VOLUME 8
NUMBER 2
Publisher: Courtney Watson
Managing Editor: Meredith Thompson
Contributors/Writers: Margaret Ashburn
Brittny McGraw
Lindsay Phipps*
Jenna Zibton-McFarland*
President: Jessica Beemer
President-Elect: Franny Apel
Executive Vice President: Lydia Higgs
Secretary: Michelle Pendleton
Treasurer: Lydia Merritt
Nominating Director: Lindsay Phipps*
Sustaining Director: Angela Mills
Executive Vice President: Lydia Higgs
Executive VP-Elect: Hannah Hopkins
Communications Vice President: Courtney Watson
Community Vice President: Tina Dillow
Finance Vice President: Ashley Mauceri
Fund Development VP: Lindsay Tate
Membership Experience VP: Briana Apgar
Sustainer Liaison: Susan Stanley-Zahorchak*
The Junior League of Roanoke Valley, Virginia, Inc. is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.
JLRV COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: The Junior League of Roanoke Valley, Virginia, Inc. welcomes all women who value our Mission. We are committed to inclusive environments of individuals, organizations and communities.
NON-PROFIT LEADERS SAY COLLABORATION IS KEY TO SUCCESS
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IT STARTS WITH A WOMAN
The Junior League of Roanoke Valley is excited to welcome Nicole Cronenwett. Nicole comes to us from the Junior League of Lehigh Valley. Nicole is excited to be in the area and to learn more about the Roanoke Valley. She has a wonderful husband named Craig and two adorable dachshunds named Shotzee and Hayley. She is looking forward to getting to know more about the members of JLRV!
LIKES:
• Color Red
• Tex-Mex food
• Football
• Dinner and a movie
• Traveling
DISLIKES:
• Colored holiday lights
• Not very adventurous when it comes to food
• Cellphone notifications
• Really hot weather
• Large dogs
“I love Stocked Market. The event was great-so organized, the vendor selection was excellent, and it was such a fun experience.”
Happy Spring to all STAR Magazine readers! The flowers are just starting to bloom and a green tint is starting to peep out from the winter blues. I can hardly believe how quickly time flies some days. I guess there really is something behind the phrase “time flies when you’re having fun!”
I don’t have adequate words to express how much I have thoroughly enjoyed my position as the 96th President of the Junior League of Roanoke Valley. What an amazing organization to represent!
In the previous issue of the STAR Magazine, our newly adopted Mission Statement was introduced:
The Junior League of Roanoke Valley, Inc. is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.
Within the pages of this issue, you will see a theme surrounding the “collaboration” focus of our Mission Statement. The definition of collaboration is collective cooperation to achieve an end result. The Junior League of Roanoke Valley is a perfect proponent of collaboration by its continuous partnerships with local community organizations. These partnerships open opportunities for community advancement and the initiation of change in our Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas.
In 2022, JLRV was able to assist in furthering the programs of several community organizations, including the Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline, Roanoke Public Library Foundation, Family Promise of Greater Roanoke, Center in the Square, Girls on the Run, and the Presbyterian Community Center. Not only did we provide funding for their specific programs, but the JLRV was also able to offer volunteer hours to these and many additional organizations. I hope you enjoy some insight into several of these local organizations in the upcoming pages.
Further, I see collaboration through women’s leadership. I am constantly amazed at what our organiza-
tion of volunteers is able to accomplish. I have been blessed to sharpen my own personal leadership skills by working with many influential women leaders this year. Many of their faces will grace the pages of this issue. I cannot say enough how lucky we are to be a part of such an amazing organization, so I will stop and let you continue on to the exciting pages that follow. Happy reading!
JESSICA BEEMER JLRV PRESIDENT, 2022-2023
Another inspiring year is unfolding for the Junior League of Roanoke Valley. This year’s STAR Magazine theme matches our new mission to “advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.” In this issue, we feature articles and a common theme of collaboration. It’s amazing that year after year, we continue to make an impact in our community through the collaboration with other area non-profit organizations. Throughout our history, we have made contributions to organizations through funding, volunteering, and advocacy.
Since joining, I am always proud when I learn of a program that was founded or supported by JLRV. The lasting impact can be seen in programs across the Valley, and I always get excited when I learn of one more thing that the JLRV did or helped. Most recently, I was sitting in the doctor’s office with my 4 week old son and noticed a poster for a series of events for lactation support for new mothers. In the corner of the poster, I noticed our logo. I was reminded once again of our impact and couldn’t be more proud that we helped fund a resource that is so desperately needed.
