A Whale of a Makeover!

The Junior League of Jacksonville added a new community component to our 21st annual Whale of a Sale - with a Whale of a Makeover for one teen transitioning from foster care!

For over 20 years, the Junior League of Jacksonville’s Whale of a Sale fundraiser has brought the community gently used, quality merchandise at low prices while raising much-needed funds for JLJ’s community projects that benefit children and families in Jacksonville. This project has been a great opportunity for JLJ volunteers to add a positive community impact component to the event.

For the first time, JLJ members are using items, including furniture, decorative items and clothing, donated to the annual Whale of a Sale fundraiser to decorate the new apartment of Caneilua Barber, an 18-year-old woman transitioning out of the foster care system.

Carneilua, or CC as she prefers, came into foster care at age 16, following the death of her mother, and aged-out of care when she turned 18 in October 2011. She attends Drop Back In Academy. She plans to attend college to study criminal justice and aspires to be a judge. As a young adult transitioning out of foster care, CC is receiving services through the Independent Living program offered by Family Support Services of North Florida (FSS).



League members started at 7am on Sunday the 19th painting and decorating CC's apartment, getting it ready for the Big Reveal.

At 4:30 Sunday afternoon, the reveal came!

"I'm so excited! Its gorgeous!" said CC, "This is way past what I imagined and what I ever thought was going to be in here!"

"We are so excited to be a part of giving CC a room that reflects her personality, as she moves in to her first apartment," said Becky Patel, Junior League President. "She is a lovely girl and we're excited for her as she begins this new phase of her life."

Interested in seeing what Whale of a Sale can makeover in your house? Don't miss out - join us at the Preview Party, Friday, Feb. 24th! Tickets are on sale now.

More Makeover Pictures!





Special thanks to Corporate Suite Shoppes and Cort Furniture for their help in making over CC's apartment!

Check out the news coverage on the makeover:

Homecoming for the Holidays!

By: Nichole Schlais

When you hear the word homecoming, does it bring memories of fall, football and friends? For me it means walking through a hanger filled with spare parts, making my way towards the walls of posters and past a few chairs. I can’t sit down, no matter how long it may take, instead I head to the tarmac, making sure I keep my toes on the red line, just not crossing over it.

My eyes go back and forth between my watch and the sky. In my mind I recall the 3 postcards, 25 letters and over 75 emails I received. I smile at the 11 DVD’s sent through the USO of him reading countless books to the kids. I’ve waited 187 days, 6 hours and 14 minutes for this day (not that I was counting). Time is ticking by in what feels like hours, rather than seconds. I see the new babies, the husbands, wives and parents, who like me, would rather watch the sky than sit and wait.

Out of the corner of my eye I see it, my Christmas wish. I feel goose bumps as the hanger erupts into cheers and every free hand waves the Stars and Stripes. The plane lands and slowly taxi’s back to the waiting while it taxi’s back to the terminal. It seems to take forever, but when I step closer to the red line I can see it, just a few more minutes and it will be over, at least for a little while. The butterflies in my stomach are having a field day, we’ve had almost half a dozen of these in the last decade and yet I still get nervous every time.

As the plane rolls to a stop, the ground crew moves into action. Trucks for luggage and the ladder arrive. Then they all back away, including the ground crew. Are you kidding me??? Apparently the pilot was unsure of the parking job and wanted another crack at it. Note to pilot: Treat it like it was stolen, park it and let the hostages off! Once the plane is parked, blocks are laid, steps are moved in and the door opens. Now the hunt begins, the windows are useless at seeing where he is, so I must wait and hold my breath as each person deplanes. I just want to scream “HURRY UP” but instead I just move closer, the red line only really counts during take-off and landing, and as the door to the plane is opened, the family mob moves forward. New dads and mom deplane first and then the rest of the passengers, all clad in dessert camo. Nothing like searching for my hero, dressed like all the other hero’s. My eyes are scanning the ladder, the crowd, looking everywhere as I move closer to the plane.

Then we make eye contact and without actually flying I was in his arms in a matter of seconds. It took a few minutes to notice the roses he was carrying or remember that I had Heather there taking pictures. I just held him tight and let the tears flow. I pulled away to get another good look. He was thinner and his summer tan was still hanging around, but he was over 7,000 miles away and still remembered to bring me flowers. I hugged him again and know that I had the world’s largest grin on my face. We exchanged small talk, I introduced Heather and we waited for his luggage. I only let go of his hand long enough for him to get his bags.

187 days since I’d stood on this tarmac saying good-bye, 187 days since I’d seen his smile, 187 days since we’d had a face to face conversation. 187 days that I had to explain that daddy’s work is different from other daddy’s. 187 days between my kiss good-bye and my kiss hello.

