Henry Wilson, Executive Director of Y-COP, with Kristin Smith and Meredith Dixon, Junior League of Bronxville

By Victoria Thiessen 

May 24, 2023: The Junior League of Bronxville (JLB) awarded eight grants to local non-profit organizations and five scholarships to young women heading to college. To celebrate these grant and scholarship recipients, the JLB hosted its annual Service & Scholarship Celebration on April 26.

The JLB Community Grants Program partners with 501(c)(3) organizations benefiting its service area of Bronxville, Eastchester, Mount Vernon, Tuckahoe, and Yonkers.  The grants met immediate and specific needs within these communities. 

This year, the JLB provided funding for the following organizations and projects:

-Big Brothers Big Sisters of Westchester: workbooks that provide storytelling opportunities for the Littles

-Concordia Conservatory: Spring String Poetry Project for the Lincoln Elementary School in Mount Vernon

-Eastchester Community Action Partnership: chairs for their after-school program and summer camp

-Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Corps: customized tent for public relations events

-Operation Prom: supported launch of a new section at distribution events for non-gender conforming formal wear as well as attire to serve the wheelchair-bound.

-We Run Mt. Vernon: an inaugural Youth Race as part of this year’s Turkey Trot

-Y-COP of Mount Vernon: new stove for their hot meal program

-Yonkers Partners in Education: 5 Chromebooks for their College Centers in the public high schools

The JLB also awarded five scholarships to inspiring college-bound women. The Positive Power Award for a strong commitment to both volunteerism and academic excellence was given to Julia Handel of Eastchester High School.

-The Cara Kealy Award, named after an exemplary and beloved member of the JLB, is given in recognition of a commitment to voluntarism, and this year it went to Emma Cullinan of The Ursuline School in New Rochelle.

-The Erica Sevilla Service Award Scholarship, in loving memory of a past JLB president, is awarded to young women who reflect Erica's passion for volunteering and the JLB vision of “Mobilizing Women to Ignite and Inspire Community Change.” The three women who received this award were Lesley Iyamu of Mount Vernon High School, Natalia Potenza of Loyola School in New York, and Samra Shabir of Saunders Trades and Technical High School in Yonkers.

In addition, the JLB celebrated two very important organizations crucial to its success this year.

-The Community Partner of the Year Bundles of Joy was recognized for collaborating on the JLB Joyful Closet, which provides children at the Edward Williams School in Mount Vernon the opportunity to “shop” for essentials such as school supplies, toiletries, clothing, and more.

Finally, Houlihan Lawrence - Bronxville Brokerage was named Sponsor of the Year for providing the JLB with space to hold their inaugural Hometown Holiday Fair fundraiser.  Without fundraisers the JLB would not be able to do the amazing work it does in the community.

The League is honored to support all these organizations and young women in creating positive change in our community.

The Junior League of Bronxville, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

www.jlbronxville.org