ABOUT US

The Junior League of Charleston Boutique began as a fundraising project by a committee of 21 Sustaining members.  The committee compiled a 350-page cookbook containing 750 receipts and published Charleston Receipts on November 1, 1950.  To date, it is the longest in print Junior League Cookbook in the country.  After 2 years, the management of Charleston Receipts was turned over to the Active membership as a permanent fundraising project, thus, the JLC Boutique was born.  In 1986 a second cookbook, Charleston Receipts Repeats, debuted and the first printing sold out in just 28 days.  Two more cookbooks, Party Receipts (1993) and Charleston Recipes (1949), round out the culinary offerings of the Boutique. 

Throughout the last 70 years the Boutique has expanded to offer Junior League-branded products such as tote bags, hats, drinkware, t-shirts and more.  These fun products allow our members to support the League and show off their pride anytime.  Another unique offering by the Boutique is “The official children’s book of Charleston,” Joseph’s Charleston Adventure (1998), written and illustrated by Sustaining JLC member Laura Jenkins Thompson. 

Sales of JLC Boutique products have generated over a million dollars of income over the better part of the last century.  The proceeds from Boutique sales have gone to support the League in numerous ways.  Earnings have helped fund projects including the Charleston Speech and Hearing Clinic, Horizon House and the Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center.  Additionally, the money has gone back into the League to provide programming to develop exceptionally qualified and empowered leaders who collaborate with community partners.  Our goal is not only to improve lives but also to help shape the way that others think about serving their communities.