This holiday I am thankful for my real life homecoming that beats anything that Hollywood could ever produce.

A Whale of a Makeover!

Whale of a Sale committee is proud to announce a new community outreach program, Whale of a Makeover.

The Whale of a Sale committee is partnering with Family Support Services to complete an extreme room makeover for Elizabeth, a 17 year old girl transitioning out of foster care. Elizabeth’s parents passed away two years ago, and without any other family members to take care of her, she was placed in foster care. It is time for Elizabeth to move out on her own, the Junior League of Jacksonville will be making over Elizabeth’s bedroom and bathroom!

We need your help! A wish list has been provided below, and we need league members to donate items to fulfill her wish list. These donations will count toward your Whale of a Sale quota. If you need to schedule a pick-up or a drop-off outside of the regularly scheduled Whale of a Sale drop-off shifts for items for this project, a member of the Whale of a Sale community outreach subcommittee would be glad to help! Donations can be quota items in great shape, new items (if you choose to purchase an item from the list please include a gift receipt in the event that this item is received in duplicate; we will use the store credit to purchase another item from her wish list); or cash donations (that will be credited towards your quota).

We look forward to working with you all to support this exciting new initiative. For more information or to schedule a pick up or drop off please contact the Whale of a Sale Community Outreach vice chair Erin Chamberlin at Erin.Chamberlain@fmr.com or 352-514-3750.

Elizabeth's Wish List

Bathroom: Island/Beach theme

o Light blue paint for walls with a wall paper border that has palm trees, water, sand etc on it.

o Towels- blue, sand or beige color (no white or red towels)

o Shower Curtain- Palm tree. If this is not possible then solid white

Received: solid white at drop off – still looking for palm tree

o Stainless steel/silver curtain rod holders with plain balls or squares

o Rainfall shower head

o Blue shag carpet bath mats

o Matching trash can, toothbrush holder, soap dispenser , Kleenex and Q Tip holder- prefers the stainless/silver

o Vanilla mint toothpaste and electric toothbrush

o Shampoo/soap rack for inside shower for storage

o Loofa sponges

o Bath & Body Works products in vanilla, cocoa butter or suntan scents

o Hair straightener

Received: White hair straightener in box

o Square storage bins to hold products for under the sink (no preference in color or material)

o Toilet plunger and toilet brush cleaner

o Laundry hamper

Received: Blue laundry basket, need hamper still

o Full length mirror to hang on the door

o Stainless steel/silver towel racks and toilet paper holder

o Air freshener- vanilla

Received: Vanilla reed diffuser

o Magnifying face mirror (for eyebrow plucking)

o Paintings of palm trees/beach scenes

Received: Various paintings of beach scenes and palm trees

o Shower radio

Bedroom: very modern/contemporary

o Light beige paint for walls

o Queen size bed (dark brown/chocolate color, no posts)- cushioned head board

o Dark and light blue light weight down comforter

Received: White down comforter (possibly need a duvet)

o Blue sheets

o 4 sleep pillows and 2 accent pillows

Received: A few accent pillows

o 2 end tables, same color as bed to match

o Lamps on each end table, silver with white shades (modern)

Received: Two lamps, one beach and one modern

o Long 6 or 8 drawer dresser

o Flat screen tv to put on top of the dresser (no mirror)

o Large picture of an island or beach, possible palm trees or hammock for above the bed

Received: Various paintings of beach scenes and palm trees

o Dark chocolate photo frames for personal pictures to hang on the walls

Received: Various photo frames

o Lap top

o Dark chocolate desk with swivel chair and matching file cabinet

o Shelves to hang on the wall above the desk

o Silver lamp for desk

o Silver modern wall clock

Received: Silver and dark brown wall clock

o Alarm clock for night stand

o Stereo

Received: Stereo/cd player

o Silver curtain rod

o Light blue or beige modern curtains (darker then the walls)

o Shoe rack for bottom of closet

o Ceiling fan with palm leaves

Closet: Small stock of items for job and college interviews

o Flats or sneakers (no heels) in size 9

o Black trousers/pants - size 9

o Work appropriate blouse - size Medium

Coming Home

by: Jen Kinsella

“There’s nothing half so pleasant as coming home again.”
--Margaret Elizabeth Sangster

I am counting many blessings this year: my family, good health, wonderful friends, and a job I love. But I am particularly thankful that my family and I have “come home” to Jacksonville.

Two years ago, we moved to the Washington, DC area because my husband had accepted a two-year assignment on the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. While it was a great professional opportunity for him, I was sad to leave a city that I had grown to love and the many friends I had made while living here.