This issue focuses on working together, which is one thing we do very well. Whether it’s collaborating with other organizations or among our own members. An article written by STAR contributor, Brittny McGraw, highlights some of the organizations in the Roanoke Valley who actively collaborate with area nonprofits to provide direct resources to those in need. It also features a newer organization, Huddle Up Moms, formed to support mothers in the region. Another exciting feature in this issue is the announcement of the 2023-2024 Leadership Team. I’m also excited to include a feature on the success of our annual Stocked Market fundraiser.
My hope is that this issue will help you remind you of the amazing volunteer work. Thank you to our members who give their time to make these contributions possible. If you’re not yet a member, let this be your opportunity to be a part of something important in the Roanoke Valley.
BY BRITTNY MCGRAW
The Roanoke Valley is home to dozens of non-profits that differ in their mission and the ways they serve the community. Although their approaches to meeting the area’s needs vary, one aspect of each of these organization’s formulas for success is the same: collaboration, with community stakeholders and other organizations.
“Each non-profit here in the Valley plays a slightly different role, and that’s why the collaboration to me is so important,” said Anne Marie Green, President of Council of Community Services. “There’s no point in duplicating services or splitting the money, either. It’s better if you can coordinate it and help the most people.”
Green said bringing together the right people and assets to address community concerns has been essential to Council of Community Services’ work since it was founded in 1960.
“We were an organization that was supposed to identify issues in the Roanoke Valley, bring the appropriate stakeholders to the table to have the conversation, and then recommend a solution to the problem,” Green said.
That search for solutions often led to the creation of new non-profit organizations to address specific issues. Green said Total Action for Progress, RADAR, and the League of Older Americans are examples
of some of the organizations that grew out of Council of Community Services’ early planning work.
As community needs have grown, so has the organization’s footprint in the area.
“Along the way we also began providing information and referral services here in the Roanoke Valley, and then we also began providing planning for other non-profits,” Green said. “Over the years, this organization started taking on more and more services, so eventually our mission at this point is that the organization
is committed to improving health, ending homelessness, and increasing access to resources.”
Green said collaboration is an integral part of the non-profit’s services, which include 211 Virginia, a 24-hour, year-round hotline for the entire Commonwealth staffed by trained professionals who can suggest resources to meet a person’s needs.
“We collaborate statewide with other non-profits and government entities because we need to maintain our database,” Green said. “We need to make sure that the
referrals that we give are appropriate and they’re correct and the program is still taking people, so we have outreach people throughout the state of Virginia.”
She said Council of Community Services’ work to address homelessness has been another example of the need for multiple organizations to work together to solve a community problem. Council of Community Services, in partnership with the City of Roanoke, the Roanoke Regional Task Force on Homelessness, and homeless shelter and service providers have worked together to develop an information sharing technology system known as the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
“The point of the HMIS system is that people that become homeless, when they enter into a door, whether it’s Central Intake or the Rescue Mission or Salvation Army, that they’re put into HMIS and that way, their services are not duplicated,” Green said. “You can look up and see what they’ve been getting, but then also all the services that they qualify for that can become available to them.”
She said the COVID-19 pandemic showed non-profits the importance of working together. Abby Hamilton, President and CEO of United Way of Roanoke Valley (UWRV), agreed.
“Everybody really stepped up to the plate and they were willing to partner regardless of whether or
not they were traditionally in that space or not,” Hamilton said.
UWRV’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of people in the community, with a vision of elevating 10,000 families to self-sufficiency by 2030.
“The way that we make that happen is really by partnering with other organizations and individuals who want to make a difference, whether they’re addressing issues of early childhood success, youth success, health and wellness, and financial stability,” Hamilton said.
She said collaboration is at the core of UWRV’s work.
“We recognize that because we want a holistic approach of meeting families where they are and meeting their needs that are many, you can’t do it without collaboration,” Hamilton said.
She said that work also involves empowering partner organizations to showcase their strengths and expertise.
“It’s great to be able to support them in the work that they’re able to do,” Hamilton said.
“What I like about United Way and the work that we’re doing is to make sure that our partners are able to be their very best.”
Hamilton said organizations across the Valley have welcomed opportunities to work together, and these past and present partnerships are an indication of the great community work that can be achieved in the future.
Hamilton said, “That’s what I love about collaboration: it tells us, and it shows us that we are capable, more capable of things that we can accomplish together than what we can do alone. And it challenges us to take on roles that we haven’t traditionally done.”
Being a mom is… rewarding, humbling, exhausting, emotional, fulfilling, overwhelming, beautiful. I could go on and on but the truth is that it’s hard to put into words the full experience. Merriam-Webster defines “mother” as “a female parent.” When I read that, my jaw dropped because how can you summarize what our life is like that simplistically. To be honest, words simply fall short.
