The social season officially arrived in Palm Beach on Tuesday, Oct. 6, as the Junior League of the Palm Beaches (JLPB) took over The Colony Hotel for its second annual Party Under the Palms. The energy inside the room was magnetic, packed with members, past presidents, community leaders, and longtime supporters all dressed in vibrant Palm Beach style — a sea of bright colors and chic resort wear celebrating 86 years of service and impact across Palm Beach County.
Guests mingled over cocktails and canapés while browsing a buzzing silent auction, but the real highlight of the night was the sense of camaraderie hanging in the air. Co-chaired by immediate past president Kate Stamm and current president Emily Schachtel — alongside honorary chair and past president Laura
Russell — the signature gathering raised crucial funds for JLPB’s core initiatives in literacy, healthcare, and women’s and children’s services.
“Seeing a room filled with women who have helped shape Junior League’s history, those leading us into the future, and community supporters who believe in our mission was tremendously meaningful,” said Schachtel.
Stamm shared a similar sentiment: “It was inspiring to see so many longtime and new supporters joining us in a shared commitment to better our community. We are so grateful to everyone who helped make our second Party Under the Palms such an incredible success.”
That commitment traces back to 1941, when JLPB was founded. Since then, the volunteer-led organization has quietly transformed the local landscape. You can see their touch everywhere — from their Little Libraries program, which delivers books to over 19,000 low-income children, to the Eye & Ear Alert screening program, to a period poverty initiative that has put more than one million menstrual products into the hands of those who need them. In fact, local institutions like the Cox Science Center and Aquarium, and Quantum House owe much of their early roots to the visionary League members who helped champion them.
Party Under the Palms proved that eight decades in, JLPB is still the beating heart of Palm Beach’s philanthropic scene — and they certainly know how to host a celebration.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palms, Purpose, and a Packed House
