Fundraisers & Events

Savor the Night: What to Expect

Published on April 6, 2023 by jloconnectionsLeave a comment

Join us for our inaugural progressive dinner event, Savor the Night, a seaside soiree!

Friday April 21, 2023

The Holland Center

Experience

Have you been to a dinner party where you walked from house-to-house in your neighborhood to experience different plate servings, or maybe had appetizers at one place, and then dinner and dessert elsewhere? Get ready for something similar at Savor the Night – all at one convenient location at the Holland Center!

Food

We are excited to welcome Executive Chef Shelley Elson-Roza from Heirloom Fine Foods. Attendees can expect to see multiple “action stations” around the Holland Center, each with different bites of food inspired by the sea.

The chef has plans to be mindful of multiple dietary restrictions, such as vegetarian and gluten free.

“I am looking forward to the variety of food features that the event will offer throughout the night,” says event committee chair Liz VanWinkle.

Attire

This is part of the fun! Guests are encouraged to get creative with their outfits and consider dressing in a seaside theme. Examples of attire include sailor hats, boat shoes, collared shirts, just to name a few. (Be sure to plan for breathing room after enjoying the delicious food!)

Auction

A variety of enti-SEA-ing items will be available to bid upon in a silent auction. Items to lookout for:

Matching jewelry set from Kendra Scott
Private shopping event at Four Sister Boutique
Travel packages for destinations including Disney; Berkshires; Rivera Maya; and golf at Myrtle Beach

All event proceeds benefit the Junior League of Omaha and our signature Kitchen Connections Program.

Tickets

Tickets available for purchase through April 10. information on the event and its afterparty (say what?!) is viewable on our event page.

Special thanks to the Savor the Night Committee for planning this fundraiser.

Fourth Annual Bargain Bash

Published on March 1, 2021March 31, 2021 by jloconnectionsLeave a comment

We are very excited to announce that the Junior League of Omaha will be hosting
its fourth annual Bargain Bash at the Hope Center for Kids on Saturday, May
15 and Sunday, May 16, 2021.

Bargain Bash has come to be known as Omaha’s best blowout rummage sale! It
will feature a variety of items such as designer and name-brand clothing, shoes
and jewelry for men/women/children, as well as baby supplies, toys, kitchenware,
home decor, furniture and much more. Stay tuned for more details on some of
the standout items that we will be featuring this year!

For a $20 donation, early bird shoppers can gain early access to the event on
Saturday, May 15, from 8:00 to 9:30 am. Early birds will have a chance to shop
before the official opening and get their first pick of the items for sale while
enjoying some delicious coffee.

Some of you may have been used to seeing us in the Fall, and possibly
wondering “Why the change?”. We did have to make the difficult decision to
postpone this exciting event in the interest of protecting the health and well-
being of the community during these unprecedented times of the COVID-19
pandemic. That being said, we will be closely monitoring the status of the
pandemic leading up to this event, and will be taking all of the necessary
precautions to ensure the safety of our patrons and volunteers. Stay tuned for
more details on the measures we will be taking to keep you safe!

Thank you so much for your continued support and we hope to be seeing you
very soon at Bargain Bash 2021!

Upcoming Bargain Bash Drop Off Dates

Published on December 15, 2020March 3, 2021 by jloconnections1 Comment

Do you have any gently used home goods, clothing, kitchen appliances, décor, or furniture that are
taking up valuable space in your home? Donate them to our JLO Bargain Bash Rummage Sale! We will
be holding several drop-off dates over the coming months to collect your donations.
Upcoming drop-off date:

There will be NO drop-off date in December, but we will be back in 2021 with more opportunities to
donate!

When: January 16, 2021
Where: Junior League of Omaha Headquarters; 12315 Pacific Street
When: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

When: February 20, 2021
Where: Junior League of Omaha Headquarters; 12315 Pacific Street
When: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Swing on by during one of our drop-off times, and our wonderful Junior League member volunteers will help you unload any items you wish to donate. Feel free to package smaller items into boxes, bags, or totes that you do not mind donating. Our volunteers are also happy to help you unload any larger scale items that you may wish to donate as well.

Additionally, in the interest of keeping everyone safe, you will notice that all of our volunteers will be
wearing masks and gloves for the duration of the drop-off timeframe, and we strongly encourage you to wear your mask as well! We are committed to ensuring a safe and hassle-free drop-off experience for
you, and will do whatever we can to be respectful of your comfort level.

