BOCA RATON, FL, August 27, 2024– The Junior League of Boca Raton (JLBR) has announced the 43 local women who have been nominated for the 37th Annual Woman Volunteer of the Year Award. Nonprofits from across Palm Beach and Northern Broward counties have nominated one of their valued volunteers to be considered for Woman Volunteer of the Year Award. The award recipient will be named at the annual luncheon on Friday, November 1st at The Boca Raton iconic resort and private club.
The nominees 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; and Daniela Levenson, YWCA Palm Beach County.
“These incredible nominees have made such a vast difference for our community. We are looking forward to honoring these truly deserving women,” said Nikki Stelzer, president of the Junior League of Boca Raton.
Kelly Woods Fleming has been named honorary chair and Meryll Bangsil and Khrisna Kellerman will serve as event co-chairs, as announced by JLBR president Nikki Stelzer.
Meryll Bangsilgrew up in New Jersey and moved to Florida in 2003 shortly after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a minor in Economics from Boston University. She is a Senior Vice President and Certified Financial Planner at UBS Financial Services, Inc., where she is the trusted advisor for numerous Ultra High Net Worth families throughout the U.S. Furthermore, Meryll is recognized by Forbes as a Top Wealth Advisor and Best-in-State Wealth Advisor. She became a member of the Junior League of Boca Raton in 2016 and has volunteered her time to serving our community while working full-time, training for marathons and raising three daughters.
In 2019, she was nominated for the Junior League’s Woman Volunteer of the Year Award by Best Foot Forward (BFF). That same year, she was nominated by Soroptimist International for the Women of Distinction award for her community contributions and then in 2023 for her contributions to BFF. Meryll and her husband, Ethan, jointly chaired the 2022 BFF Bash achieving record donations. She is deeply honored to Co-Chair this year’s event, being a former nominee and having served on the committee for multiple years.
Khrisna Kellerman, a New York City native, has resided in Boca Raton, FL for 11 years with her husband Ted Kellerman and their two children. She currently works as the Parish Executive Assistant and Director of Events at St. Jude Catholic Church. Prior to her move to Florida, Khrisna was the founder and designer of Kaija NY. In 2006, she launched a handbag and accessory brand that promotes women empowerment by providing jobs to local artisans in rural areas in the Philippines. Wanting to give back she partnered with Childhope Asia, a non-profit children’s orphanage home that assisted survivors of human trafficking and child abuse.
Khrisna has a long-standing dedication to serving those in need and an extensive record of volunteering through her church, children’s schools, and other local organizations. In 2016, she became a member of the Junior League of Boca Raton and has since held positions on the FLAVORS and Woman Volunteer of the Year committees. She also served as a committee member at the YMCA Inspiration Breakfast and BFF Bash Event.
Meryll and Khris met shortly after Khris moved to Florida and their families bonded over a
traditional family-style Filipino meal. Their children are close in age and often frequented Disney
together when their children were younger. They have been great friends for over a decade,
traveled and trained for several World Major Marathons together, and have been collaboratively
volunteering ever since joining the Junior League of Boca Raton in 2016. Meryll and Khris are
excited to co-chair this highly anticipated event and further support our community with meaning impact through the Junior League.
The Woman Volunteer of the Year Luncheon celebrates outstanding women in the community nominated by nonprofit organizations 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 Presenting Sponsor 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 The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation. The Boca Raton is the Fashion Show Sponsor. The Media Sponsor is Boca Magazine.
The November 1st event will start with a 10 a.m. social and silent auction with champagne followed by a luncheon, runway fashion show presented by The Boca Raton and concluding with the announcement of the award recipient. Chandelier Table raffle tickets are available for $25. The raffle winner’s entire table will be moved to an elevated chandelier table and served a premium-plated lunch. Each person at the table will receive a $500 luxury swag bag from The Boca Raton.
Sponsorships are available and tables, tickets and ads are now on sale. Platinum tables are $4,000, Gold tables are $3,000, Silver tables are $2,000 and Silver General Seating is $200 per ticket. Tribute Program Book ads are available to honor nominees. For more information, visit https://wvoy.givesmart.com or call 561-620-2553.
The luncheon is organized by volunteers of the Junior League of Boca Raton (JLBR).
Committee members include Hanna Bradley, Brittanny Ferguson, Clarissa Gleichenhaus,
Camila Harasic, Daphney Hoover, Kelly Humke, Namrata Israni, Dila Kaya, Victoria Matthews,
Marina McCleneghen, Jocelyn Mijares, Rhonda Morris, Monique Oerth, Michele Ribovich, Lois
Ronan, Susan Rutherford, Renata Sans De Negri, Kim Sapashe, Neha Sharan, Karen Wadowicz, Sonia Wegweiser and Kali Williams. The Assistant Chairs are Tara Currier, Veronica Kraft, Kristen
McElwee, Racheal Petullo and Brittany Wright.
About the Junior League of Boca Raton
Throughout the year, JLBR members contribute more than 35,000 volunteer hours and donate more than $250,000 to support the organization’s mission of advancing women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training. The Junior League currently focuses on two community issues, Child Welfare and Non-Profit Support.
To learn more about the JLBR, please contact the JLBR office at 561-620-2553 or visit www.JLBR.org.Connect on Facebook or Instagram.