7 Questions For Junior League Of Philadelphia President Carrie Scheitrum

Think Junior League is only about Lilly Pulitzer-wearing ladies who lunch on dry Martinis? Think again. During its 2025-2026 calendar year, Junior League of Philadelphia members packed more than 139,000 pounds of food for needy families, created 16,000 hours of programming for students, and raised more than $50,000. Oh, and the Junior League’s thrift shop in Ardmore raked in an astonishingly admirable $950,000 in sales.

Newly-elected Junior League of Philadelphia president Carrie Scheitrum is setting big goals for her organization. Scheitrum took a break from her high-powered job as associate director at Applause, an international technology firm, to answer a few questions.  

What’s the origin of the name “Junior League”?

The league was founded back in 1901 by Mary Harriman, who mobilized young, unmarried women to volunteer in New York City. They called themselves the Junior League as they were younger than some of the more established matrons of the time. 

What do you say to people who think that Junior League is only for blue-blooded ladies who lunch?

This is a common misconception. Though it began with debutants in NYC, it has since evolved into a welcoming and diverse group of women who are committed to personal leadership growth and giving back to our community.  We have a wide range of women in our organization – from lawyers, doctors, and corporate leaders to non-profit executives, graduate students and stay-at-home moms. The league offers a place for anyone who believes in our mission.   

When did you join Junior League? What drew you to the organization?

I joined the league back in 2014 here in Philadelphia. I was new to the region and wanted to find a place with like-minded women who were doing good works in the area.

Have you held other positions in the organization?

I’ve held a few different leadership positions over the years, including a committee chair of one of our community engagements (SHARE, Food To Families) as well as chair of our Annual Fund. I was our treasurer in 2023-2024.

That $950,000 in sales from the Junior League Thrift Shop is so impressive! It is one of my favorite thrifting spots. What do you think makes it so successful?

I love it too! We are lucky to have a phenomenal staff that keeps the shop running smoothly! We couldn’t be successful without them. Suzanne, our shop manager, and her team have a keen eye for what shoppers are looking for and keep a pulse on how to successfully keep merchandise moving. In addition, our members and community help to keep the shop stocked with new high quality items. You never know what you’re going to find!

What are a few of your goals for Junior League Of Philadelphia?

This year, we’re leaning into connections. I am excited to see more people coming back to in-person events and truly start leaning into making meaningful human connections. As a society, we need to lean on each other more than ever. Through our community volunteer and fundraising events, we can build each other up. I’m also looking forward to the launch of our new internal program called VITAL – Volunteers In Targeted Action with Local partners where we will work with other nonprofits in the area to understand the needs of the community and better support our neighbors to combat food insecurity. 

What does it take to become a member of the Junior League?

Interested women start by filling out an application and paying their initial dues during our recruitment period, which kicks off at the end of June.  They spend the first-year learning about the league and our community partners through our fantastic New Member program. We have a committee of wonderful women who host our new members in both small and full group events to help guide them through their first year. Through these learning sessions, hands-on events and social interactions, the new class not only gets an understanding of the work the Junior League does for our community, but begins to build strong connections with other women in the league.   

Learn more about Junior League of Philadelphia by visiting jlphiladelphia.org.

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