JLBR Announces Outstanding Volunteer Nominees

L-R: Racheal Petullo, Carrie Rubin, George Petrocelli, Victoria Matthews, Namrata Israni (JLBR)

(Press Release) ​BOCA RATON, FL, September 3, 2025– The Junior League of Boca Raton’s (JLBR) has just announced that 40 outstanding women volunteers have been nominated by non-profits around Palm Beach and Northern Broward counties for the prestigious award.
 
The nominees are:

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AACY - American Association of Caregiving Youth — Judith Anne Wong
Achievement Centers for Children & Families — Noreen Payne
Alzheimer's Association — Judy Simon
American Caribbean Maritime Foundation — Geneive Brown Metzger
Best Foot Forward — Marjorie Margolies
Boca Ballet Theatre — Arlene Herson
Boca Helping Hands — Tandy Robinson
Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum — LeAnn Berman
Boca School for Autism — Cathy Datwani
Boca West Children's Foundation — Karen Ruben
Brain Bowl Events, Inc. — Mary Stern
Community Servant Leaders — Lisa Talley
Dress for Success Palm Beaches — Catherine Kasten
Eda and Cliff Viner Community Scholars Foundation — Stephanie Newell
Find Your Voice Foundation — Christine Barclay
George Snow Scholarship Fund — Zoe Lanham
HabCenter Boca Raton — Ana Sasmiresan
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County — Clara Bennett
Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative (HEI) — Martha Pinzon
HomeSafe — Abby Bernstein-Henderson
Impact 100 PBC — Helen Ballerano
inSIGHT Through Education — Kelly Warsaw
Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County — Regine Bataille
Make Our Schools Safe — Jodi Lippman
Mizner Park Cultural Arts Association, Inc. — Peg Anderson
National Society of Arts & Letters of Florida — Kirsten Stephenson
Nonprofits First — Jennifer Sullivan
Old School Square Center for the Arts — Patty Jones
Pace Center for Girls Palm Beach — Keely Gideon Taylor
Place of Hope at the Leighan and David Rinker Campus — Jeannine Morris
Roots and Wings Inc. — Marcia Mithun
Rotary Club of Boca Raton Sunrise — Susan Weinblatt
Scholar Career Coaching — Lisa Rabinsky
Spirit of Giving — Dawn Zook
Sweet Dream Makers — Michelle Hagerty
The Diaper Bank Covering South Florida — Rebecca Heatherman
The Junior League of Boca Raton — Samantha Vassallo
Women's Executive Club — Mary Owens
YMCA of South Palm Beach County — Fernanda Macedo
YWCA of Palm Beach County — Daniela Levenson
 
The 38th Annual Woman Volunteer of the Year (WVOY) Luncheon will be held on Friday, November 21 at The Boca Raton, 501 East Camino Real, at 10 a.m. Carrie Rubin has been named honorary chair and Namrata Israni and Racheal Petullo will serve as event co-chairs, as announced by JLBR president Victoria Matthews.
 
The Woman Volunteer of the Year Luncheon celebrates outstanding women in the community nominated by nonprofit organizations throughout Palm Beach County and Northern Broward County for their dedication and expertise as volunteers, as well as the work they do to further the missions of the organizations they serve. Proceeds benefit the Junior League of Boca Raton.  
 
The much-anticipated event includes a runway fashion show by The Boca Raton, the iconic resort and private club.

The Presenting Sponsor of the Woman Volunteer of the Year Luncheon is the Junior League of Boca Raton’s 1971 Society. The Award Presentation Sponsor is The Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute and Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation. The Boca Raton is the Fashion Sponsor. The Media Sponsor is Boca Magazine.
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“We are so pleased to honor these 40 outstanding women,” said Victoria Matthews, president of the Junior League of Boca Raton.  “Their volunteer work makes a tremendous difference in our community.”
Assistant Chairs are Jennifer Jochum Selman, Kali Williams and Brittany Wright. Committee members include Donna Doscher, Ann Starovoitov, Karen Wadowicz, Betsy Owen, Brandi Hyatt, Caroline Steffen, Chase Papoy, Dede Dalbey, Fabiola Hooker, Francine Lang, Joni Goldberg, Clarissa Gleichenhaus, Kara Matuszewski, Kathy Adkins, Linda Gunn Paton, Michele Ribovich, Renata Sans De Negri, Sarah Caro, Sonia Wegweiser, Brittanny Ferguson, Gena Pineda, Sara- Antonia Tkalec and Veronica Kraft.
 
Tickets for the Woman Volunteer of the Year Luncheon will be available starting September 4. Visit wvoy25.givesmart.com  or call 561-620-2553. 
 
Sponsorships are available. Platinum tables are $4,000, Gold Tables are $3,000, Silver Tables are $2,000 and Silver General Seating is $200 per ticket.