MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA CHAPTER

About Us

 

Community Service

Membership

Montgomery County, PA

Our Story

The Par-0-Monts organization was formed in September of 1982. The first meeting for interested families was held at the home of Mrs. Anne Reasoner Sumpter. Nineteen mothers attended the initial meeting, which formed the interest group of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Sponsorship was established in October of 1982 and the Chester County Chapter accepted the important task of providing the guiding direction for the development of our organization. In November of 1982, we adopted the name, Par-0-Monts. By the end of November 1982, the organization had doubled size to 38 mothers.

The Par-O-Monts sought official sanctioning as interest group from the National Office in late November and worked to organize age groups, committees and activities for each age group. The 1982-83 activity calendars were developed and fundraising commenced while the Par-O-Monts awaited a reply from the National Office.

In February of 1983, the Par-O-Monts were notified that the National Office recognized the organization as a viable interest group. The teens took an active role, attended conferences, and hosted meetings and social gatherings. In addition, there was a well-rounded calendar of events for all of the age groups. During the second year, names were selected for each age group:

Copper Pennies
2-4 years old

Silver Spoons
K-2nd Grade

Golden Nuggets
3rd-5thGrade

Precious Jewels
6th-8th Grade

Crown Jewels
9th-12th Grade

The theme of the Eastern Region “Focus on the Family” has always been supported by our organization. Promoting the development of our children is central to our purpose and to that end, we have continually developed activities that focused on four major areas: civic responsibility, cultural development, educational awareness, social responsibility and acceptability.

Provisional status was granted to the Par-O-Monts in the spring of 1983. Final notification was received in early May.  On May 19, 1984, a delegation of 12 members of the Par-0-Monts attended the workshop for Provisional Groups to prepare for the day our organization would become an installed group in the National Organization of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

Since our installation as the Montgomery County, PA Chapter, we have continued to uphold the values established in 1984. We have made significant financial contributions to Foundation and have served the National Organization.

Montgomery County, PA

Our Programs

Chapter Programming is the “heart” of the organization. It is the way that we “create a medium of contact for children that stimulates growth and development.” The Chapters’ 2018-2020 programming requires that at least one activity (in each grade group) be accomplished centered on the National Program Thrusts under EDUCATION, CULTURAL, CIVIC, SOCIAL/RECREATIONAL, and HEALTH.

Cultural

We can do more to explore our history.

Education

We can do more to educate ourselves.

Civic

We can do more to advocate for real change.

Social

We can do more to empower our future leaders.

Health

We can do more to live healthy lives.

Montgomery County, PA

Our Mission

Jack and Jill of America, Inc., is a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2 – 19, dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty.

“To us as mothers, Jack and Jill has become a means of furthering an inherent and natural desire… to bestow upon our children all the opportunities possible for a normal and graceful approach to a beautiful adulthood.”

– Marion Stubbs Thomas

Montgomery County, PA

A Letter from the President

Greetings from the Magnificent Montgomery County Pennsylvania Chapter!
As the elected President for programming years 2018-2020, I wanted to take the time to introduce you to our wonderful family. Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated is over 85 years old with greater than 230 chapters across the United States. Our magnificent chapter was established May 19,1984 by 19 mothers and presently has 67 dynamic mothers who are dedicated to the more than 100 children of our chapter.

Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated has remained steadfast to its mission since its inception in 1938 ~ we are dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty. The 2018-2020 National Program theme is the POWER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE: WE CAN DO MORE! Our chapter has certainly risen to the call! Our teens were recognized for their philanthropic
endeavors as well as their tremendous leadership skills placing in all competitions as the Eastern Regional Teen Conference. Our teens supported and ran a successful campaign as we were able to congratulate Pierce Hodges as Eastern Regional Teen Treasurer.

Our mother members continue to not only support the chapter; they also contribute greatly to the community around us. I am proud to call our mothers – friend and family- for wherever I look they are in the news, serving on panels and inspiring other mothers and children to excel and achieve. This is evident in our teens becoming engaged and winning awards at teen conference thanks to our mother teen advisors. Our children leading in our annual ecumenical service during our Love and Happiness Ski weekend as our mothers lead “His Crew” ministry. We remain an award-winning chapter, as we have consistently been nationally recognized for our Programming Handbook.

As the 2018-2020 Chapter President, I am humbled to be a servant leader of this PREMIERE African American family organization. Over the next two years, I look forward to continuing our legacy of making a difference in our community as well as promoting the kind of network for our members and children that propels them to new heights of success. I am committed to DOING MORE – are you?

Yours in Jack and Jill,

Dr. Kelly Bethea

Dr. Kelly Bethea
President
Montgomery County, PA Chapter

youth

Chapter programs

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Years Established

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