I am a mother of an 18-monthold little boy and get asked all the time what that is like. My answer depends on the day. When I think back to those early days, it’s a blur. And while I had friends and family supporting me through it all, something I acknowledge many women don’t have, there were so many times I found myself looking to Google for answers. In those
early days my search history would have looked something like “why won’t my child latch,” “is it normal to feel like this,” “postpartum depression” – the list goes on and on. Now my questions are more along the lines of development. I’ve said it to many of my friends and family, there’s plenty of support for the children, but what about the moms? Our partners don’t fully understand what we’ve been through, even our best friends don’t because each experience is so different. At the time, I prayed for a community of women in Roanoke that I could turn to, where maybe someone shared some semblance of what I went through. Little did I know then that there was something like that.
In 2019 Huddle Up Moms was formed. Kimberly Butterfield, the Director of Community Outreach
and Public Relations was a big part of that, “We know people feel alone. We know they feel disconnected. We know they don’t have the things to thrive.” She along with its now Executive Director, Jaclyn Nunziato saw a need to develop a community-based organization in the Roanoke Valley that supports women on their motherhood journeys. “There’s not many organizations that we’ve found solely dedicated to the mission of supporting moms,” Butterfield explained. Their focus would be on all mothers (non/biological, step, adopted, foster) regardless of education, ethnicity, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, nation of origin, age, religion, ability, opinion, or culture. They joined together with other women in medicine, public health, research, and community engagement – to provide resources they
wish they had and know women are looking for. They also reached out to the community and various groups for collaboration efforts.
Education and support is a primary driver of Huddle Up Moms because when it comes to resources they are few and far in between. “It’s super disjointed. There’s moms that qualify for WIC or those sorts of things and there’s pockets of information that gets to them. And then there’s the organizations that have traditionally focused on the child and in a roundabout way support moms so that’s where we come in,” said Butterfield. Through panels, content and community groups, the hope is that can provide women the information they need to feel supported through each of their unique journeys. One
of the great things they’ve created are mom “huddles.” These allow you to connect with like-minded women for a powerful support tool. Groups include:
• Working Moms
• NICU
• Single Moms
• Children with Special Needs
• Breastfeeding Moms
• Moms of Loss
• Pandemic Moms
• Stay at Home Moms
• Postpartum Support
• Adoptive/Foster Moms
• Moms of Multiple
• Moms of Teens
• LGBTQ+
Butterfield tells me they’re always looking to expand that list, but to make these things happen, they
need volunteers. The organization is entirely supported by women offering up the little free time that they have. They especially need volunteers when it comes to their biggest project right now which is ensuring women have formula. Store shelves still remain essentially empty for the most popular brands. Huddle Up Moms baby formula exchange and donation program provides this essential to those who can’t afford it and those desperately trying to track it down. “We’ve been taking donations for that. We’ve been purchasing formula to connect it to moms who need it,” said Butterfield.
Additionally the organization recently set up a partnership with Walmart to accept donated women’s clothes, baby clothes, and
household items. Huddle Up Moms will utilize its office space at the Haven on 5th and Elm Street in downtown Roanoke as a place where moms can come to shop and pick up formula. “We had a mom reach out over the holidays who had a house fire. They lost everything so we loaded them up with dishes, skillets, and clothes. So we’re hoping to see that grow,” said Butterfield.
Huddle Up Moms has also received a $50,000 grant from the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. They’ll use that to support the Moms Under Pressure program which supports pregnant and postpartum women diagnosed with hypertensive disorders. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preeclampsia accounts for 7.4% of US maternal deaths. To help lower those numbers, the organization will provide free self-measuring blood pressure monitoring systems, create educational material to understand and prevent preeclampsia, offer
care-coordination and provide moms with local resources for a healthier pregnancy.
To make everything they do happen, collaboration is key. “The mission of supporting moms just resonates with people. We joke you should support us if you are a mom, love a mom or have a mom. If there’s a mom in your life you should care about this,” Butterfield said. There are many local and regional groups they work with, including Postpartum Support Virginia, United Way, CHIP, Department of Health, Roanoke Women’s Center, and Planned Parenthood. They’ve also gotten a lot of support from local businesses. “We hope we can be that hub, that meeting point for moms to ask those questions and connect with those resources,” said Butterfield.