I joined the JLJ after moving here in 2007 as a way to meet new people and get involved in the community. Over the course of the next two years, I had the opportunity to volunteer for some outstanding community projects, like CARES, and I also made some wonderful friends along the way. When I was pregnant with my oldest son in 2008, four other FYAs were also expecting their first children. Those women and I became very close while we shared the joys (and aches and pains!) of pregnancy. We found support in one another as we anxiously awaited the arrival of our little ones – with our five children being born about 7 weeks apart (and two of us actually delivering on the SAME day!).

When we moved to DC in 2009, I was able to keep in touch with everyone - thanks in large part to Facebook, email and the work travel that brought me down here on a monthly basis. And when we found out last year that the Navy was bringing us back to Jacksonville, I was thrilled!

My husband and I have often asked each other, “What is it about Jacksonville?” “Why does this city feel like ‘home’ to us?” It isn’t perfect – there are so many needs in this community, but there is also so much potential. And as members of the JLJ we are charged with helping to make Jacksonville a better place for ourselves, our families and those less fortunate than us. So this Thanksgiving, let us all count our blessings and continue our work to improve this special place that we are blessed to call “home.”

Deep Frying Turkey 101

by: Jenny Fitzpatrick

We started frying a turkey when we decided we were tired of waking up at o'dark thirty to put a bird in the oven. Frying a turkey is much faster than the traditional baking (3-4 minutes per pound versus 15 minutes per pound), it frees up that coveted oven space for other yummy treats, and provides a tasty alternative to the bird that is basted hour upon hour. The only drawback is there are no drippings to be used to make turkey gravy, but that is a small price to pay, trust me.

If you are thinking of trying this alternative for turkey day this year, please be mindful of the following, no need to turn a happy holiday in to an episode of Rescue 911:

• Don't put too much oil in the fryer pot - If the cooking pot is overfilled, the oil may spill out of the pot when the turkey is lowered in. Oil can hit the burner and cause a fire. Follow the owner's manual to determine the proper amount of oil to use.
• Don't drop a frozen or partially thawed turkey into oil - Frozen or partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can cause a spillover and may result in a fire. Make sure your turkey is properly thawed and slowly lower it into the pot.
• Don't keep the fryer too close to structures - More than one-third of fires involving a fryer start in a garage or patio. Cook outdoors and maintain a safe distance from any buildings and wooden structures.
• Unattended cooking - Normally, we say a watched pot never boils. When it comes to deep fat fryers, an unwatched pot may very well burn your house down.

Another bonus - it gets your husband out of the house for at least an hour, depending on the size of the turkey.

No matter how you choose to cook your bird - just remember the most important part of the day - spending time (safely) with family and friends and being thankful for all that we have! Happy Thanksgiving!

(Photos: Matt Fitzpatrick fries the family turkey - like a pro!)

Junior League New Member/Transfer Landmark Tour with Chevy

The Junior League of Jacksonville kicked off the year with our first ever New Member/Transfer Landmark Tour with Chevy on Saturday, August 27. It was a successful day - collecting enough school supplies to fill eight car trunks! The women presented the supplies to the faculty at Annie R. Morgan Elementary school.

The 65+ women had the opportunity to drive or ride in eight brand new Chevrolets; including the Chevy Volt (Motor Trend Car of the Year which isn’t even available in Jacksonville yet), Equinox, Traverse, Tahoe Hybrid and Cruze. Along the tour they visited Junior League volunteer spots such as Sanctuary on 8th Street and Community Connections.

Check out all the pictures Junior League New Member/Transfer Landmark Tour with Chevy.

Board Profile: Becky Patel

Board Member Profile: Becky Patel

Age: 36

Resides In: Mandarin

Family Details: Husband – Rakesh, Kids – Jaden, 5 and Malana, 3

Pets: Australian Shepherd Mix named Daisy

Hometown: Miami

Current Board Position: President

College and Major: Florida State University – Finance; Nova South Eastern University - MBA

Professional Details: Vice President, Sr. Underwriter at Bank of America

Community Involvement:
Junior League of Jacksonville, August 1998 – Present
President, Board Member 2011-2012; President-Elect, Board Member 2010-2011; Community Council Director, Board Member 2008-2009; Provisional Vice-Chair 2007-2008; Provisional Advisor 2006-2007; Volunteer of the Year 2006-2007; CARES Chairman, 2005-2006; CARES Vice-Chairman, 2004-2005; Volunteer of the Year 2004-2005; Provisional Vice-Chair, 2003-2004; Treasurer, Board Member 2002-2003; Treasurer-elect, 2001-2002; Communications Council Administrative Assistant, 2000-2001; Provisional Member, 1999-2000

Junior Achievement, Classroom Volunteer, January 1998 – Present

Sigma Kappa Sorority, Beta Tau (University of Florida) Chapter Advisor, August 2000 – May 2006

Sigma Kappa Sorority, National Officer, May 2006 - Present

Sigma Kappa Alumnae Chapter of Jacksonville, Various Board Positions, January 2001 – Present

Bright Horizons Parent Group, Various Volunteer Roles, March 2006 - Present

Girls on the Run of Northeast Florida, Coach, Fall 2009

HandsOn Jacksonville, Blueprint for Leadership Cohort, Spring 2011

Member of JLJ since: 1999

Why did you join JLJ? Volunteering in the community has always been a priority to me. I think it is very important to give back and it is something that I enjoy very much. In addition to the volunteer aspect, I was new to Jacksonville and thought joining the Junior League would be a great way to make new friends.

