Founded in 2014 by the Junior League of London, the Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI) is a week-long awareness and fundraising campaign that harnesses the power of social media to illustrate the restrictions poverty places on choices, opportunities, and access to resources. The Junior League of Douglas County advocates wearing one black dress (or outfit) for five consecutive days in an effort to spark conversations and awareness about poverty and related issues.

To date, dozens of Junior Leagues have replicated the initiative in their own communities, collectively sparking countless conversations and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of important community programs. In addition to our traditional mission of raising awareness about poverty and illiteracy having a direct impact on advancement opportunities for women and their families, the Junior League of Douglas County's 2024-2025 campaign focus will be: "Clean Clothes Today, for a Successful Tomorrow".

Children who lack clean clothing often miss a lot of school. Many parents cannot afford new clothes when the old ones become tattered or stained. Additionally, these families may not have regular access to a washer/dryer and they cannot always afford a trip to the laundromat.

Not only does dirty clothing carry many germs and bacteria, but it also plays a big part in the student’s performance and self-esteem. Children from low-income families are four times more likely to be chronically absent from school. To combat this statistic and to fulfill our organization's mission, our hope is to raise $10,000. Our goal is to place a new washer and dryer into an independent facility, so families who need this service can access it up to 7 days a week. As an extended goal, we would like to donate a new washer and dryer to a local elementary school, to include laundry detergent and other washing necessities.

During these 5 days, JLDC will use our platform to educate our networks and the public about this local, state and national issue. Please follow JLDC at @jldouglascounty on Instagram and/or Junior League of Douglas County on Facebook to watch out for activity throughout the week of October 14-18, 2024.

As our finale, JLDC’s Little Black Dress Initiative will be featured in Dillard’s Fall Runway Show to be held on October 26th, 2024. Please support our cause as we serve our community!

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