Join us in celebrating the triumph of the 2023 Little Black Dress Initiative by the Junior League of Los Angeles! From October 10 to 13, our committed participants rocked the same black dress for four consecutive days, making a powerful statement as part of the JLLA Little Black Dress Initiative.

The Little Black Dress Initiative is an impactful week-long awareness and fundraising campaign that originated in 2014 with the Junior League of London. The Junior League of Los Angeles takes part in LBDI to raise awareness about the challenges faced by foster youth and raise funds for essential support.

We are thrilled to share that, as of October 17, the 2023 campaign has raised over $28,000, thanks to your generous support.

Why We Do It

Every year, 30,000 children are in foster care in Los Angeles County due to evidence or risk of abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

Since 2013, funding was eliminated for integral mentoring and life-skills training programs that supported hundreds of youth in Los Angeles County as they aged out of the foster care system.

JLLA has responded by providing direct service projects such as Friends of the Children LA, Happy Trails, Harvest Home and United Friends of the Children. These projects focus on providing support for parenting foster youth with salaried professionals who stay with them for 12+ years and setting up events and programming to support them such as STEAM Fairs, meditation sessions, outdoor adventures and workshops on topics like career development, self-advocacy, stress management and financial literacy.

Read more about LBDI and JLLA’s work with foster youth.