Mr. G’s Pizza in Branson held the 4th Annual JATC Days on February 27 and 28, 2019. Mr. G’s owner, Ryan Holmes, continues to give back to his community on an annual basis with this fundraiser where he donates 50% of food receipts from those two days to JATC. Junior Auxiliary of Taney County (JATC) members, their family and friends gathered to partake of the delicious food, knowing that the children and families of Taney County would be the true beneficiaries. Ryan Holmes presented a check for $600 to JATC President Bobbie Wydeen. Ryan Holmes stated, “I enjoy supporting Junior Auxiliary of Taney County because of their commitment to helping the children and families in our community.”

JATC currently provides support to the children of Taney County through numerous projects including Prom Dress - Supply prom dresses and accessories for disadvantaged area high school girls identified by their counselors; ScholarCare - Award a renewable scholarship and provide support/encouragement to up to four Taney County students attending college; Scholarship Program - Award a scholarship to one student from each of the Taney County High Schools; School Supplies – Deliver supplemental supplies in January to Taney County Elementary schools; Tender Critters – New stuffed animals for children including ER, Cox Hospital, Police, Sheriff, Fire, Emergency Responders and any other organization providing comfort for children in a stressful situation; Learners Today-Leaders Tomorrow – Supplied a grant for science lab tables and assist & support Mark Twain teachers in STEM activities on a quarterly basis; Santa’s Gift House – Handcrafted gifts that children may purchase at a nominal cost for their loved ones in a holiday setting; and Women’s Crisis Center Support – Supplies for birthday parties and weekly activities for children to allow moms to attend counseling sessions. We are in the process of building a playground for the children at the Crisis Center.

More information about this organization and their projects can be found on the Junior Auxiliary website JATCMO.ORG, their Facebook page, Junior Auxiliary of Taney County or via email at jatcmo@gmail.com.

Members raise money for these projects through one major event - a fun Trivia Challenge with dinner, live entertainment, a raffle a Silent Auction, and a Live Auction. This year the 19th Annual Trivia Challenge and Silent Auction will be held at the Radisson Hotel in Branson on April 6, 2019. Also, JATC raises money from other events such as Belk’s Charity Days, AmazonSmile, grants and individual donations. Generous local businesses also donate to JATC’s various events including Doug Baker State Farm Insurance, Ozark Mountain Ear Nose & Throat, Mr. G’s Pizza, Binswanger Glass, State Park Marina, Central Bank, Branson Bank, First Community Bank, Bear Creek Farms, Holiday Planners, Price Chopper, White River Valley Electric, Inc., Liberty Utilities, and many more.

JATC is more than a nonprofit organization, it’s a group of women united by a single cause and dedicated to helping the children of Taney County. That’s the magic of JATC. It was chartered by a group of caring, enthusiastic women in 1998 and continues to grow and thrive throughout Taney County. Approximately 50 members annually contribute more than 4,000 volunteer hours as they strive to improve the mental, physical, social and emotional well-being of children in Taney County.

JATC is part of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA), a non-profit organization founded in 1941 with headquarters in Greenville, Mississippi. NAJA has more than 15,500 active, associate and life members in 98 chapters located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Their slogan is “Care Today-Character Tomorrow”.

Published by: Branson Register, March 20,2019; Tri-Lakes Daily News, March 23, 2019