By Victoria Thiessen, Communications VP

Dec. 14, 2022: The Junior League of Bronxville (JLB) hosted its inaugural "Hometown Holiday Fair" on December 1.  The fundraiser took place in two formats - daytime and evening - and both were held within a heated tent in the private parking lot of event sponsor Houlihan Lawrence - Bronxville Brokerage.  The JLB conceptualized this fundraiser in order to highlight its vision of “Mobilizing Women to Ignite & Inspire Community Change” within its service area of Bronxville, Eastchester, Mount Vernon, Tuckahoe, and Yonkers and to better engage the community.

The official opening of the fair commenced with a ribbon cutting that was attended by Mayor Mary Marvin of Bronxville, Houlihan Lawrence Bronxville Branch Manager Victoria Bulkley, JLB President Kristin Smith, and a number of JLB volunteers and community partners.

Among the highlights were the giant, cardboard gingerbread homes that were designed and created by five of the JLB’s long-standing community partners - Bundles of Joy, Eastchester Community Action Partnership (ECAP), Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Corp, Feeding Westchester, and Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE).  A number of daytime attendees were also able to pick up their pre-ordered, edible gingerbread homes made by Topps Bakery at Bronxville, who donated a percentage of the proceeds to the JLB.

While the daytime event was open admission, the evening party was a ticketed event that sold out within five days after sales launched in October.  Guests at that part of the event enjoyed bites and beverages served by Bronxville-favorite Pete's Park Place Tavern and were treated to the sounds of local band and sponsor Beautiful Buzz.  They performed everything from ‘80s rock to a few seasonal surprises with guest singers! 

Both events included a marketplace of vendors and a wreath raffle comprising six specially designed delights that had prizes from an array of sponsors and local businesses.  Two additional event sponsors included TellTeresa, founded by Teresa Brady of Bronxville, and Prep Academy Tutors, run by locals Sarah Loader and Vanessa O’Friel. 

The JLB is extremely proud of the support it receives from all local, small, and, especially, women-owned businesses. 

The event was overseen by Development Task Force Chair and past President Michelle Schoulder.  She was supported by JLB Co-Chairs Julie Daher and Meredith Grant.  There was an entire team of JLB volunteers that worked tirelessly to pull together this new concept, including Project Manager Mandy Galati and Event Captains Beth Atsalis, Janice Baio, and Sessa von Richthofen, to name a few. 

Money raised through this fundraiser supports the JLB’s outreach efforts across its five service areas.  This includes, as examples, two monthly Mobile Food Pantries run in conjunction with Feeding Westchester, the Joyful Closet (based in a Mount Vernon school that supports many homeless students) with partner Bundles of Joy, a monthly Book Nook after-school reading program at ECAP in Tuckahoe, and a number of other ongoing and ad hoc outreach projects that address local needs.