JLWOS Grants Programs

The Junior League of Westchester on the Sound (JLWOS) is an educational and charitable organization of women with a mission to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. JLWOS’ volunteer and outreach activities are funded by the sales of its thrift shop, the Golden Shoestring, located in Larchmont.

The JLWOS grants programs are open to nonprofit community organizations in New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Rye Brook, Rye Neck, Rye, Harrison and Port Chester that are addressing the needs of women and children in this community. The 2025 Community Grant program has closed, and the 2026 program will open early next year. Please read about our 2025 winners below.

In addition, in 2025, in honor of its 75th anniversary, JLWOS is also running a parallel grant program – the 75th Anniversary Transformational Project Grants. The expression of interest deadline for the Transformational Project Grants has passed, and winner(s) will be announced in the second half of 2025.

2025 Community Grant Recipients

We are proud to be able to support these impactful Sound Shore organizations in 2025.  Thanks to the continued community support, we were able to award a total of $75,000, honoring our 75^th Anniversary year. Please enjoy reading about our grantees and the projects each grant is supporting.

Community Resource Center, Mamaroneck

To support the Building Our Future Program, aimed at raising standards for domestic workers in the Sound Shore area, supporting participants as they receive training and develop leadership skills.

Don Bosco Community Center of Port Chester Inc.

To provide summer camp scholarships, helping to address equity in access to safe, enriching programs during August—a time when many families have limited options.

Family Services of Westchester, New Rochelle

To equip a dedicated speech therapy room for special-needs, preschool children enrolled in FSW’s new Prime Time program in New Rochelle. The program offers diagnostic, remedial, and preventative services to children with developmental and/or learning disabilities.

Friends of New Rochelle Public Library

To expand the library’s vacation week programming for children and families in the Sound Shore area, providing free educational and recreational opportunities during school breaks.

Furniture Sharehouse, West Harrison

To furnish the homes of 15 female-headed households with children from the JLWOS service area, ensuring that those families have a warm and comfortable bed to sleep in at night, a table and chairs so that families can eat together, dressers to keep clothes neatly stored, and living room furniture for comfortable gatherings or a place to unwind after work.

Harrison Public Library

To launch and operate a “Baby & Me – Moms Connect” initiative for one year. Baby & Me – Moms Connect” will formalize and amplify the support they offer to new mothers.

Larchmont-Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center

To launch a program that seeks to increase the organization’s capacity to provide services and decrease their extensive waitlist, in spite of anticipated budget cuts due to changes in federal funding. The grant will fund a fellowship program, allowing a Master’s level Social Work intern to serve approximately 20-30 individual/ family cases and 50-75 students in prevention programs per year.

New Rochelle Youth Bureau

To expand the impactful Mommy & Me Program that a previous JLWOS grant launched – a nurturing, community-based initiative designed to support the social, emotional, and cognitive development of children aged 1-7 while empowering their caregivers. In addition, the grant funding will support the launch of a Father & Me program pilot.

Songcatchers, Inc., New Rochelle

To support the Early Childhood Music Program, which serves children aged 1½ to 6 years. The curriculum features Introduction to Music, Early Childhood Piano, Early Childhood Violin, and many participants also take part in the Youth Choir.

STEER for Student Athletes, Port Chester

To onboard an additional Port Chester high school student to STEER’s impactful Pathlete program that provides one-on-one mentoring support for participating students.

The STEM Alliance of Larchmont-Mamaroneck, Inc.

To support the Co-Op Summer Enrichment Program, a successful public-private partnership since 2017 between The STEM Alliance and the Mamaroneck Union Free School District.

Trifecta Steppers & Co., Inc., New Rochelle

To support the continued growth and development of their program, which empowers middle and high school girls through the art of stepping. Funding will go toward the team’s travel to competitions and program materials – uniforms, props, costumes, refreshments. JLWOS provided the initial grant funding to help the program launch last year.

Westchester Children’s Museum, Rye

To continue the successful Westchester Wednesday mornings for community partners to share resources and build relationships with new target constituents. A JLWOS grant funded the initial pilot of this program last year.