Each spring, the Junior League of Oakland-East Bay gathers for our annual May Celebration—a joyful evening to reflect on a year of service and recognize outstanding members who have gone above and beyond in leadership and impact.

This year’s event was especially meaningful as we closed out the League Year and looked ahead to a major milestone—our 90th Anniversary Year, launching on June 1, 2025.

Interested in joining us? Whether you’re passionate about giving back, growing your leadership skills, or connecting with like-minded women, we invite you to learn more about becoming a member at oakland.jl.org/join.

May Celebration 2025 Highlights

League President Trish Sagare opened the evening with reflections on the League’s achievements and her excitement for continuing leadership into the upcoming year.

Each Vice President presented committee highlights, showcasing progress in community impact, fundraising, membership, training, and communications.

We also heard from Past President AnnaAlia Young, who shared her vision for a new initiative: the Sunshine Committee. Designed to celebrate and support JLOEB members in meaningful and thoughtful ways, the Sunshine Committee will focus on member care, recognition, and connection throughout the League Year.

We were honored to hear from our 2024–2025 Community Enrichment Fund grantees—SHELTER, Inc. and Oakland Elizabeth House—who shared their missions and the impact of our support on women and families in the East Bay.

We also held our brand new 90 Club Raffle, awarded to a member who has earned more than 90 points through engagement and service this year. Congratulations to Julia Alvarez for being our winner and, coincidentally, being the member with the most hours of service in the 2024–2025 League Year.

2025 League Award Recipients

New Member of the Year
Julia Alvarez
Celebrated for her consistent leadership, dedication, and engagement throughout her provisional year.

Rising Star
Lillian Quackenbush
Recognized for her initiative and emerging leadership as a first-year Active.

Heart of the League
Kim Sanguinetti
Honored for her warmth, reliability, and positive presence on her committee.

Wonder Woman (President’s Award)
Marisa Melo
Recognized by the League President for her extraordinary commitment, support, and leadership across the organization.

Committee Superstars
Awarded to members who made exceptional contributions to their teams:

• Fund Development Committee: Kim Sanguinetti

• Marketing & Communications Committee: Kimberly Carfi

• Membership Committee: Alex Sborov

• New Member Committee: Taylor Radke

• Community Impact & Training Committees: A well-deserved collective recognition

A Night to Remember

Huge thanks to Marisa Melo for coordinating this beautiful event, and to Grand Lake Kitchen – Dimond for hosting us. Members enjoyed a delicious meal of salad, fried chicken, mushroom risotto, crispy potatoes, and signature cocktails in a festive and welcoming setting.

Join Us for Our 90th Year

The 2025–2026 League Year marks the Junior League of Oakland-East Bay’s 90th Anniversary—a celebration of nearly a century of training women leaders and making a difference in our communities.

If you’re ready to serve, lead, and grow, there’s a place for you in JLOEB.
Learn more about membership at oakland.jl.org/join

Let’s build the next chapter—together.