Anne Marie Hillary first joined the Junior League in 2006 in Chicago and transferred her membership to Grand Rapids in 2012. Over the past 19 years, she's held various leadership roles within the organization, and today, as Junior League of Grand Rapids (JLGR) President, Hillary is passionate about sharing their impact.
Tell us about JLGR's influence on West Michigan and your specific community impact focus area!
Our legacy in West Michigan is—as one of our past presidents recently stated—the best kept secret in Grand Rapids. But when you're celebrating 100 years of impact, we've got to let this secret out! The JLGR shows up in places and ways you may not recognize. We recognize the need and respond. For 100 years, our members have done this, and for so many organizations in Grand Rapids, their start came with one or more Junior League members behind them. In our first century of service, we've proudly been the force for many familiar organizations around West Michigan, helping to get them started, providing funding, training volunteers and advocating to effect change.
This year, we've reflected on what the city would look like without JLGR. Can you picture Grand Rapids without an art museum? Without Gilda's Club? Could you imagine if there was no CASA, or a Ronald McDonald House in West Michigan? Our current focus area is 'Advancing Women's Health and Development,' which ties into our mission of developing women and training volunteers, and was chosen in consideration of the Kent County Needs Assessment and surveys of our members and community partners. Today, we've renewed a legacy partnership with the Women's Resource Center to advance women's health and development, providing education for women who are seeking new or better employment opportunities. We're also looking at financial literacy programs, thinking about how financial literacy plays a role in overall wellness. When women have these fundamental needs met, they can develop themselves and ultimately advance the lives of themselves, their families and those in their communities.
As JLGR celebrates 100 years in 2025, why should women in the community look to get involved?
Being a part of the best kept secret in town is great fun, fulfilling and friendly. Women join our organization typically for two reasons: to meet other like-minded women, and to improve and give back to their community. Women should look to get involved as part of the self-care movement, to not only do something for themselves but also to forge friendships and community impact in a space that provides life-long training.
What should we know about your upcoming 100-Year Gala on April 25?
We invite all community members to join us for this momentous milestone as we celebrate 100 years of service in a throwback to the 1920s: Gatsby style! The location (Grand Rapids Art Museum) is a testament to our long-standing commitment to community impact, as the JLGR was instrumental in initiating educational art programs for the Art Gallery for over 34 years. Guests can find more information and purchase tickets at juniorleaguegr.com.
Please also visit our website for membership and support opportunities. JLGR women are a force for positive change in our community, and I'm proud to continue developing the next generation of civic leaders in Grand Rapids.
Edited by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for West Michigan Woman.
This article originally appeared in the Apr/May '25 issue of West Michigan Woman.
Photo courtesy of Rachelle Welling Photography.
