 prestigious awards at the The Association of Junior Leagues International’s 87^thAnnual Conference.  The “JL” Honorable Mention Award for Marketing and The “JL” Award for Membership Development were presented to JLSA. Click here to view the full article.

MARCH 2009
SAN ANTONIO, TX - March 1, 2009 - In conjunction with National Nutrition Month in March, the Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. (JLSA) will launch its 2nd annual childhood obesity and nutrition education initiative, Junior Leagues' Kids in the Kitchen. The program which works to empower children to adopt healthy lifestyles, kicks off on Sunday, March 1, 2009 at the Pearl Brewery in the Pearl Stable. Click here to view the full article. 

Click here to see video news coverage of the Kids in the Kitchen event.

FEBRUARY 2009
TREASURE HUNTERS HEAD TO GOODWILL STORES FOR 85TH ANNUAL JUNIOR LEAGUE RUMMAGE SALE
For 85 years, the Junior League of San Antonio has hosted an annual Rummage Sale filled with treasures and bargains. This year, the sale has a new partner, Goodwill and four new locations. Click here to view the full article.

MAY 2008
SAN ANTONIO, TX - May 1, 2008 - Art at the Bright Shawl. To San Antonians who have attended weddings, meetings and banquets there, the Bright Shawl is a venerable building nestled on a shady lot at the corner of McCullough Avenue and Augusta Street. Click here to view the full article.

APRIL 2008
SAN ANTONIO, TX - April 13, 2008 - Mark your Calendar! The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. will participate in the Junior Leagues’ Kids in the Kitchen initiativeon Sunday, April 13th. This exciting program is an Association-wide initiative designed to address the growing issues of childhood obesity and poor nutrition at the grassroots level. Click here to view the full article.

MARCH 2008
SAN ANTONIO, TX - March 12, 2008 - The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. (JLSA) is pleased to announce that Mollie Zachry will receive the 2008 Junior League of San Antonio Volunteer Extraordinaire Awardat a luncheon to be held on Thursday, March 13, at The Bright Shawl. The Volunteer Extraordinaire Award is presented each year to a Sustaining member of the League who exemplifies the true spirit of volunteerism by serving others in the San Antonio community.  Click here to view the full article.

FEBRUARY 2008
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - February 26, 2008 -- The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. (JLSA) is busy preparing for its 84th annual Rummage Sale. From February 29 through March 2, the Freeman Coliseum will be transformed into a bargain shopper's paradise. Rack after rack of quality, gently-used clothing and tables piled high with treasures await shoppers on a first come first serve basis. Click here to view the full article.

OCTOBER 2007
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - October 22, 2007 - San Antonio shoppers can get a jump start on holiday shopping while supporting local community programs at the Junior League of San Antonio’s 14th annual Olé Marketplace. Click here to view the full article.

SAN ANTONIO, TX - October 21, 2008 - The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. proudly presents the 2007 American Girl Fashion Show.The fashion show offers an educational and entertaining look at how generations of American girls have used clothing to express themselves. Click here to view the full article.

SAN ANTONIO, TX - October 14, 2008 - The power of women volunteers will be demonstrated Saturday, October 13, 2007. Approximately 100 new members of The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. (JLSA) will focus their efforts on Girls Incorporated of San Antonio.  Click here to view the full article.

SAN ANTONIO, TX - October 10, 2008 - For a second year, The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. (JLSA) has partnered with Stein Mart to offer a Style Exchange, a clothing drive for the JLSA’s annual Rummage Sale.Customers are asked to bring clean, gently used clothing to any San Antonio Stein Mart location on October 12, 13, and 14, 2007. Clothing donations are tax-deductible. In return for their donations, they will receive up to four 20% off coupons from Stein Mart. The donated clothing benefits families in need as a part of the 84th annual Junior League Rummage Sale on February 29 through March 2, 2008. Click here to view the full article.

SEPTEMBER 2007
SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 6, 2007 — The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. (JLSA) today announced that Carolyn Kelley will serve as the new managing director for the league.Kelley will be responsible for overseeing the operations andassisting with the fundraising for the organization.  Click here to view the full article.