What is Your Goal for this year? I have been an active member of the JLJ for 10+ years and I have seen us do some truly great things. I have served in a variety of leadership roles with an emphasis in Finance, Community and Training & Development, and I hope to leverage this experience as President. I would like to build upon the foundation that has already been established. I want to continue to focus on making the JLJ fun! I want to get people excited about coming to meetings and volunteering. Retention is also a key goal. We are working to meet member’s changing needs and interests through social activities, and more training and community opportunities. We also want to get more sustainers involved by encouraging them to participate in more events. We also are working to enhance our fundraising activities. This will help us in so many ways – more funds to support our community goals, but also gets our name out there in the community.

What has been your most rewarding moment in JLJ? Seeing the smiles on the kid’s faces at CARES or KITK events. I think we are really making a difference in these kids’ lives by giving them our time.

What has surprised you most about your time with JLJ? Just how much fun it can be. If you find the right committee and dedicate yourself to it, every meeting can be a fun experience.

What has been your favorite placement? Why? I loved CARES. It was great to be a part of that committee. We did so much for Norwood and I really felt like I bonded with some of those kids given the amount of time I spent at the school.

How have you been able to use skills you learned in JLJ in your everyday life? Definitely – I am more confident overall.

Give us a reason why you would encourage other women to join JLJ: It is a great way to work together with like minded women to give back to the community. You will also make some great friendships.

How do you think JLJ most helps the community? We help the community in so many ways. We give of our time to so many organizations and we help so many kids. Whale of a Sale is also such a big community service and I think we sometime forget that aspect of the event.

Board Member Profile: Kathy Waller

Age and Birthday: 36, Birthday is Aug 7

Resides In: Jacksonville Beach

Family Details: Married for 9.5 years to Chuck; Mother to almost 6 year old twins, Will and Sophie, and almost 2 year old, Lainey

Pets: none, even plants die in my house

Hometown: Savannah, GA

Current Board Position: Secretary

College and Major: Georgia Tech, Industrial and Systems Engineering Professional

Details: Software consultant and business analyst for 7 years prior to becoming a stay-at-home mom

Community Involvement: Junior League, Neptune Baptist Church Preschool, Children, Student, and Women's Ministries, Jacksonville Galloway Marathon Training, MOMS Club,

Member of JLJ since: 2005

Why did you join JLJ? I joined JLJ to meet women, to give back to my community, and to feel like I was a part of something fabulous!

What is Your Goal for this year? My goal for this year is to help make JLJ that "thing" that people are excited to be a part of!

What has been your most rewarding moment in JLJ? I love reading real life stories about how our programs have impacted people; the ones from the kids "get me" every time!

What has surprised you most about your time with JLJ? I am really surprised that I've become so involved, but the years where I was most involved are the ones I look back on as the most rewarding.

What has been your favorite placement? Why? My favorite placement was definitely chairing Kids in the Kitchen. It came at a time in my life when I had just come from a pretty fabulous career and all of a sudden found myself at home with two toddlers. At home, my daily work seemed pretty unimportant, and the successes seemed few and far between. It was so exciting researching childhood obesity and bringing the project to Jacksonville...working with a great leadership team, some pretty amazing community partners and a really awesome committee.

How have you been able to use skills you learned in JLJ in your everyday life? It's great ; I use it all the time, even the weirdest things. I definitely use everything that I learned about nutrition and obesity in my home today. It had such an impact on me during a time when my children were learning important eating habits! I also learn so much from the women that meet related to serving the community but SO MUCH MORE! And it all spills over into other parts of my life and other community service I am doing. It just keeps paying forward really.

Give us a reason why you would encourage other women to join JLJ: I would encourage other women to join JLJ because without a doubt I would not be the woman that I am today without my time in the League.

How do you think JLJ most helps the community? I think before now, I would always talk about the lives we change referring people that we touch when we are serving. Lately though, I'm really reflective on how the League has shaped me and other women in this community, and I now often see what we are building here in Jacksonville that will last so much longer than that! We are creating women that will carry JLJ's mission way farther than a DIAD or a one year project at a school. One of the best things our League does THROUGH all of the service is create these amazing pillars in our community!