Junior League introduces board and celebrates 80th anniversary

YOUNGSTOWN — The Junior League of Youngstown marks its 80th anniversary of community service in Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley by introducing its 2009-10 board of directors.

The women volunteer leaders strive to make a positive impact in the Valley. The Youngstown League is part of the Association of Junior Leagues International, which represents 293 Junior Leagues with more than 165,000 members across four countries.

New officers

Newly elected officers are women from the Youngstown and Mahoning Valley and include Michele D. Grant of Boardman, president; Joanne Nohra Wagner of Howland, president-elect; Anna Aey of Canfield, vice president; Amy Banks of Poland, recording secretary; and Michele Merkel of Warren, treasurer. Sustainer representatives are Patti Edwards of Youngstown; Suzyn Schwebel Epstein of Hubbard, Joyce Mistovich of Boardman and Jan Strasfeld of Youngstown.

New board members

Board members include: marketing and recruitment: Helene Sinnreich of Youngstown and Anissa Modarelli of Boardman; fund development: Susan Stewart of Boardman; training and education: Tee Berlin of Canfield; research and development, Melissa D’Apolito of Poland and Shellie Sabel of Poland; provisionals: Fran Curd of Boardman; in-league communication: Tara Mady of Poland; passport to prizes: Liz Skeels of Boardman; done-in-a-day projects: Debra Hartig of Struthers; Pink Ribbon Tea: Leilani Drake of Boardman and sustainers Sue Berny of Boardman and Annette Camacci of Poland; Mother-Daughter Brunch: Barbara Banks of Canfield and sustainers Rose Memo of Poland and Renee Gessner of Canfield; and Angel Ball; Melanie Angiuli of Boardman and sustainers Ingrid Lundquist of Poland and Camacci.

Volunteer commitments

The 2009-10 League volunteer commitments include Day Break Golf Outing to benefit Family Services; The Down Syndrome Association of the Valley Buddy Walk; Harding Elementary (Youngstown City Schools), The Youngstown Peace Race, the Children’s Museum for Science and Technology (Spooktacular), Hope House Visitation Center, The Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley, Second Harvest Food Bank and Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek Park.

This year, the Junior League of Youngstown’s Provisional Class will partner with area service agencies to implement locally the “Kids in the Kitchen initiative, a nationwide program of AJLI. The goal is to empower underserved youths to make healthful lifestyle choices and fight childhood obesity.