Who We Are

 
The Ames Junior Chamber (Jaycees) gives young people between the ages of 21 and 40 the tools they need to build the bridges of success for themselves in the areas of business development, management skills, community involvement, and international networking opportunities.

Extended by the Des Moines Jaycees in 1931, the Ames Jaycees originally provided opportunities for young men to develop personal and leadership skills through service to others. The Jaycees later expanded to include women, reflecting the growing influence and leadership of women in America.

For the past 75 years, the Jaycees have been active in the Ames community. Nationally, Jaycees helped establish AirMail services in America with Jaycee member Charles Lindbergh, and have raised millions of dollars for causes such as the MDA and the March of Dimes. We have built parks, playgrounds, hospitals, ball fields, and housing for the elderly while conducting service and support programs in thousands of communities nationwide.

Jaycees can be found in all walks of life: governmental leaders such as past Presidents Bill Clinton and Gerald Ford, business tycoons such as Domino’s Pizza mogul Tom Monaghan, former Miss America Kaye Lani Rae Rafko-Wilson and sports heroes like basketball great Larry Bird.

Focusing on providing real impact, the Jaycees are enlarging areas of opportunity for young people.