When Butterfield looks back at all the things they’ve done since 2019, one moment sticks in her mind from their fundraiser last year, Taco Fest. During a live television interview with a cook, Kimberly McBroom from WDBJ7 asked him why he was supporting this mission and he teared up. Butterfield described what happened next, “He said, my mom was a single mom and I just think about if she had more support what she could have done.” Moms struggle in a variety of ways. Everyone knows someone who has and that’s why Huddle Up Moms continues forward on their mission to provide an essential resource to all who need them.
For information on events, how to join a “huddle,” who how to volunteer go to huddleupmoms.org.
What an incredible year it has been so far! Together with our membership, the Management Team has overseen General Membership Meetings, membership socials, the Stocked Market, training opportunities, volunteer service opportunities, the search for our annual Grants recipients, and more. None of these events would have been successful without the time and expertise of a group of women – including you!
As this issue of the STAR Magazine reflects on “collaboration,” I hope that you can identify the places that you contributed to our year, the places you’ve made a difference in our community, the opportunities you’ve utilized to learn and grow because of the contributions of other League women.
The year isn’t over yet and there are going to be more chances to connect and give back. I challenge each of us to take advantage of these opportunities. Dive into something new. Try out something that makes you just a little uncomfortable. In these stretches, with the support of one another, we have so much opportunity to grow in our friendships, leadership, and voluntarism. I hope that you’ll share your ideas and experiences with the women around you because together is when we’re at our best.
I look forward to continuing to grow with you all, thanks to what each of you bring to our organization.
LYDIA HIGGS JLRV EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT 2022-2023
The Junior League of Roanoke Valley has selected its 2023-2024 Leadership Team for the upcoming League year. Leadership applications were made available to League members in October 2022. Applicants were then interviewed by the JLRV Nominating Committee in November, and the selected candidates were officially placed by the Nominating Committee in early December. JLRV Membership voted to approve the 2023-2024 Leadership Slate, which consists of the Governance Board, Management Team,
and Nominating Committee, at the League’s virtual January General Membership Meeting.
A celebration for the 2023-2024 JLRV Leadership Team was held at Twisted Track Brew Pub on January 15, 2023. At the Leadership Celebration, members of the Nominating Committee presented the new League leaders with a gift of boxed chocolate Roanoke Stars from Chocolatepaper. The 2023-2024 JLRV Leadership Team will officially assume their new positions on June 1, 2023.
Meet the 2023-2024 Junior League of Roanoke Governance Board and Management Team:
Franny was born in Richmond and lived in Virginia and overseas until her father got out of the Navy. At age nine, her family was transplanted to Boise, Idaho where her immediate family still resides. Loving the southeast, Franny returned to Virginia to attend the College of William and Mary where she played soccer and majored in Mathematics and Physics. After college, Franny joined Teach for America and taught high school math in
Chicago. During her time there she earned a masters degree in teaching and also married her husband, Peter, an Idaho native. Franny and Peter moved to Winston-Salem, NC for nine years as Peter completed medical training and Franny continued teaching and coaching girls’ basketball and soccer. They moved to Roanoke with their one-year-old son, Jeb, during the summer of 2015. Franny taught and coached at Roanoke Catholic School. After 17 years, she decided to step away from the classroom and focus on her family. Franny continues to enjoy running and playing soccer recreationally where she has made many friends. Over her career, Franny taught in several diverse schools ranging from public to private and urban to rural. She was named Teacher of the Year for Elkin High School in 2008. During those years, she started peer tutoring programs and AP Calculus programs in multi-
ple schools while serving as a mentor teacher and providing professional development to her peers.
In 2016 Franny had her second child, Bridget. As her family was growing she became more interested in getting involved with her community in Roanoke as well as meeting new people, so she joined the JLRV. As a member, she has been involved with Community Council and has served as the Grants CoChair, Service Committee Chair and Community Council VP. She was a member of the Community Impact Model rollout committee when the JLRV last researched its focus and chaired the Grants Ad Hoc Committee in 2020. Franny served on the Governance Board as Secretary and now serves as President-Elect. Through the JLRV, Franny has been able to attend many leadership conferences and training opportunities such as the Virginia Summit
and the Small Leagues Big Impact conference. The JLRV has offered numerous leadership, community service, and community collaboration opportunities. Facilitating community roundtables, volunteering with local nonprofit organizations and schools, and participating with community advisory boards and committees has given her experience and skills that enhance the strengths developed by her teaching and coaching career. Franny credits her involvement with the JLRV as the foundation and impetus to apply for the Roanoke City School Board where she is currently serving in her first year of a three-year term. It is directly due to the experiences and training with the Junior League that has led Franny to not only realize her passion for making an impact on the community, but given her the courage to take action. Now as she serves on the school board and continues her involvement with other community boards and organizations, she is in fact bringing people together to work towards making a positive difference in our community.
