FOR A GOOD CAUSE -- Jennie Webb

--Story by Mathis Winkler; photo by [tk]

Jennie Webb volunteers for volunteers. As this year’s president of the

Junior League of Orange County, the Corona del Mar resident helps to

prepare other women for volunteer activities throughout the county.

In workshops and programs, Webb and others teach leadership and

fund-raising skills and offer advice on mentoring kids.

While her effort to help children might be indirect most of the time,

Webb said the work was rewarding nonetheless.

During a program for teenage girls who are at risk of becoming

pregnant, parents came up to her and thanked her for telling their

daughters about opportunities to further their education and get ahead in

life.

“You just sit back and go, ‘This is so amazing,”’ said Webb, who works

as a vice president for a bank in Irvine. “I don’t think you could put a

price tag on it. What I get out of this personally has just been

absolutely incomparable.”

Just like all other league members, Webb went through the

organization’s training program about six years ago. During the first 12

months, new members get to know the organization and work on a so-called

“provisional project” that they choose themselves.

Webb picked Orangewood Children’s Home, which takes care of children

threatened by abuse and helped put on a 10th anniversary party.

Now, she is one of the league’s active members. About 600 of the

organization’s 900 members are “sustaining members,” who pay reduced dues

and are less involved in ongoing programs. Membership dues and two annual

fund-raisers cover the league’s $600,000 annual budget, Webb said, adding

that the organization doesn’t have to pay rent for its offices because it

owns the building.

Webb said the league’s exclusively female.

“That’s how it started out,” she said. “And it’s stayed that way ever

since.”

She added that she didn’t know of any similar organizations that are

open to men and said the league has not received any requests from men to

join so far.

While Webb’s worn different hats during her time with the organization

-- she served as treasurer and managed accounts receivable, among other

things -- she’s now in charge of running board meetings, general meetings

and representing the league in public.

Between her job and her responsibilities, there’s not much time left

to do other things, she said.

“This is pretty time consuming,” she said, adding that she’s devoted

this year to the league.

On weekends, she relaxes in Corona del Mar.

“I love being able to walk and not having to move the car until

Monday,” she said. “It’s fun.”

FYI

For information on the Junior League of Orange County, please call

(949) 261-0823.