About Us

Dawanna Veneable
14th Chapter President
Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter

Welcome to the Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter's website!

On behalf of the 35 Magnificent Mother Members, our 16 Amazing Associate Jewels, our active and dynamic Fathers Auxiliary, and our 65 children and teens, it is my sincere honor to thank you for visiting and welcome you to the Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter’s website. We are glad you want to learn more about our beloved chapter. We are a THREE-TIME Five Star Chapter of Excellence and the winner of numerous Regional and National awards over the years.

Jack and Jill of America, Inc., is a membership organization of mothers with children ages two through 19, dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving, and civic duty. Jack and Jill promotes public awareness concerning the interests of children including child development, child growth, child quality of life, childcare, and the promotion of children’s rights. Founded in 1938, Jack and Jill today boasts over 262 chapters nationwide, representing over 40,000 families.

​The Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter’s 2024 – 2025 theme is: Serving in Unity; Rooted in Love. We embody our chapter theme by ensuring that EVERY Mother member, child, teen, and father can be engaged by our programming and be supported by this village. We believe that every member should have the opportunity for a full and beautiful experience in Jack and Jill, evidenced, at least in part, by the formation of healthy, mutually beneficial, lasting relationships that encourage and support individual growth as chapter and community leaders, and as active and engaged citizens. Our Mother Members are poised to engage, empower, and enrich both our chapter families and our community. Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter members are exceptionally brilliant and talented women, who are leaders in our community, committed to developing intentional programming in areas such as philanthropic giving, legislative advocacy, financial literacy, and cultural enrichment.

The Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter is committed to the core philosophy of this organization: every child, if given the proper guidance and opportunity, can be developed into a leader. This program year, we will serve our youth and our community by hosting The Inaugural Illuminating Excellence Gala, a presentation ball curated for young gentlemen and ladies in the classes of 2025 and 2026. Please visit the Illuminating Excellence Gala page on this website for more information. The Leadership Development Program for the juniors and seniors will present a wonderful opportunity for our chapter to nurture the next generation of leaders in the Hudson Valley.
We invite teens and their parents to join us in this significant service endeavor.

We are happy that you stopped by to learn more about our organization, our programming, our community outreach programs, and the benefits of membership. Enjoy exploring our website, and if you have any questions use the contact us button to get in touch.
Long live the Marvelous Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter! And long live Jack and Jill!

My very best regards,

President Dawanna Veneable
​
Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter
​Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
Three-Time Five Star Chapter of Excellence
2023 Eastern Region Chapter of the Year
2023 Eastern Region Top Foundation Contribution per capita
2023 Eastern Region Second Place Overall Foundation Contribution

2024-2026 Executive Board

President

​Dawanna Veneable

Treasurer

Lisa Alexander

Recording Secretary

Ashlea Bonds-Liptay

Vice President

Tosha Walton

Program Director

Ryanna Blackburn

Corresponding Secretary

Maxine Worden

Financial Secretary

​Natalie Rawlinson

Parliamentarian

Janice Byndloss

Historian

Cheryll Smith

Protocol Chair

Naima Cook-Shephard

Editor

Damali Peterman

Foundation Chair

Xiomara Gonzalez