LYDIA HIGGS, PRESIDENT-ELECTLydia is a Roanoke native, graduating from Patrick Henry High School and the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School. She obtained her B.S. from the College of William & Mary, graduating with a degree in Biology and having completed the Secondary Education Certification program. For three years, Lydia taught high school biology, AP biology, and chemistry, before returning to graduate school. In 2015, Lydia graduated with distinction from Arcadia University (Glenside, PA) holding a Master’s of Science in Genetic Counseling. That year she began working as an oncology genetic counselor at the University of Virginia Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center and she also joined the Junior League of Charlottesville (JLC).
In 2017, Lydia returned to her hometown of Roanoke and took on the role of re-developing the Cancer Genetics program at Carilion Clinic. In addition to her oncology genetic counseling practice, Lydia also holds a faculty appointment (Instructor) at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. In 2017, Lydia transferred her Junior League membership to the Junior League of Roanoke Valley (JLRV) and joined the MET committee as a transfer member.
Lydia began serving in leadership roles within the JLRV including MET Chair (2018-2019), Member-at-Large on the Governance Board (2019-2021), Administrative Vice President (2021),
Executive Vice President Elect (2021-2022), and most recently Executive Vice President (20222023).
In addition to her daily work, Lydia is committed to the Genetic Counseling profession and has served several organizations and professional boards. She is currently the chair-person of the Virginia Board of Medicine Advisory Board on Genetic Counseling and is a past-president of the Virginia Association of Genetic Counselors. She is an active participant on several committees for the National Society of Genetic Counselors (Annual Conference Planning Committee, Professional Status Survey Committee, and CEU Reviewer Subcommittee) and the Virginia Association of Genetic Counselors (DEI Taskforce, Annual Conference Planning Committee). Lydia has been recognized for her professional accomplishments including the 2022 Women of Achievement Alison Parker Young Professional Award and being named to the 2020 class of the Roanoker Magazine’s 40 Under 40. She is a Lifetime member of the Girl Scouts and received her Gold Award in 2005. In her free time, Lydia enjoys spending time with her family (including her mom, Diane, who is a JLRV Sustainer) and pets (two dogs and a cat), quilting, reading, and more.
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Paula Grant will serve as the Junior League of Roanoke Valley’s Secretary for the 2023-2024 League year. Paula joined the JLRV in 2021, and was the Co-Chair of the Annual Blood Drive during her new member year. She is currently placed as the JLRV’s MET Co-Chair. In that role, Paula has assisted this year with the planning of the League’s General Membership Meetings and Holiday Party. Paula loves her current role as MET CoChair, because she believes that it has allowed her to learn so much about the JLRV and its membership. During February of 2023, Paula attended the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) Winter Forum on the Emerging Leader learning track. Paula is married to Jeremy and is a mother to a son Atley Eugene. She and her family have two dogs, a corgi named Boyd and a chihuahua named Rat. She also has a cat named Cat. Paula is employed as a Registered Nurse at Carilion RMH in the Pediatric Emergency Department. Paula and her husband are avid canoe/kayakers. They have traveled over 130 miles of the James River by canoe/kayak.
Anna has served in several leadership roles for the JLRV. She is currently placed as the Assistant Finance Council Vice President. Anna has previously served as the JLRV’s Stocked Market Tickets Chair, Nominating Chair, and Executive Vice President-Elect. Anna was placed as the League’s Executive Vice President for the 20182019 League year.
Anna works as a Business Development Representative for Lawrence Companies. She specializes in helping companies find the best employee relocation packages. Prior to her work at Lawrence, Anna fundraised for her alma mater, Hollins University. She is currently the President of the Board of Directors of the Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce. Anna is also first Vice Chair of the Board for the Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline. She is a native of Richmond but now calls the Roanoke Valley home. Anna is happily married to her husband, Brian.
Lauren joined the Junior League of Roanoke Valley in 2015. She has served on several different League committees. Lauren was placed as the League’s Finance Vice President for the 2020-2021 and 20212022 League years. Lauren feels that the skills and training that she has received from the JLRV has given her the opportunity to gain professional skills while she was a stay-at-home mom who was working part time.
Lauren grew up in the Roanoke Valley and met her husband David while taking college classes at Virginia Western. They have three daughters, ages 11, 7, and 4, that keep the family busy with numerous social activities. Lauren currently works part-time as a Mortgage Banker Assistant at Atlantic Bay Mortgage and answers emails for an online clothing store Shop Poppy and Pink all while tackling the hybrid-home school model for her daughters.