So if you have donation item(s) that are good shape and/or working condition, bring them on down to
us! Your generous donations are crucial for the success of this event. Every single item donated
contributes to the fundraising success of this event, which allows the League to continue to impact and
support our community through our projects and league engagement.

And don’t forget to spread the word to your friends and family. Every donation counts!

Drop Your Items Off for Bargain Bash!

Published on October 26, 2020November 10, 2020 by jloconnectionsLeave a comment

Do you have any gently used home goods, clothing, kitchen appliances, décor, or furniture that are taking up valuable space in your home? Donate them to our Junior League of Omaha Bargain Bash Rummage Sale! We will be holding several drop-off dates over the coming months to collect your donations.

Upcoming drop-off date:

November 7, 2020
Location: Thermo King Christensen
Address: 7508 F Street, Omaha, NE 68127
Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

There will be NO drop-off date in December, but we will be back in 2021 with more opportunities to donate!

Future drop-off dates:

January 16, 2021
Location: Junior League Headquarters
Address: 12315 Pacific Street
Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

February 20, 2021
Location: Junior League Headquarters
Address: 12315 Pacific Street
Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Swing on by during one of our drop-off times, and our wonderful League volunteers will help you unload any items you wish to donate. Feel free to package smaller items into boxes, bags, or totes that you do not mind donating. Our volunteers are also happy to help you unload any larger scale items that you may wish to donate as well.

Additionally, in the interest of keeping everyone safe, you will notice that all of our volunteers will be wearing masks and gloves for the duration of the drop-off timeframe, and we strongly encourage you to wear your mask as well. We are committed to ensuring a safe and hassle-free drop-off experience for you, and will do whatever we can to be respectful of your comfort level.

Ladies of the Junior League of Omaha assisting with Bargain Bash drop off in October

So if you have donation item(s) that are good shape and/or working condition, bring them on down to us! Your generous donations are crucial for the success of this event. Every single item donated contributes to the fundraising success of this event, which allows the League to continue to impact and support our community through our projects and league engagement.

And don’t forget to spread the word to your friends and family. Every donation counts!

Amazon Smile: You shop. Amazon Gives to The Junior League of Omaha!

Published on September 8, 2020March 26, 2021 by jloconnectionsLeave a comment

Did you know that you can set up your Amazon account to automatically donate to The League in under 5 minutes? Most Amazon purchases are eligible for AmazonSmile and help you pay it forward in our Omaha community. AmazonSmile donates 0.5% donation of all eligible purchases to your chosen organization. From the ease of your phone or computer, you can make a difference in our Omaha community by giving back while you shop for everyday products to the unique Amazon finds!

How does the Junior League of Omaha use donations in our Omaha community?

With over 100 years of meeting volunteer service and experience, the Junior League of Omaha is turning that experience and enthusiasm to address one of Omaha’s most critical and unmet needs – hunger and access to healthy food. According to the Food Research and Action Center, Nebraska is 7th in the nation for food insecurity, and 1 in 6 Nebraska children struggle with hunger (Map the Meal Gap). Fortunately, Omaha has many organizations doing outstanding work to alleviate hunger and provide access to healthy foods. We’re putting our volunteer power behind these community organizations to help grow, harvest and distribute healthy food, and most importantly, provide critical education about nutrition and cooking to the most at-risk populations. In partnership with these organizations, the League is able to amplify their impact, while building out new support and education programs that we are uniquely qualified to tackle.

Our community partners include:

– The Heart Ministry Center

– The Abundance Garden at the Union for Contemporary Art

– The Big Garden

– No More Empty Pots

– Together Omaha

– The Intercultural Senior Center

In addition to working with our community partners to address food insecurity in our Omaha community, the Junior League of Omaha issues local community assistance grants annually. Over the course of the 2019-2020 League year, we were able to issue $5,250 in grants to local programs or projects that support and pertain to the needs, benefits, enrichment and enlightenment of women and/or children.

Since 1992, each May, the League also has the pleasure to award three $2,000 scholarships to female high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding volunteer performance in the community.

How do you set up AmazonSmile?

