The Junior Service League of Panama City, Inc. was organized October 12th, 1951, by twenty (20) charter members whose goals were to foster interests in the social, economic, educational, cultural and civic conditions of the community; to promote the interest of it’s members in volunteer service to the community; and to work in harmony with the policies of the Association of Junior Leagues. We were formally and legally chartered in April of 1952.

President's Luncheon, 2010

With over 59 years of dedicated service to the greater Panama City area, The Junior Service League of Panama City boasts nearly 365 active and sustaining members focused entirely on promoting volunteerism, developing women as community leaders, and improving the Bay County community through effective action and service.  We have earned our community’s respect as a well-run organization with a “can do” reputation for getting things done with excellence and meeting great needs within our community. The JSL’s 59 year history of volunteer service is significant and accomplished.  It is our tradition to create initiatives and programs that are sustainable and will continue to positively impact the community for years to come.  To name just a few, we have clothed thousands of underserved children through our Happy Hanger and Child Service Center programs.  We have visited and enriched the Elderly through our Calls from the Heart, Adopt a Grandparent, and Elderly Outreach programs. We have played pivotal roles in partnerships with the Junior Museum, Bay County Teen Court, and the YMCA.  We helped with the refurbishing of McKenziePark and the restoration of the historic McKenzie House.  We helped start the Art Dimensions program in Bay District Schools, and more recently, in partnership with Bay Education Foundation, have awarded $50.000 in Excellence in Education Grants to public and private educators for exceptional innovation in the classroom.  For over 16 years, our puppet troupe, Kids on the Block has toured local elementary schools helping over 500 students annually address life issues such as bullying, water safety, nutrition and personal hygiene.  Since 1995, our ASAP program has tutored, mentored and loved some of the neediest and most deserving students in the city.  And for the past 4 years, in partnership with the nonprofit national organization Girls on the Run (GOTR), we have sponsored GOTR of Bay County, promoting healthy lifestyles and self-esteem. This past year our GOTR touched the lives of 175 girls in our community, in addition to hosting the 1^st Annual JSL 5K Rabbit Race!  And finally, through the years, we have fundraised millions of dollars to directly support our varied efforts through a myriad of ways and events, such as Thrift Shops, Whale of a Sale, Charity Balls, sales of  3 wonderful cookbooks, JSL 5K Rabbit Race, and our Holiday Shopping Extravaganza, Holly Fair!  Amazingly, over the last 22 years of Holly Fair alone, we have raised 2.9 million dollars!