The Junior League of Houston rang in a milestone year with a signature celebration, hosting its 78th Annual Charity Ball, A Saddle & Silver Soirée, on Jan. 30 and 31 before a full house of supporters, volunteers and members at 1811 Briar Oaks Lane. The two-day, black-tie event, long a cornerstone fundraiser for the organization, set the tone for a year honoring more than 100 years of service, leadership and investment in the Houston community as the League begins its second century of impact.
A two-day celebration with new additions
Featuring food, dancing and themed festivities, the event blended the elegance of the past with the bold spirit of the open range. New this year, the Bridle & Bloom Luncheon marked the League’s first event of its kind and featured Allison Hay, chief executive officer of Houston Habitat for Humanity, as the keynote speaker. Hay highlighted Habitat’s decades-long partnership with the League and the collective impact of both organizations on the Houston community. Guests enjoyed lunch with a coffee and pastry bar, explored the League’s history and bid on select auction items. The evening event, Midnight at the Manor, followed with a formal dinner, live auction and entertainment.
“I would like to highlight the incredible dedication of our League members, as well as a celebration of our community’s generosity,” said Katie Doyle, president of the Junior League of Houston. “It is wonderful to see the Houston community participate in the celebration and raise critical funds in support of our mission.”
The two-day affair, which featured the League’s first-ever luncheon, raised more than $600,000 to support the nonprofit’s operations and charitable grants.
2026 Charity Ball Luncheon in the ballroom at Junior League of Houston (photo by Jacob Power)
“For a hundred years, it’s been a lot of women that have come through the organization,” said an active member in the League’s centennial anniversary video. “We have such a dynamic membership and truly transformational women. I’m proud to be a member of the League. It has taught leadership to me, responsibility, friendship.”
A century of service and growth
Founded in 1925 by 12 women determined to improve conditions for children and families, the Junior League of Houston has grown into one of the city’s most enduring philanthropic institutions. From its earliest years, the League focused on addressing gaps in health care, education and social services through trained volunteerism and financial support.
“There is nothing more powerful than a group of women who come together for a common cause,” an active member said in the video. “We are carrying the reputation of the women who have come before us. They were women of means, but they were women who saw the injustice around them and wanted to do something about it.”
That spirit has guided the League’s work across generations. In the 1920s, members recognized the need for accessible medical care and established a children’s clinic as their first project, forming early partnerships with institutions that would become pillars of Houston’s medical community, including Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital and Memorial Hermann–Texas Medical Center. Fundraising efforts such as the League’s Luncheon Club — the precursor to the iconic Tea Room — helped generate the resources needed to sustain those efforts.
As Houston grew, so did the League’s reach. During the 1930s and 1940s, the organization expanded into cultural and educational programming, launching Children’s Theater, supporting the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and becoming involved in the early development of what is now the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The League’s first Charity Ball, held in 1949, raised $17,700 for community programs — a figure that would grow dramatically over the decades.
On the dance floor at the Junior League of Houston’s 78th Annual Charity Ball, A Saddle & Silver Soirée (photo by Wilson Parish)
By the mid-20th century, the Junior League was deeply embedded in Houston’s civic life, supporting literacy initiatives with the Houston Public Library, funding medical facilities, and investing in public spaces. Its 50th anniversary gift helped revive Market Square Park, Houston’s original town center, while later anniversary gifts funded a library at the Houston Child Guidance Center and supported children’s mental health services.
“The Junior League allowed for a stronger connection to the community and an organized way to give back to the community,” an active member said. “Houston is so big and so diverse. I can’t wait to see how the League continues to grow with women in all different areas.”
In the latter half of the 20th century and into the 2000s, the League’s work addressed emerging needs, from mentoring at-risk youth and supporting abused children to offering free CPR training across the city. Its commitment to children’s health was reaffirmed with the launch of the SuperKids Pediatric Mobile Clinic in 2000, a collaborative effort that brought medical care directly to underserved neighborhoods.
“We are always pushing the envelope for new things to make Houston a better place,” an active member said. “The Junior League of Houston has a story to tell, and it started in 1925 and it continues to be written.”
That story reached a historic chapter in 2025, when the League marked its centennial with its largest single gift to date — a $2 million investment to fund the Junior League of Houston Volunteer Services Building at DePelchin Children’s Center. The building significantly expanded DePelchin’s capacity to distribute donated goods and support family-strengthening programs.
“The $2 million Centennial gift is, as one would hope, a transformational gift,” an active member said. “It is going to transform very limited space that DePelchin has.”
Looking ahead with lasting impact
Today, the Junior League of Houston continues to support a wide network of nonprofit partners addressing critical needs across the city. Current and recent community partnerships include organizations focused on children’s health and stability, food security, education, arts access, and environmental stewardship.
Among them are Camp For All, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, BEAR…Be A Resource for CPS Kids, Kids’ Meals, and the Houston Food Bank, among many others. Through trained volunteer placements, financial investment, and long-term collaboration, the League’s members work alongside these organizations to strengthen families, expand access to resources, and improve quality of life throughout the Houston area.
Throughout its history, the League has emphasized training women to lead while fostering deep connections among members.
“One thing that the Junior League of Houston really enables is a sense of community among our members as we train together, we volunteer alongside each other,” an active member said. “One thing I really have enjoyed about the League is the friends, the generational group of women that I have met.”
As the Junior League of Houston looks beyond its centennial year, members say the organization remains focused on adapting to Houston’s evolving needs while staying grounded in its mission.
“Our job is to be catalysts and convenors,” an active member said. “An organization for women run by women is still relevant today and very important.”
With a century of impact behind it — and a new one just beginning — the Junior League of Houston continues to write its legacy through service, leadership and a shared commitment to making the city stronger.