While so much has changed in the last year, one thing that remains the same is the strong way JA of Hattiesburg has served the Pine Belt! We served differently, met virtually, raised money with less dancing (who's ready for Charity Ball 2021?!), and had a real award winning year!
Our year ended in April with an amazing awards ceremony to celebrate all the success that 2020-2021 year held for JAH! We honored this year's 2021 Crown Achievement Award winner, Leigh Ann Underwood. Leigh Ann is the epitome of a community servant, and she has served on the boards of various service organizations including the United Way, Southern Miss Partners for the Arts, and Forrest General Spirit of Women. Leigh Ann is a champion for the underserved and underprivileged, and she promotes the ideals of JA in all that she does in our community.
We also celebrated all of the 2019-2020 successes that were left without their in-person toasts, welcomed lots of lifetime members to celebrate with us, and passed the gavel to our 2021-2022 president, Lindsay!
A few weeks later, JAH was able to celebrate this year's success AGAIN at our NAJA National Conference! Our chapter was awarded for our successful fundraising year, our outstanding Crown Club, and we were recognized as a model chapter! Junior Auxiliary of Hattiesburg was given the Award of Excellence as one of two outstanding chapters in the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries which is comprised of over 100 chapters.
Additionally, our 2020 Crown Award Winner, Connie Keene, was given The Betty Robbins Volunteer of the Year Award! The Betty Robbins Volunteer of the Year Award is an annual award presented by NAJA to a member who has made a difference in the lives of the children in their community and exhibited all of the purposes of the Junior Auxiliary mission towards enriching the lives of children in the community.
Connie is a stand-out lifetime member of JAH, and we love the way she continues to serve alongside us and beyond!
Stay tuned!!! Junior Auxiliary of Hattiesburg has big plans for our 2021-2022 year!!! We can't wait to welcome our community back to this year's Charity Ball on November 5 at the Barn At Bridlewood! Follow along with us on our social media to see how you can be involved in an amazing year with JAH!
