Junior League of Dayton members gathered together at the 2026 Annual Dinner at El Meson

A Year Rooted in Connection, Collaboration, and Care

As the 2025-2026 League Year came to a close, members of t

he Junior League of Dayton came together for our Annual Dinner, Annual Business Meeting, and Awards Ceremony at El Meson. The evening was a celebration of what happens when dedicated women come together with purpose: championing literacy, strengthening community partnerships, raising funds thoughtfully, and creating spaces for leadership and belonging.

Throughout the year, JLD members showed up for one another and for the Dayton community in powerful ways. Together, the League distributed 2,450 books to the community, served more than 2,000 children, completed 245 volunteer hours across 33 shifts, and contributed an estimated $8,506 in volunteer hour value to nonprofit partners.

These numbers tell only part of the story. Behind every book, every volunteer shift, every fundraiser, and every community partnership were women choosing to lead, serve, problem-solve, and care for the community around them.

JLD President Emilee Ambrose reflected on a year of service, leadership, and impact.

Celebrating Community Impact

The Community Council led a strong year of service and partnership. JLD’s first Find the Good Day collaboration with Kendra Scott raised funds to provide books for 100 children at a local elementary school. During the government shutdown, the League also provided $2,000 in Community Assistance Funding to The Foodbank.

Our signature Learn, Grow, Explore program expanded to a second Dayton Metro Library branch in Huber Heights, doubling the program’s reach and continuing JLD’s commitment to helping prevent the summer slide through engaging, literacy-centered programming.

Fundraising with Purpose

The Financial Development Council worked intentionally this year to create fundraising opportunities that reduced overhead costs while engaging the public and generating meaningful support for the League’s mission. Through community collaboration and thoughtful stewardship, JLD generated more than $12,000 for the League while minimizing upfront fundraising costs.

Highlights included more than $2,400 raised through Read Between the Wines at The Foundry, more than $1,900 raised through the For the Love of Reading Week social media fundraiser, more than $1,900 raised through No Muss, No Fuss events, and a preliminary net profit of more than $6,000 from the Casino Night fundraiser.

Membership, Leadership, and Belonging

Membership had an active and energizing recruitment season, welcoming an enthusiastic New Member Class with 10 new members going Active for the 2026-2027 League Year. The New Member Class supported Crayons to Classrooms through their project, participating in two on-site volunteer shifts and hosting a successful Bingo Night at Yellow Cab Tavern to raise funds and awareness.

Members of the 2026 JLD New Member Class at their Yellow Cab BINGO Night fundraiser to benefit Crayons to Classrooms.

Throughout the year, Membership also offered more than 10 social events and professional development coffee chats to create opportunities for education, connection, and engagement across the League.

Advancing Diversity and Inclusion

This year, the Diversity & Inclusion Council hosted JLD’s first-ever free, public Women’s Health Summit in conjunction with AJLI’s Every Woman, All Things initiative. The summit welcomed 40 attendees and was fully funded through community sponsorships.

The women behind the 2026 Every Woman, All Things Women’s Health Summit, Shanthi Reddi, Maddie Pauquette, and Karen Gruenberg.

The council also continued to grow, adding new council members and creating new financial shift opportunities across two events. This work reflected JLD’s ongoing commitment to building spaces where women can learn, lead, and connect with one another and the broader Dayton community.

Honoring Leadership and Service

A highlight of Annual Dinner was the opportunity to honor members whose service, leadership, creativity, and commitment strengthened the League throughout the year.

Signature Awards

• Katharine Kennedy Brown Community Leadership Award: Carolyn “CJ” Schoeff
• Sally Riffle Award for Innovative Leadership: Shanthi Reddy
• President’s Award: Evelyn Ritzi

JLD celebrated members whose leadership and dedication helped make the year a success.