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Puppie was born in Lima, Peru. She joined the Junior League of Roanoke Valley in 1985, and transferred her membership to the Junior League of Norfolk in 1989. During her time as a Junior League member, Puppie has co-chaired the Cookbook Committee and served as Arrangements Committee Chair. Puppie became a Junior League Sustainer member in 1993, and transferred her League membership back to the JLRV in 1996.
Puppie has previously served on the Grants Committee and as a Sustaining Director on the JLRV Board. She has also hosted a Sustainer Wine Tasting Event that is hugely popular with League members. Puppie loves the JLRV and enjoys getting to know the New members that join the League each year. She and her husband Jim live in Roanoke.
As Executive Vice President, Hannah will be serving on both the Governance Board and Management Team for the 2023-2024 League year. She joined the JLRV in 2018, and has served primarily as part of the Community Council during the League tenure. Hannah served as Community Council Vice President during the 2021-2022 League year, and received the Management Team Member of the Year award for her outstanding work in that leadership position.
Outside of the JLRV, Hannah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and play therapist in private practice. She owns and operates Fig Tree Counseling in Grandin Village, where she works with children and families providing individual play therapy, parent coaching, and family therapy. She is also involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and currently serves on the Planning Committee for Roanoke’s Finest and Brewer’s Ball. When not working or doing JLRV activities, Hannah spends time with her husband, Kyle, and their one-year old daughter, Evangeline.
Courtney will be the JLRV’s Executive Vice President-Elect for the upcoming League year. She currently is placed as the JLRVs Communications Vice President and serves as a member of the Management Team. Courtney has also held placements in the League as Editor and Assistant Editor of The STAR Magazine.
Courtney is employed as an Associate Professor of English at Radford University and is a scholar of health humanities and literary travel and tourism. She is a fiction writer and past winner of the “Women Hold Up Half the Sky” Feminist Science Fiction Award and the National Society of Arts & Letters Regional Short Story Prize. Courtney loves to travel and aspires to garden.
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Michelle is currently serving as Secretary on the Governance Board and will be the Communications Vice President for the 2023-2024 League year. Michelle has been a member of the League for 16 years and has served in various leadership roles. Michelle has had League placements on the Nominating, New Member, and Stocked Market Committees, and has been a Membership Advisor. She has also fulfilled placements as the Administrative Vice President, Finance Vice President, Treasurer, and Fund Development Vice President.
Michelle is a University of Virginia graduate. She is employed as a Certified Public Accountant at ALCOVA Mortgage. Michelle and her husband have two boys in 6th and 3rd grades at Roanoke Catholic School where Michelle is Treasurer of the Home and School Association.
Originally from Massachusetts, Maritza spent her teen years in Illinois and attended college and graduate school in Indiana. She earned her B.A. in sociology from DePauw University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from Indiana University. Maritza moved to Roanoke in 2019 and joined the Junior League that same year. As an Active member of the League, Maritza has served on all three Community Council Committees (the Community Collaboration Committee, the Community Service Committee, and the Grants Committee).
Maritza is committed to advancing women’s opportunities for education and leadership. She is employed as the Assistant Director of Admission and Community Outreach at Hollins University. Maritza, her husband, and their toddler enjoy hiking in the Roanoke area with friends and family.
Ashley Mauceri will serve the JLRV for a second year as the Finance Vice President. Growing up working at her father’s CPA firm in Tazewell County, Virginia, Ashley is no stranger to Quickbooks and budget lines. She is eager to build her resume in this position for another year and work with others on the Management Team and Governance Board to revamp policies and procedures for her role.
When Ashley isn’t volunteering her time with the League or meeting with the JLRV Bookkeeper, she serves as a Teacher for the Blind/ Vision Impaired providing Braille instruction in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas. Ashley’s career choice is one that goes hand in hand with her husband, Michael’s as he is an architect that specializes in the design of public schools. Ashley’s career, volunteering as the Religious Education Director at her church, and the JLRV keeps her hopping. Her greatest love and biggest passion of all is her two-year old son, Anderson Ray.
Mary Kathryn Tirico joined the Junior League of Roanoke Valley in 2017. She has held leadership positions in the League that include Stocked Market Merchants Co-Chair and Stocked Market CoChair. Mary Kathryn has also served on the League’s Digital Media and Community Service Committees. She is a past recipient of the JLRV’s Galaxy and Rising Star Awards.
Mary Kathryn is employed as the marketing director for a local restaurant group - Frankie Rowland’s, Billy’s, 419 West, The Farmhouse, 202 Social House, Corned Beef and Co & The Rowland Hotel. She and her husband John live in Roanoke with their dog Fenway.
