Congratulations to Caroline Stickel who just finished her junior year at Greenwich Academy! The JLG presented the 2026 Community Service Award to Caroline for her deep and sustained commitment to serving others, particularly older adults in the Greenwich community. Inspired in part by her family’s legacy of service and her own experiences volunteering with Meals-on-Wheels, Caroline recognized the profound impact that simple moments of connection can have on seniors facing isolation and loneliness. In response, she co-founded and now leads Gifts on Wheels, a student initiative that partners with Meals-on-Wheels to deliver thoughtfully assembled gift bags, handwritten notes, and meaningful moments of connection to older adults throughout the community.

“Community service has become an important part of who I am. Through volunteering, I’ve met incredible people, learned lessons beyond the classroom, and found a passion that has given me a sense of purpose,” said Stickel, winner of the JLG Community Service Award. “Receiving this award means so much because it recognizes something that has already given me so much in return. I’m grateful to the Junior League of Greenwich for this honor and for encouraging young people to make a difference in their communities, and look forward to using the award to continue my work and research focused on improving the lives of older adults and strengthening connections across generations.”

In addition to her work with Gifts on Wheels, Caroline has volunteered at Greenwich Hospital, served as a Youth Corps member for Kids in Crisis, participated in international service work in Roatan, Honduras, and dedicated time to tutoring younger students.

The JLG will accept applications for the 2027 Community Service Award in the Spring.

For more information or questions visit our website at jlgreenwich.org or email jlg@jlgreenwich.org.

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Besides the variety of trucks, food, entertainment, and goodies for families, the JLG had VIP access as well as Reduced Sensory time for children who benefit from a smaller group setting without the loud sirens and flashing lights.

“It was an absolutely picture-perfect day for photos and fun, and just seeing the smiles, laughter, and awe from so many children warms your heart,” said Sammie Jacobs, President of the Junior League of Greenwich. “We also sponsored 20 local families and clients of our community partners to come enjoy the event free of charge.”

Three new activities to Touch A Truck! this year were instant fan favorites as children couldn’t get enough of the bubble machine, mini-golf, and the scavenger hunt for trucks of all shapes and sizes. Meanwhile, back by popular demand was the trackless train ride. Children also enjoyed breaking boards with SSDS Martial Arts and putting bandages on the GEMS life sized teddy bear.

The JLG thanks the generous truck operators as well as 50 volunteers who donated 150+ hours to help make this magical day another exciting success for the books.

Also, massive gratitude to Platinum Sponsor: Whitby. Gold Sponsors: Cultural Care Au Pair, Goldfish Swim School, Greenwich Concours, Greenwich Country Day, Greenwich Portable Restrooms, HSS, Interstate, Mandelbaum-Barrett PC, Mike Parelli Greenwich Real Estate, Next Generation Pediatrics, Nuway Air Conditioning & Heating, Pray Body Shop, and Riverside Orthodontics. Silver Sponsors: Breezemont Day Camp, County TV & Appliance, Eagle Hill School, Greenwich Braces, K&J Tree Service, Kona Ice, New England Propane, Signing Time, Skip’s Ice Cream, and Valley Pediatrics of Greenwich. Umbrella and Media Sponsors: Easy Home Management, Summer Rain, Greenwich Lifestyle, and Greenwich Magazine. In Kind Sponsors: Bartaco, Classic Kids, Garden Catering, Garelick & Herbs, Glenville Pizza, Greenwich Dental Group, Jumpin’ Jams, Kim Conrad Sotheby’s Real Estate, Raphael’s Bakery, SDSS Martial Arts, Songs for Seeds, and Pepsico.

The Junior League of Greenwich (JLG) is a non-profit and has been bettering the community for more than 65 years. It’s an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.

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Forty-five members partnered with local nonprofits across Greenwich in a day of hands-on service supporting children, families, and community organizations.

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annual Positively Me! program for the 19th year at the JLG headquarters. Because of its

enormous interest with parents inquiring about it all year long, Positively Me! was held at

the JLG headquarters for two weekends in February and March welcoming a total of 70 third

grade girls from the local community. This beloved, intimate initiative is designed to boost

confidence, encourage self-expression, and equip young girls with strategies to handle

challenging situations — all while fostering new friendships and having fun.

