Cecilia Gaines Holland Award
Established in 1944, the Cecilia Gaines Holland Award is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a New Jersey Clubwoman. Named after the second President of the NJSFWC, this prestigious award is given annually to one clubwoman who demonstrates her commitment to her community by performing outstanding civic and volunteer work that extends above and beyond her service to her club.
This year’s recipient was nominated by the Woman’s Club of Maplewood, Liberty District. JoAnn Aponte resides in Bloomfield and is a 39 year member of her club, having first joined as a Junior and then as an EMD’er. Her journey to this award started as a teenager candy striper at New York Hospital. Active in girl scouting for many years and in her Church for over 40 years, JoAnn has continued in her dedication in helping those less fortunate.
She has been a mentor to unwed mothers through church organizations and has chaired many committees. She is an active member of MADD of Essex County, serving as President for five years. She has worked diligently for stiffer DWI laws. Cerebral Palsy and Battered Women’s Shelters in Essex County have benefited from her volunteerism for over 25 years.
She was instrumental in starting a “sweat suit” program for rape victims at United Hospital of Newark where she volunteered for over 10 years. Through her generosity of a baby grand piano, children at a Belleville school were able to learn to play the piano.
She is responsible for establishing libraries in various elementary schools in Newark, Belleville and Irvington and has received numerous awards for her support of reading and libraries, including the New Jersey Governor’s Book Club Award 2003-2004. She founded the Adopt-a-Class Program in Essex County. The Program provides hand knitted hats, mittens, gloves plus bags of gifts to children at Christmas time. Gifts are also given on Valentine’s Day and Easter. The Star Lite Foundation for children has been blessed with her kindness for over the past 4 years. She gives a party annually at New York Hospital with clown, pizza and ice cream, as well as donating 125 bears for children to hold during their chemo sessions.
Our nominee has helped babies with AIDS at Babyland in Newark for over 20 years while also helping in support groups for adults with AIDS. For the past three years she has continued to assist at Senior Centers helping seniors fill out complicated paperwork and countless families in need have benefited from her caring. Together with her husband ,she travels to New York on weekends to give warm gloves, hats and sandwiches to “at risk” children and teens.
The NJSFWC congratulations JoAnn Aponte and joins a very proud Liberty District in honoring her as the 67th Recipient of the Cecilia Gaines Holland Award.