From the Amazon App:

Open your Amazon App.
Open the Main Menu (three horizontal lines at the top left).
Scroll down and select “Settings”
Select “AmazonSmile”.
Change Charity to “Junior League of Omaha Inc”, if you have not already added AmazonSmile to your account via your browser.
Turn your phone settings from “OFF” to “ON”.
Congratulations! You did it! Start donating while you shop right away! Now you’re all set to donate while you shop from Amazon on-the-go!

From your Browser:

Sign in to smile.amazon.com on your desktop or mobile phone browser.
From your desktop, go to Your Account from the navigation at the top of any page, and then select the option to Change your Charity. Or, from your mobile browser, select Change your Charity from the options at the bottom of the page.
Select a new charitable organization to support.
Scroll Down to the “Other Programs” Section. Click Change your Amazon Smile Charity.
Search for “Junior League of Omaha Inc”.
Select “Junior League of Omaha Inc” as your charity.
You did it, again! Make sure you never miss an opportunity to donate while you shop & add AmazonSmile to your bookmarks! Click the star where the URL is and that will allow you to add a bookmark from most web browsers!

Third Annual Bargain Bash

Published on September 25, 2019January 18, 2020 by jloconnections1 Comment

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The Junior League of Omaha (JLO) hosted its third annual Bargain Bash at the Ralston Arena on Saturday, August 10, 2019 and Sunday, August 11, 2019. The event raised funds which help JLO to support community programming throughout the year.

The rummage sale featured designer and name-brand clothing, shoes and jewelry for men, women and children as well as baby supplies, toys, kitchenware, home decor and furniture. One of the standout items for sale this year was a 10 piece, hand-painted bedroom set.

For a $20 donation, early bird shoppers could shop 90 minutes before the official opening to get their first pick of the items for sale and enjoy coffee with donuts.

Bargain Bash co-chairs said the committee sold 50 presale tickets and they were elated to see a line of customers waiting Saturday morning when the event officially opened to the public. In total, shoppers purchased $14,000 in merchandise throughout the weekend.

Also of note, nothing went to waste. JLO donated unsold inventory to Heartland Hope Mission, where items will be donated directly to flood victims who lost their homes and personal belongings.

Still not sold on shopping secondhand? Here’s a little more motivation to thrift:

Find unique pieces and valuable items at great prices
Reduce waste through reusing gently loved goods
Think of thrifting as a treasure hunt – you never know what you might find
One-of-a-kind goods that tell a story

Are you feeling motivated to shop secondhand?

Comment with some of your favorite thrifted purchases below!

Bargain Shoppers Triumph at Bargain Bash 2018!

Published on December 6, 2018March 10, 2020 by jloconnections1 Comment

Omaha’s 2nd Annual blowout rummage sale, Bargain Bash, kicked off on August 24, 2018. This year’s event was a huge success, not only regarding League participation but also community engagement and returning shoppers from last year’s event. Over the three days the sale was running, including sorting and setup on Wednesday and Thursday, 50 volunteers helped set the stage for record crowds on Saturday, August 25, when the sale opened to the public.

“At the start of the bash on the first day, there was a line of people waiting that led out the door,” said Macey Morgan, Bargain Bash Inventory and Pick- Up Coordinator, “Many of the attendees were excited when they received their Borsheim’s bag for shopping, and we believe it encouraged them to purchase more as they shopped!”

The sale couldn’t have been as big of a success without all the donations from new, active, and sustaining members. The more than 3,500 items donated, included home goods, clothing, kitchen appliances, decor and even a tanning bed.

“Not only were we able to impact the community through our sales, but we partnered with other non-profits who collected our leftover items,” Morgan explained, “This partnership with other non-profit groups helps the league continue to lend a helping hand in our community. Overall the event grossed an amazing profit to help the League continue to impact the community with our projects and league engagement. Nothing could have been possible without the committee and commitment. A huge shout out goes to the entire committee for their hard work and for making it genuinely fun!”

