(Cincinnati, Ohio) The Junior League of Cincinnati (JLC) is proud to announce their newest program in partnership with Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank. They will be celebrating this new partnership and welcome the press to join on Monday, April 30 th at 10:00 a.m. at the Columbia Center (3500 Columbia Parkway; Cincinnati, Ohio 45226).

During the past 18 months, the JLC met with non-profit and business leaders to see where they could impact the community by conducting a thorough community needs assessment to identify and prioritize critical local issues. The JLC then executed a request for proposal process where individuals and organizations were invited to submit an application to partner with the JLC as its focus area for the next several years. After the finalists’ presentations, and careful consideration, the decision was made to select Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank as it is the strongest fit to continue the legacy of the JLC in its efforts to strengthen childhood environments in our community.

Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank partners with local social service agencies to provide diapers to low-income families while raising awareness of the basic health need for diapers. Their vision is to eliminate the existence of diaper need in our community so that ALL babies have a chance to be healthy, happy, and safe. Every day, 1 in 3 families in America struggle to afford diapers for their children. There are over 16,000 diaper-wearing children in the Greater Cincinnati area experiencing diaper need each month. For these reasons and more, Sweet Cheeks started the only diaper bank serving the entire Greater Cincinnati area to fill the diaper need gap in our community.

The JLC will provide Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank, at its sole discretion, up to $75,000 in seed funding based on a yearly evaluation for a period of 3-5 years (the “Funding Period”). In addition to this funding, the JLC will provide the support and expertise of their 800+ volunteer members for the duration of the Funding Period to help support and accelerate Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank in its mission and endeavors. Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank will be co-managed by the JLC and Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank for the Funding Period.

Vicki Marsala Calonge, President of the JLC, shared her excitement, “Our membership has worked this past year to connect with the community while also engaging with a variety of community-based organizations to learn about the focus issues facing Greater Cincinnati that our Program Development team identified from the community needs assessment. Partnerships with the community strengthen our ability to make an impact on the lives of those we serve, and we commit financial and volunteer resources to community programs that further our focus area: Strengthening Childhood Environments.”

The JLC would like to thank and congratulate all of the organizations that submitted proposals, including the semi-finalists and finalists. Membership was truly impressed with all of the amazing work that these organizations do and the possibility of potential partnerships. With an unwavering commitment to cultivate exceptionally qualified civic leaders who can help address a community’s most pressing and urgent needs, the JLC feels confident this new partnership with Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank will continue to not only improve lives, but change the way people in these communities think.