Shining Star Awards and D&I Champion Award

• Communications Council Shining Star: Kristen Kayser
• Community Council Shining Star: Jamie Carter
• Financial Development Council Shining Star: Kristin Delgado
• Membership Council Shining Star: Brittany House Conrad
• New Member Shining Star: Marie Franz
• Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award: Karen Gruenberg

Welcoming New Actives and Recognizing Years of Service

JLD was proud to formally welcome the 2025-2026 New Member Class as Active members. Congratulations to:

• Suzanne Price
• Cherita Brown
• Darlene Chafins
• Emily Duke
• Marie Franz
• Allie Hawley
• Michelle Walker
• Emily Garber
• Megan Moon
• Jonetta White

The League also recognized members celebrating five Active years of service:

• Bethany DeLong
• Carlina Figueroa
• Ashley Kohr
• Heather Osborne
• Emily Wilkins
• April Hale

Honoring Sustainers and Longstanding Members

The evening also recognized members entering new phases of their Junior League membership and honored the women whose longstanding service continues to shape JLD’s legacy.

Congratulations to our Active members transitioning to Sustaining membership:

• Erin Davis
• Sarah Alice Keiser
• Melissa Welker

Congratulations also to our members transitioning to Active Gold status:

• Emilee Ambrose
• Courtney Clayton
• Alison Heacock
• Kailey Nolan
• Shanthi Reddy

JLD also recognized Pamela Becker as an Honorary Sustainer and Gloria Goldman as an Emeritus Sustainer.

During the ceremony, members also paused to remember three lifelong members who passed away during the 2025-2026 League Year: Maria Castleman, Kathryn “Kitty” Snow, and Chris Vradelis. Their lives and service remain part of the League’s story and legacy.

Passing the Gavel

As the evening came to a close, the League recognized the outgoing 2025-2026 Executive Board and welcomed the incoming 2026-2027 Executive Board. Outgoing President Emilee Ambrose reflected on the year with gratitude, thanking the many members and leaders whose work made the year possible.

Members of the 2025-26 JLD Executive Board

In a meaningful JLD tradition, Emilee passed the gavel to incoming President Sarah Brandell, marking the official transition into a new League Year. The moment carried with it the history of 106 years of Junior League of Dayton women leading, serving, and working toward a better Dayton.

2026-27 JLD President Sarah Brandell speaking during the 2026 Annual Dinner.

2026-2027 Executive Board

• President: Sarah Brandell
• President-Elect: Carlina Figueroa
• Communications VP: Sade’ Oyeyemi
• Communications VP-Elect: Kristen Kayser
• Community VP: Hadley Williams
• Community VP-Elect: Tenaugrie Redley
• Diversity & Inclusion VP: Maddie Pauquette
• Diversity & Inclusion VP-Elect: Ashley Kohr
• Financial Development VP: Gretchen Eckstein
• Financial Development VP-Elect: Aleks Harkavy
• Executive Treasurer: Heather Osborne
• Executive Treasurer-Elect: Megan Moon
• Membership VP: Gina Balzer
• Membership VP-Elect: Madelyn Pineault
• Recording Secretary: Karen Gruenberg
• Sustainer Representative: Brianne Trappe
• Immediate Past President: Emilee Ambrose

Members of the 2026-27 JLD Executive Board.

Together, We Accomplished So Much

None of this year’s work happened because of one person. It happened because of the women of the Junior League of Dayton — the members who stepped forward to lead, volunteer, mentor, fundraise, plan, problem-solve, and serve while balancing careers, families, and countless responsibilities beyond the League.

As we celebrate the close of the 2025-2026 League Year, we do so with deep gratitude for every member, partner, sponsor, and supporter who helped make this year possible. Together, we strengthened our community, invested in literacy, developed women leaders, and continued JLD’s long legacy of women building better communities.

Interested in Learning More About JLD?

The Junior League of Dayton is always excited to connect with women who are interested in service, leadership development, friendship, and making a difference in the Dayton community.

To learn more, visit our Recruitment Events section for upcoming opportunities to meet members, or explore Life in the League to learn more about membership in the Junior League of Dayton.