Our Favorite Places to bRUNch in Omaha

Published on March 1, 2017November 8, 2017 by jloconnectionsLeave a comment

If you’re looking for a good brunch after a long run (or maybe a long snooze?), members of the 2017 bRUNch5k Committee have you covered with their top recommendations of places to brunch in Omaha. Here are our favorites:

“Pig & Finch is a great, central location in Omaha at One Pacific Place. You can’t beat their $5.00 Bloody Mary’s.” –Colby, bRUNch5k co-vice chair

“For a traditional breakfast, I like The Diner in the Old Market. The breakfast isn’t fancy, but the food is good and the staff is hilarious and makes your morning better!”– Lisa, bRUNch5k co-chair

“Dario’s is a favorite for all meals, but their brunch stands out. You can not go wrong with anything on their menu—I highly recommend the Eggs Florentine.”– Britt, communications coordinator – bRUNch5k

“We go to Krug Park in Benson and order brunch takeout from Lot 2 next door to avoid the wait for a table. An added bonus is drinking a Krug Bloody Mary while we wait—there are over 10 kinds to chose from.” – Tanin, bRUNch5k treasurer

“Mantra is my favorite brunch restaurant- great location and modern atmosphere.” – Catherine, Development & Donor Relations development specialist – bRUNch5k

“The lemon ricotta pancakes at Railcar are amazing! Railcar also has a unique drinks menu if you’re looking for something a little different than your typical brunch beverages.” –Emily, bRUNch5k co-chair

“I love Dixie Quicks in Council Bluffs for their fun atmosphere!” –Heidi, bRUNch5k prize & raffle coordinator

“The patio at Pitch West is a great place to brunch on the weekends. The breakfast meals are delicious and they offer ½ price bottles of wine on Sunday.” –Haley, bRUNch5k runner recruitment

“Duggar’s Café in Dundee offers non-greasy diner food, has great lunch options and very good desserts.” –Alex, bRUNch5k prize & raffle coordinator

Of course, the unanimous committee favorite goes to Crave Restaurant in Midtown Crossing, who not only offers a delicious, huge Sunday brunch menu, but is hosting the brunch following this year’s bRUNch5k.

Join us on April 29, 2017 for brunch, mimosas, and raffles at Crave after crossing the finish line of the 5k. Not a runner? Brunch-only tickets are available as well.

Color, Pattern, Fun and Fashion-Forward Designs all Spotlighted at Kids Rule Fashion Show

Published on February 15, 2017November 8, 2017 by jloconnectionsLeave a comment

Kids will take over the Omaha Design Center for the first-ever Kids Rule Fashion Show in Omaha this weekend on February 17 and 18, which benefits Junior League of Omaha. Kids will have the chance to strut the runway in fashion-forward designs by local designers, including Aubrey Sookram of Markoos Modern Designs, Kids Rule (by Omaha Fashion Week staff) and Wes and Willy by Les Kimmel and Bill Mullen. As an added bonus, all kids in the show get to take home what they wore on the runway!

Fashion-show goers are in for a treat! Each designer brings something different to the show, their own flair, if you will. Wes and Willy is known for designing fashionable, good-looking boys clothing that has a classic lived-in feel. In an Omaha World-Herald article, Kids Rule designs were described as fun, comfortable and fashion-forward, while Aubrey says her inspiration comes from color and pattern.

“I like to take a color, a specific pattern, or a really fabulous fabric and build a collection around that. Due to the large variance in sizes needed in this show, I kept this collection just a bit more neutral, as I needed to design for both young and older children,” Aubrey said.

Aubrey says her love of pattern and color is why she focuses on kid’s designs, as her ability to combine the two may not be appropriate or embraced by an older crowd like it is with kids.

Another bonus for the child models: confidence-building opportunities.

“There is nothing quite like stepping out on a big stage in front of a large crowd,” said Aubrey. “This will be a wonderful confidence builder for all of these children. Every child is different. Some thrive playing sports or in academics, and some find their place on the stage.”

Want to be part of the fun and be runway-side at this event? Buy tickets now and support Junior League of Omaha for this new, exciting event.

Kids Rule Fashion Show

What: a new kids fashion show by Omaha Fashion Week and Junior League of Omaha

When: Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. and Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Where: Omaha Design Center, 1502 Cuming St.

Tickets: start at $40; a portion of the event’s profits go to Junior League of Omaha.

What To Wear To Big Red Block Party 2016

Published on October 26, 2016November 25, 2016 by jloconnectionsLeave a comment

Back-packs, bell sleeves and booties! Fall fashions are upon us, and we’re taking a look at some of the fun ways you can wear the latest trends for this year’s “blackout” themed Big Red Block Party on November 5th!