The Junior Board of Rock Island

Requests for Funding will open in February 2026!

About The Junior Board of Rock Island
Junior Board began in 1935. For more than 90 years, members of the organization have donated their time, efforts and personal funds to make the nonprofit organization succeed.

We are women joined in friendship, working together to support children in our community, JBRI allocates funds to over 40 non-profit organizations in our community, helping to ensure children have what they need to live a healthy and successful life.

Mardi Gras Charity Ball
The Mardi Gras Charity Ball, beyond being a local tradition, is Junior Board’s most successful fundraiser. The monies generated from the Ball allow Junior Board to assist local organizations in providing quality programming and services to area youth. This year, the 87th Annual Mardi Gras Charity Ball will be held on February 14th, 2026, at the Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf, Iowa. It will feature the theme “Love Stories”

The event will feature a cocktail hour, silent auction, live auction, and dinner prior to the highlight of the evening, the presentation of the Royal Court and coronation of our King and Queen. For ticket information, please contact Beth Behrends at ejbehrends@yahoo.com. We hope you will attend this year’s black-tie event.

Whether or not you are able to attend the Ball, please consider making a donation and becoming a patron of the event. All patrons will be recognized in a booklet distributed at the Mardi Gras Charity Ball, with special recognition for those who have supported Junior Board for 45 years or more. Donations may be mailed to Junior Board of Rock Island, PO Box 6041, Rock Island, Illinois 61204-6041 or you may use the donate link below.

Click here to Purchase a Ticket or Make a Donation