Cecilia Gaines Holland Award Winner

The 76th Cecilia Gaines Holland award is presented to Jane Mackesy of the EMD of the Woman’s Club of Arlington in the Liberty District.

Jane was a health and physical education teacher for 18 years and retired after 13 years as an elementary school counselor. She is founder and currently works part time as project coordinator of the local Prevention Coalition, a youth-focused campaign to reduce substance abuse.

She’s a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; serves on the JDRF Liberty State Park Walk Committee; is a Family Team Chairperson; and mentors families of children newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

As part of her membership and past president of the County Genealogical and Historical Society, Jane gives lectures on exploring family ancestry and presents the “Ask Granny” program to school groups and at the local library

Jane’s participation in her church includes serving as lector and Eucharistic Minister; a Trustee; President of Rosary Society who coordinates the Town Hall Lunch program every 8 weeks; coordinator of the Christmas Giving Tree and Easter Giving Cross; co-chairs the Pillars of the Parish Committee.

In Kearny, Jane is instrumental in Annual Town Wide Clean Up; member of United Irish Parade Committee; 20 year volunteer for Municipal Alliance; assisted in organizing city wide planting of trees; is a charter member of local chapter of AWAKE protecting Kearny’s waterways and local environment by reducing water pollution; and recently appointed to ACES (Advisory Committee on Environmental and Sustainability)

Jane was the V.F.W. Citizen of the year in 2017; and Deputy Grand Marshall of the 2015 St. Patrick’s Day Parade. She is a member of Kearny Interfaith Network and Friends of the Library.

The Liberty District and the EMD of the Woman’s Club of Arlington are very proud to have Jane as a member.

Featured image: Jane (center) with President 2020-2022 Jan Hanson and President 2018-2020 Mary Wolfe.