The Junior League of Lexington was founded in 1924 by ten women dedicated to volunteerism and the improvement of the Lexington community. These women built the foundation of community service for which today’s League is known. In the early years, the Junior League of Lexington was a founding contributor for Baby Health Services in 1938 and the Lexington Children’s Theater in 1939. Baby Health Services provides needed health care for the children of uninsured working families, and the Lexington Children’s Theater still brings theater and entertainment to the children of the bluegrass.

One of the Junior League of Lexington’s greatest accomplishments is the Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show. The Horse Show began in 1937 and served as the League’s only fundraiser until 2007.  It has generated over three million dollars for the direct benefit of the local community and has become a prestigious event in the Saddlebred Horse industry, serving as part of the Saddlebred Triple Crown. The Horse Show still runs today for a week every year in mid-July, attracting exhibitors from around the globe.

By the 1960’s, the Junior League of Lexington was still growing and becoming an important asset to the local community. The 1960’s saw two more agencies the League helped to found:  the Opportunity Workshop of Lexington and The Living Arts and Science Center. Both agencies are still actively making a difference in the local community. The Living Arts and Science Center provides educational opportunities in the arts and sciences, while Opportunity Workshop helps find jobs for disabled individuals in the community.

The 1970’s brought many new firsts to the Junior League of Lexington. In 1977, the League’s “Horse Head” logo was created and could be seen on all League stationary and outgoing correspondence. The League’s Community Education and Research Committee was established to help sort through the needs of the community and determine where to grant the proceeds from the Horse Show.  The League also began training and educating its members to expand their volunteering skills.  During this time, the League funded projects and agencies in the arts, children’s services, and health services. The League gave Transylvania University five thousand dollars in honor of its Bicentennial Celebration to sponsor an exhibit of antique Kentucky silver. In 1978, the League was a contributing partner in the founding of Chrysalis House, a long-term substance abuse treatment facility that still operates today.