A flurry of applications came in this year’s Woman Volunteer of the Year award, and the selection committee has the tough task of selecting one winner from a field of 43.
An annual tradition in Boca Raton for 37 years, the event benefitting the Junior League of Boca Raton honors a volunteer nominated by nonprofits located in Palm Beach County and North Broward County.
“These incredible nominees have made such a vast difference for our community. We are looking forward to honoring these truly deserving women,” Nikki Stelzer, president of the Junior League of Boca Raton, said in a press release.
The 43 nominations were received by Boca Raton Regional Hospital, and then an independent panel of judges reviews the applications in search of the most deserving volunteer; they look at “their dedication and expertise as volunteers, as well as the work they do to further the missions of the organizations they serve.” The judges are selected by the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute and The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation.
The winner will be announced at The Boca Raton resort on Nov. 1 during a lavish luncheon. Starting at 10 a.m., there will be a social hour and silent auction with bubbly. Afterward, guests will be seated in the resort’s Grand Ballroom for lunch and a runway fashion show.
This year’s event is co-chaired by Meryll Bangsil and Khrisna Kellerman; Kelly Woods Fleming is honorary chair. Proceeds from the Woman Volunteer of the Year event benefit the Junior League of Boca Raton, going toward their child welfare and nonprofit support initiatives.
For more information or to purchase tickets to the Woman Volunteer of the Year luncheon, visit jlbr.org.
The nominees this year are:
- Amiee Hawkins, Alzheimer’s Association
- Althea Largie Ceasor, American Association of Caregiving Youth
- Elaine Tobita, Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary
- Sue MacDonald, Best Foot Forward Foundation
- Loretta Parker, Boca Ballet Theater
- Zoe Lanham, Boca Helping Hands, Inc.
- Eileen Travasos, Boca Raton Christian School
- Olivia Hollaus, Boca Raton Historical Society
- Nicole Flier, Boca Raton Police Foundation
- Marcia Mithun, Boca West Children’s Foundation
- Mandy Bohlman, Boys & Girls Club of Palm Beach County
- Jan Savarick, Brain Bowl Events, Inc.
- Janet Diaz-Martinez, Caridad Center
- Andrea Cannon, Congregation B’Nai Israel
- Cheryl Crowley, Cultural Council for Palm Beach County
- Amanda Perna, Delray Beach Public Library
- Tammera Atkins, Dress for Success Palm Beaches
- Randee Wechsler, Eda and Cliff Viner Community Scholars Foundation
- Teresa Fedele, Florida Atlantic University Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
- Ashley Cacicedo-Surdovel, Friends of Foster Children of Palm Beach County, Inc.
- Danielle Rosse, George Snow Scholarship Fund
- Shawn Sherlock, Gina Rose Montalto Memorial Foundation Inc.
- Mindy Shikiar, HabCenter of Boca Raton
- Robyn Raphael Dynan, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County
- Michelle Makris, Hanley Foundation
- Iris Urbina, Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative
- Carrie Rubin, Impact 100 Palm Beach County
- Elizabeth Rivera, In The Pines
- Nancy Dockerty, Junior League of Boca Raton
- Arlene Herson, National Society of Arts and Letters
- Jennifer Nawrocki, Palm Beach Symphony
- Judy Noren, Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League
- Haley Winstead, Place of Hope at the Leighan and David Rinker Campus
- Nancy Brinker, Promise Fund
- Tabitha Stambaugh, Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton
- Sudane Ricketts, Scholar Career Coaching
- Gabby Teran, Student ACES
- Abby Bernstein, Sweet Dream Makers
- Reilly Glasser, The Diaper Bank, Covering South Florida
- Robyn Perlman, Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program
- Caroline Johnson, Women’s Executive Club
- Nicole Grimes, YMCA of South Palm Beach County
- Daniela Levenson, YWCA Palm Beach County
