Rye High School Student Cristiana Villani Receives Scholarship from Junior League

Rye High School student Cristiana Villani, co-founder of the not-for-profit group Linking Handlebars, Inc., recently was awarded the Margaret Manley Community Service Scholarship from the Junior League of Westchester on the Sound (JLWOS), the organization announced.

Villani received the award - $4,000 that will go toward college - because of the outstanding work of Linking Handlebars, Inc., which is committed to promoting healthier lifestyles for children in need through the gift of a bicycle. As Vice President, Villani communicates with donors and arranges bicycle pickups, and to date, the group has donated more than 330 bicycles.

“We are so fortunate as an organization not only to be a resource of volunteers for these community-focused organizations but also to be able to distribute grants and a scholarship to provide support beyond our volunteers, to a variety of community initiatives which have the potential for making an enormous impact within the Sound Shore communities. It’s really a privilege for us to be able help so many in our community,” said Janelle Kahn, President Elect of JLWOS 2014–15, in a statement.

Additionally, the Junior League of Westchester on the Sound also awarded $20,000 in grants to the following recipients:

Corpus Christi-Holy Rosary School – $3,500 will support 15 to 20 5th and 6th grade students for a three week summer academic experience in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program.

The JFK Magnet School in Port Chester – $2,000 will support the purchase of three Buddy Benches for each of the school’s playgrounds. This simple idea is to eliminate loneliness and foster friendship on the playground.

My Sister’s Place – $8,000 will support the March 2016 “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” Conference. This free all-day conference for approximately 350 teens across Westchester County is designed to raise awareness about the realities of teen dating violence.

Songcatchers, Inc. – $5,000 will support Songcatchers’ After-School Music Program.

Sheldrake Environmental Center, Inc. – $1,500 will support a new “Backpack Babies” program that will engage children from 6–23months and their mothers/caregivers in an outdoor oriented program.

Photo: From left, JLWOS Sustainer Director-at-Large Karen Regan; scholarship recipient Cristiana Villani; and JLWOS President Heather Brown. Photo credit: Junior League of Westchester on the Sound.