A signature component of the program is its creative and interactive activities, and one of the

highlights was a self-esteem building exercise led by two senseis from Legacy Martial Arts

Studio. Each Positively Me! participant was invited to write one of her fears on a wooden

board, then learned how to physically break through it by channeling her inner strength, an

empowering moment that gave participants a tangible sense of confidence. Adding to the

experience, four young girls from Legacy Martial Arts joined the senseis assisting with the

board-breaking activity and modeling confidence, courage, and leadership for participants.

Another popular activity focused on teamwork. Participants worked together to build

marshmallow spaghetti towers for POSMEGIRLS INC, then presented their creations and

reflected on the strengths they observed in one another throughout the process.

The 3rd grade girls left Positively Me! with rave reviews specifically sharing how much they

learned about themselves, their growth potential, to face challenges, and that they are

enough.

“We’re so grateful to share that parents were equally enthusiastic, noting the confidence and

joy their daughters carried home from their experience,” said Sammie Jacobs, JLG

President. “Parents raved about how enthusiastic their daughters were after the weekend

and shared story after story of meaningful moments, new friendships, confidence, and

energizing experiences that filled them with confidence.”

The JLG looks ahead to the 20th annual Positively Me! program in 2027 continuing to

empower third-grade girls through confidence-building experiences and connection. As part

of its broader mission, the JLG supports women and youth through programs that build

confidence, leadership, and community. For more information about the Positively

Me! program and other JLG initiatives, please visit www.jlgreenwich.org.About the Junior League of Greenwich

The Junior League of Greenwich (JLG) has been bettering the community for more than 65

years. It’s an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for

meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. Its

purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. The JLG is committed to inclusive

environments of diverse individuals, organizations and communities.

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JLG Teen Board Aitana Rodriguez, Ananya Saraf, Bella Albanese, Chloe Morris, Delaney Thomas, Linna Samson, Lucy Blucher, Mackensey Wilson, Skylar Jepsen, Yihan Shao  not pictured: Coco Liu

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“Through hands-on activities, the girls will explore self-esteem, communication, friendship, and how to handle challenging situations all while forming meaningful connections with their peers,” said Sammie Jacobs, President of the Junior League of Greenwich. “This year we’re excited to offer two separate weekends so families can apply for their preferred weekend through our lottery system.”

Positively Me! activities are Friday night 5:30-8:30 and Saturday 10:00-3:00. They include a Friday night PJ party, creative arts experiences, movement and mindfulness activities, crafts, a volunteer project, and more, with dinner on Friday night and lunch and snacks on Saturday.

The JLG is accepting applications January 12-20 at www.jlgreenwich.org for February 20-21, 2026 and March 20-21, 2026.

Participation is free and limited. The JLG uses a lottery system for this immensely popular event so submissionof an application does not guarantee placement. Families will be notified following the lottery selection.

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New Board announced.

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The Junior League of Greenwich (JLG) proudly hosted its annual PositivelyMe! program at the JLG headquarters the weekend of April 5th, welcoming 39 third grade girls from the local community. This beloved initiative is designed to boost confidence,  encourage self-expression, and equip young girls with strategies to handle challenging situations— all while fostering new friendships and having fun. 

A signature component of the program is its creative and interactive activities, and one of the true highlights this year was a self-esteem building exercise led by two senseis from local martial arts studio Greenwich Kempo. Each participant was invited to write one of her fears on a wooden board, then learned how to physically break through it by channeling her inner strength, an empowering  moment that gave participants a tangible sense of confidence. Adding to the magic: one of the senseis was a 16-year-old local high school student who herself participated in PositivelyMe! when she was in third grade, a full-circle moment of growth, confidence, and giving back. 

This year also marked the official launch of a new team-building activity: working together to design and build a Rube Goldberg Machine. Defined as a complex machine designed to complete a simple  task, the Rube Goldberg exercise encourages creativity, collaboration and critical thinking, and was  a solid hit with the girls.  

