Junior League Looks for Next Project

2/7/2013 (Updated 6:52:57 PM)

(Source: Jason Weinstein)

When the Junior League of Binghamton handed over ownership of the 1.8-acre Story Garden to the Discovery Center this fall, it marked the end of the group's three-year, $300,000 commitment to make the project a reality.

"The loveliest, interactive, outside environment that I know of and it's the only one in the country like it," said Pokey Crocker, Executive Director of the Discovery Center.

It also started the clock on the Junior League's next project. The women's-only volunteer group is going through proposals now, and looking for more.

"We are not quite sure where we are going just yet and that is exciting because we are now looking to the community to find out what is needed the most," said Lauren Furman of the Junior League of Binghamton.

The group's major fundraiser, a Mother/Daughter dance, will take
place at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Endicott on May 4th. 400 Tickets will be available at the Wendy's on Washington Ave in Endicott on March 23rd.

"Tickets sell out so quickly for the dance. Last year in a matter of hours. So we're fully expecting that they're going to do that again this year," said Dina Kalina of the Junior League of Binghamton.

The Junior League would like to narrow the pool of potential projects to 2 or 3 by May so that it can start on the winning proposal later this year.

"When we started the Story Garden project that started out as a
$12,000 donation by the Junior League and a scope of about a $30,000 project. And it blossomed and turned into what it did. So we don't want to put parameters around what we can do," said Furman.

Community organizations can go to www.juniorleagueofbinghamton.org or search the group on facebook to learn how to submit a proposal.

***In Binghamton, Jason Weinstein, Fox 40 HD News***