Briana Apgar will serve as the Membership Experience Vice President on the Management Team for a second year. She joined the Junior League of Roanoke Valley in 2019. During her time in the JLRV, Briana has served as MET Chair and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Co-Chair. Briana has also served as League Treasurer on the Governance Board. She is a past recipient of the League’s Shining Star and Galaxy Awards. Briana has attended both the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) 2022 Fall Leadership Forum and the 2023 Winter Leadership Forum.
Briana is a two time Hokie and a one time Hoo with a B.S. in Human Nutrition & Exercise and a Master of Public Health (Virginia Tech) and an MBA (University of Virginia, Darden School). Briana joined the JLRV because she is interested in community health and non-profit management. She feels that the JLRV allows her to explore these interests with other passionate woman who are not only her friends, but also peers from all walks of life and experiences.
Susan Stanley-Zahorchak is an active Sustainer and Past-President (2018-2019) of the Junior League of Roanoke Valley. Since joining the Junior League in 2005, she has held various leadership and Board positions. As a Sustainer, Susan continues to serve on the Investment Advisory Board (IAB), various ad hoc committees, and is a recurring member on the Management Team as she has held the position of Sustainer Liaison for the past two years. Susan is a firm believer in the power of women and is passionate about furthering the Junior League’s mission.
Professionally, Susan is the Vice President of Human Resources for ALCOVA Mortgage. She has over 15 years of experience in Human Resources and has obtained her Professional of Human Resources (PHR®) certification and is a SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP). In addition to her MBA, Susan holds a B.S. in Marketing Man-
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agement with a concentration in Business Leadership and a minor in Communications from Virginia Tech. Susan and her husband, Paul Zahorchak, have been married for thirteen years and have a fouryear-old daughter, who has been attending Junior League events since she was born. Susan also has two step-children – Adam (24) and Anna (22). In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and Hokie football.
The Junior League of Roanoke Valley also wishes to recognize these members who will serve as part of the League’s 20232024 Leadership Team:
Year 1: Tina Dillow, Jessica Fintel, and Alexandra Thacker
Year 2: Margaret Ashburn, Lauren Boswell (Nominating Chair), Sarah G. Johnson
Communications Council
Assistant Vice President: Ashley Calton
Star Magazine Editor: MiKayla Green
Community Collaboration Committee Chair: Layla Khoury-Hanold
Community Service Committee Chair: Allison McKell
Grants Committee Co-Chairs: Jessie Coffman and Sierra Miller
FINANCE COUNCIL
Finance Council Assistant Vice President: Cherish Miller
Stocked Market Committee
Co-Chairs: Emily Baynard and Brittany Bostic
Stocked Market Events
Committee Co-Chairs: Cristina Agee and Katie White
Stocked Market Merchants
Co-Chair: Erin Cao
Stocked Market Tickets Chair: Alex Mellen
Membership Experience
Council Assistant Vice
President: Hailey Feldman
New Member Committee
Co-Chairs: Cyan Belluccia and Monika Mittal
MET Committee Co-Chair: Katie Pennington
Macy Ware
DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging)
Committee Chair: Jessica Blandy
BY JENNA ZIBTONJLRV actives and sustainers ran/ cheered runners on during the half marathon in Raleigh, NC in December. Franny Apel, Jenna Zibton and Shannon Shaffer made it through the 13.1 miles race with the support of Summer Harper Messick, Emily Fielder and Susan Stanley-Zahorchak.
Even though the 2022 holiday season is long gone, fresh, festive memories remain of the growth and new experiences offered during the Junior League of Roanoke Valley’s Stocked Market 2022.
“It was really exciting for it to all come to life, and I feel like it was definitely a success,” said Brittany Mitchell, Stocked Market co-chair.
The numbers proved JLRV’s annual shopping extravaganza and signature fundraiser was a success,
raising $113,438.06 to support local initiatives that align with JLRV’s mission of uplifting and empowering the community. Stocked Market has raised more than $3.4 million in the past 34 years.
“There are no words for how it feels to be able to give back that much,” said Brittany Bostic, Stocked Market co-chair. “I can’t give hundreds of thousands of dollars myself, but if I can be a part of something that does, it feels so great to know that my work, and my team’s work, and my Junior League’s work is able to
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make such an impact on the community from this one event.”
From the earliest planning stages for Stocked Market 2022, Bostic, Mitchell, and the Stocked Market committee had a vision for the event that included a focus on new merchants, new entertainment experiences for shoppers, a greater holiday aesthetic, and accessibility.
