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What is AJF?

Austin Junior Forum (AJF) is a non-profit, volunteer organization supporting women, children, and the elderly in the Austin area through community service and fund raising.

How is AJF different from Junior League of Austin?

Both AJF and the Junior League of Austin are women’s organizations that provide invaluable service to the community. Both provide volunteer hours to and raise funds for local agencies that serve the poor and needy. The major differences in the two organizations revolve around time commitment, how the volunteer hours are organized, and dues structures. Currently, AJF is a smaller organization than the Junior League of Austin.

How and when did AJF get started?

AJF was founded in 1969 by 18 Austin women who were familiar with the work of the Houston Junior Forum, which was founded in 1946. The Austin Junior Forum is one of 10 Junior Forum, Inc. (JFI) chapters in the State of Texas. Each chapter is a private, non-profit service and welfare organization.

What does AJF do?

AJF is involved in the community in three main ways:

The members of AJF provide over 13,000 volunteer hours each year to selected community organizations.
AJF raises funds to provide grants to selected non-profit organizations each year. For example in 2005, AJF distributed a total of $78,885 to 20 non-profit organizations (see below).
AJF owns and operates the Daniel H. Caswell House. This historic landmark is available for rent to the public for meetings, weddings, receptions, and other events.

Who are the members of AJF?

AJF has approximately 220 active and sustaining members. Members include working women, stay-at-home moms, business owners, and professionals who want to make a difference in our community – one life at a time.

Who can join AJF?

Any woman may join AJF who has a strong interest in volunteerism and is at least 21 years of age. All active members must attend a minimum of five general membership meetings per year, participate on one standing committee, pay annual dues, and contribute a minimum of 45 hours of service towards AJF service projects. For more information and an application to join AJF, please visit our membership page.

To what agencies does AJF provide volunteer time?

Our 2008/2009 service projects include:

The Settlement Home – The Settlement Home for Children is a charitable, non-profit, residential treatment center and therapeutic foster care program for emotionally troubled children. AJF volunteers host parties, dinners, and book clubs, among other events for these young ladies.

Kids on the Block – The Kids on the Block (KOB) provides educational puppet programs that enlighten children on the issues of disability awareness, medical-educational differences, and social concerns. AJF members donate their time each year to perform these programs at local elementary schools, andAJF is the only organization in Austin that provides KOB services.

Family Elderhaven Birthday Parties – Elderhaven Adult Day Care provides a safe, secure, and stimulating environment for elderly and disabled individuals as an alternative to early nursing home placement and allows caregivers respite during the day. AJF volunteers help the staff put on a carnival and celebrate birthdays with the participants. These events include crafts, projects, and games with the Elderhaven participants.

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation Parents Night Out – Caswell House Candlelighters is the only program in Austin offering a broad spectrum of outpatient services to families dealing with childhood cancer. AJF volunteers staff events for these families. At the parents’ night out evenings, AJF volunteers look after and entertain young cancer victims and their siblings to allow the parents an evening out.

Heart House – Heart House is an after school program whose mission is to provide a safe haven and academic support to low-income children and to encourage the children to become good citizens. AJF members host three parties entertaining the children with activities, games, and food.

CASA Holiday party – The mission of CASA is to provide court appointed special advocates for abused and neglected children. This holiday party is for CASA volunteers and the children they assist. AJF hosts and staffs this event.

Hospice Austin Appreciation Luncheons – Hospice Austin provides family-centered, quality, end-of-life care that emphasizes compassion, independence, respect, and dignity. AJF hosts a Spring and Fall Appreciation Luncheon for the patients and their families, employees, and volunteers of Hospice Austin’s in-patient facility, Christopher House.

Manos de Cristo Back to School Days and Sealant Day – Manos de Cristo provides clothing, backpacks, and education items for children from low-income families so that they are adequately prepared for school. AJF volunteers help the children select their clothes and supplies, as well as do crafts with them and assist with processing the hundreds of people who use this service each year. Manos de Cristo also operates the only low-cost dental clinic in Austin for the working poor and other medically indigent people. AJF volunteers support Manos de Christo staff for this September event by helping with registration, processing the children, providing snacks and food, etc.

St. Louise Apartment Make-over – (Spring 2007) St. Louise House specifically focuses on female-headed families with children because they represent one of the neediest segments of the homeless. For this event, a group of AJF volunteers made-over and set-up an apartment for a new family moving in.

Other than volunteer hours, what projects are AJF members involved in?

AJF has three main fund raising projects:

Our main fund raising activity is Christmas at the Caswell House, which is held each November (see below).
AJF, in partnership with the South Austin Area Motorcycle Enthusiasts, organizes and hosts the Bikerz, Bearz & Dogz Motorcycle Ride to raise funds to purchase thousands of teddy bears and stuffed Dalmatians for the Austin Fire Department, Austin Police Department, Travis County Sheriff's Office, and Austin-Travis County EMS. These agencies use the stuffed animals to calm and comfort children in crisis situations. In this past, events such as the Celebrity Bear Auction and Teddy Bear Picnic have supported this program.
The Paver Campaign, launched in 2005, raises funds to repair and maintain the Caswell House. There are four sizes of pavers available ranging from 4 x 4 inches ($25) to 8 x 16 inches ($850). The pavers will be installed on top of the existing sidewalk at the Caswell House. It is hoped that this project will provide ample funds to restore and maintain the house for years to come.

What’s Christmas at the Caswell House?

Christmas at the Caswell House started in 1983. The historic Daniel H. Caswell House is decorated for the holiday season and open for viewing during the first half of November. Funds are raised through ticket sales to tour the house, décor sales (all the decorations in the house are for sale), bake shop sales, lunches served daily (ticket sales), special events such as our Mother-Daughter Tea and other holiday parties, and sponsorships.

Who receives the money raised by AJF?

AJF's Grants Committee takes applications for grants from February through May of each year, and the grants are distributed in December. In 2005, AJF distributed $92,923 to the following organizations:
Any Baby Can / Family Resource Center (Candlelighter's)
Adoption Coalition of Texas Assistance League of Georgetown
Austin Groups for the Elderly - Family Eldercare
Austin Sunshine Camps
Breast Cancer Resource Center
Casa Marianella
Casa of Travis County
Caswell House Foundation
Children's Hospital Foundation
For the Children
Girl Scouts
Heart House of Austin
Manos de Cristo
Meals on Wheels
Ronald McDonald House
Sammy's House
The Settlement Home
St. Martin's Church
Therapy Pet Pals of Texas

How are AJF and Caswell House related?

AJF purchased the Daniel H. Caswell House in 1979. Because the members were all women, they actually had to have their husbands sign the loan documents. To pay off the loan, the ladies compiled a cookbook titled Lone Star Legacy, which had sold over 200,000 copies since the initial printing in 1981 and is available for purchase on this website (just click on "SHOP" near the top of this page). Through sales of the cookbook, AJF members paid the note in full in three years. Now, the Caswell House is the AJF headquarters but also serves as a private venue for weddings, parties, and corporate events.

Phone: (512) 472-0779 :: Fax Number: (512) 472-9988 :: 1404 West Avenue :: Austin :: Texas :: 78701