FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact:
Liza Findlay media@jlbalt.org (703) 966-2612

Junior League of Baltimore Hosts Annual Brunch to Honor Commitment of Members and Community Leaders
Women’s voluntarism organization hosts annual brunch to celebrate the end of a league year and recognize outstanding female community leaders making a difference

Baltimore, MD (July 16, 2018) – On May 6, 2018, the Junior League of Baltimore (JLB) hosted a brunch to celebrate the end of another successful league year and present its annual awards, including its Woman of Distinction Award, which honored Jeanne L. Allert, M.Ed. The event was held in Hampden at the Five and Dime Alehouse, where members, friends, family, and other community members enjoyed a delicious brunch while celebrating the accomplishments of the 2017-2018 league year.

The member honorees of this year’s event were those who truly embodied the mission and spirit of the league through their actions and roles. The members recognized, and awards presented, include:

Peggy Waxter Sustainer Spirit Award– Betsy McDonald New Member of the Year Award- Jamison Kies Annapolis Bowl Award– Tiffany Esther
Mary Goodwillie Award– Betsy McDonald
Committee of the Year Award– Personal and Professional Development President’s Award- Rachel Dressel

Additionally, the Junior League of Baltimore presented its annual Woman of Distinction Award. The purpose of this award is to honor and celebrate an outstanding female community leader, outside of the Junior League of Baltimore, who inspires others to serve and lead, while also achieving individual successes. The following factors are part of the review criteria: (1) breaking new grounds or old barriers,
(2) showing vision, creativity, and initiative, (3) being a leader or role model and (4) her role as a volunteer/civic leader in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. This year’s recipient was Jeanne L. Allert, M.Ed.

Ms. Allert is the founder and executive director of The Samaritan Women, an organization committed to ending domestic sex trafficking, while providing support to survivors. In 2006, Ms. Allert, a successful career-minded business consultant, met a young woman by chance while doing outreach with her church in Baltimore City. This young woman’s life experiences over the course of several years as victim of sex trafficking galvanized Ms. Allert into action and a new life direction. Ms. Allert left her career as a business consultant, purchased a 23-acre estate in Baltimore County, and, with aid she roused from the community, constructed a safe harbor. The Samaritan Women, under the direction of Ms. Allert, established the first residential program, along with a restorative care program, in Maryland for survivors. The Samaritan Women has substantially grown since first opening its doors in 2007, and in the process has twice been the recipient of the Maryland Governor’s Service Award. Ms. Allert’s dedication and drive to form her own organization with a goal of tackling and addressing a national issue was and remains inspiring to the Junior League of Baltimore.

The Junior League of Baltimore extends its gratitude and appreciation to Ms. Allert and to its members for their individual efforts to provide service and leadership within the community.

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About the Junior League of Baltimore
The Junior League of Baltimore (JLB) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The JLB values the power of voluntarism, the diverse community in which we live, the talents, commitment, and contribution of our members, and our history of community impact and involvement. Since 1912, the JLB and its members have been improving the Baltimore community with service projects and impact-focused voluntarism.

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