“[Brittany Mitchell] came at the very beginning of the year with
a mission for accessibility and I loved it,” Bostic said. “I thought that was such a good thing for us to work on. I had many people compliment and talk about how they had space to move, and they liked having somewhere to sit.”
While yearly favorites including performances by the Southwest Virginia Ballet and visits with Santa returned, the event also provided enhanced entertainment experiences for shoppers, like S’mores with Santa. Shoppers also enjoyed
more than 130 new and returning merchants.
“We definitely had a wider range this year,” Bostic said when describing the variety of products and services merchants offered for Stocked Market 2022.
Bostic and Mitchell agreed: teamwork and collaboration were key to Stocked Market 2022’s success.
“It definitely takes, not just our executive committee, but the whole
League in its entirety to come in to pitch in to this event to make it a success,” Mitchell said. “I think that having a team, especially being able to listen to one another and all of our ideas, I think that collaboration is so key, especially to changing things up and thinking of new things.”
“Our committee was amazing,” Bostic said. “I’m so thankful for them doing this all year long, but also the amount of volunteers within the League who came and helped and some of them did many more shifts than necessary and that was helpful.”
Bostic and Mitchell said they look forward to what the future holds for Stocked Market.
“I think we’re going to continue to grow, continue to add more
rows [of merchants], and it’s going to be really exciting,” Mitchell said. “I hope this momentum will continue on into next year.”
Stocked Market will return to the Berglund Center in Roanoke
November 10-12, 2023, to celebrate 35 years of shopping and philanthropy. You can check for event updates throughout the year at stockedmarket.org.
Warm weather is on the way, but that doesn’t mean that it’s too late to enjoy this old favorite. The Hotel Roanoke’s Peanut Soup is one that brings back memories of conferences with colleagues and lunch among friends. Surprisingly simple, this recipe is sure to be savored with your family, friends, or even colleagues.
The hotel’s signature soup has been a favorite of locals and travelers for many generations.
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 ribs celery, chopped
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 8 cups (2 quarts) chicken broth
• 2 cups peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/3 teaspoon celery salt
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup ground peanuts
DIRECTIONS:
Sauté the onion and celery in the butter in a saucepan for 5 minutes or until tender but not brown. Stir in the flour and cook until bubbly. Add the chicken broth. Cook until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Strain the mixture into a second saucepan. Add the peanut butter, lemon juice, celery salt and salt, and mix well. Cook just until heated through, stirring to blend well. Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle with the ground peanuts. Serves ten.
The youth development specialists of Family Service of Roanoke Valley work in public schools as well as after school and community settings to help youth identify strengths and build healthy decision-making skills. Youth develop relationships with positive adults, become involved in the community, and set goals for themselves. The Teen Outreach Program® (TOP®), is a curriculum FSRV utilizes when working with the youth in the high schools of Roanoke City Public Schools. In the 21-22 academic year, FSRV served a total of 849 youth at Patrick Henry and William Fleming High Schools, and Forest Park Academy. The TOP® Program fulfills the service-learning component for the advanced diploma students from this school district.
Outcomes include:
• 86% of youth stated they are able to “make decisions that keep me healthy and safe.”
• 89% are able to “come up with ways to solve problems.”
• 86% stated they are able to “set goals for myself.”
• 83% understand “how other people feel.”
• 85% stated they are “able to handle challenges that come my way.”
• 84% said they are able to “believe in myself.”
• 87% say they are “hopeful about my future.”
“The Teen Outreach Program is structured to meet our teens where they are and encourages development of leadership skills that supports them as they move on into life after high school,” said Megan Alpine, youth development program manager for Family Service of Roanoke Valley. “The TOP program models and supports healthy communication skills and self-regulation so that they can confidently make decisions and advocate for themselves as they navigate the next chapter of their lives. Our TOP teens complete the program with a stronger sense of self, an understanding of what a healthy relationship should look and feel like, and empowers them to make their own choices and decisions about what they value.”
Family Service is a 122-year-old 501(c)(3) mental health nonprofit organization. The mission is to support individuals and families as they journey toward lives of emotional wellness, healthy relationships, and a future filled with hope. Family Service provides counseling for all ages, youth programs for elementary through high school students, guardianship and conservator programs for vulnerable adults, and personal affairs management.
Jan 17
Feb 21
Mar 21
Mar 25
General Membership Meeting, VIRTUAL
General Membership Meeting
General Membership Meeting
Annual New Member Blood Drive
Apr 15
Apr 18
Apr 22
May 16
All League Volunteer Day, “Spring Into Service”
General Membership Meeting
Annual Plan Meeting
Annual Celebration