Beyond the weekend’s event, the JLG has expanded the reach of the PositivelyMe! Program this  year through new partnerships with the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich and Barbara’s House,  offering aspects of the program to a broader range of local youth. In addition, the Junior League of  Fairfield launched its own version of the program this spring, modeled after JLG’s initiative. 

“For 18 years, PositivelyMe! has been a cherished program in Greenwich, serving more than 1,500 girls in our community,” said Stacey Higdon, President of the Junior League of Greenwich. “We are  thrilled to expand its impact through collaborations with organizations like the Boys & Girls Club of  Greenwich and Barbara’s House, as well as by extending the program to Fairfield. We look forward to finding new opportunities to share this empowering program with other communities and  organizations as we continue to pursue our mission.” 

The Junior League of Greenwich remains committed to developing the potential of women and  improving the community through effective action and leadership. For more information about  the PositivelyMe! program and other JLG initiatives, please visit www.jlgreenwich.org. 

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To commemorate the 30th anniversary of The Den for Grieving Kids, the Junior League of Greenwich (JLG) proudly designed and funded the installation of a custom bookshelf—and filled it with age-appropriate books and comforting teddy bears—to support children coping with the loss of a loved one. The project, which was just completed, was developed by JLG’s 2023–2024 New Member Class as part of a community impact initiative honoring The Den’s milestone anniversary.

Founded by the Junior League of Greenwich in 1993, The Den was created to provide a safe, welcoming environment for grieving children and their families. After launching and running the program for three years, JLG passed it on to Family Centers, which has continued its mission and expanded the program. Today, The Den remains a critical resource in lower Fairfield County, offering weekly peer support groups to children, teens, and families navigating grief.

“Thirty years ago, our members saw a need in the community and took action,” said Stacey Higdon, President of the Junior League of Greenwich. “We are honored to return to The Den and celebrate its legacy by offering this meaningful contribution to help children feel seen, supported, and comforted.”

“We are incredibly grateful to The Junior League for their ongoing support of the program they founded more than 30 years ago,” said Laine Blumenkopf, Manager of The Den for Grieving Kids. “The new lending library will provide additional support to our community outside of their time at Den.  The children are also in love with the new adorable teddy bears.”

As a program of Family Centers, The Den for Grieving Kids continues to serve families free of charge, with support groups facilitated by trained volunteers working alongside licensed professionals. For more information about the Junior League of Greenwich and its legacy of community leadership, visit www.jlgreenwich.org

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The Junior League of Greenwich (JLG) proudly made and delivered 300 sandwiches for children in after-school programs at the Boys & Girls Club, Kids in Crisis, and Barbara’s House. This initiative ensured that children in these programs received proper nutrition while focusing on their studies and activities.

This effort was made possible thanks to generous donations from Neri’s Bakery, which provided the buns, and Acme Markets, which contributed meat and cheese. The JLG also relies on its 500 dedicated volunteers, who contribute to projects ranging from single-day events to long-term initiatives that leave a lasting impact. Notable projects include:

• The Greenwich Pool at Byram Park, a community resource for families to enjoy.
• The Playground at Bruce Park, offering children a safe and fun place to play.
• The Children’s Day School, supporting early childhood education.
• Kids in Crisis, providing critical services to children in need.
• And many more!

The JLG is also known for its popular community events, such as The Enchanted Forest, held this past November, and Touch-A-Truck, coming this May.

Now is the perfect time to become a member of the Junior League of Greenwich! A two-evening New Member Class begins on January 22, providing women with a quick introduction to the organization and preparing them to join a committee and make an immediate impact. For those with different schedules, a two-day morning session will also be offered in February.

“We’re excited to offer both morning and evening classes to make it easier for women with different schedules to join us,” said JLG President Stacey Higdon. “Our training and volunteer opportunities help women who’ve recently retired, stepped away from work to raise children, or are looking for new ways to give back, use their skills to make a real impact. It’s also a great way to keep your resume and skills up to date while staying active and connected in the community.”

Becoming a member is simple: complete the onboarding process in just two days, then dive into exciting opportunities to contribute to the community. Membership also includes access to free training sessions, engaging social events, and meaningful volunteer experiences.

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