Cecilia Gaines Holland Recipient 2025
by Kathy Hunterton, NJSFWC Honors Chairman.
Annette Grieco joined the Welcome Wagon Club in 1983 and fast became their Social Director. While a member of this club, she participated in fundraisers, one being the creation of a cookbook, which raised money for a local family whose mother was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. She frequently brought meals to the families, during this difficult time in their lives, she still carries out this practice.
As time went on her involvement grew. She was one of the original Modick Moms, a group of citizens whose desire was to help raise money to improve the local park. She, along with others involved, would meet with the mayor of the town to discuss ways in which they could work together at goals to improve Modick Park. She headed such fundraisers for the park, namely the Ice Cream Social, the Harvest festival, the Family Festival and square Dancing in the park. These fundraisers brought in funds to purchase playground equipment, fencing around the toddler area and planting of trees during Earth Day that are still there today.
When her children began attending school and church, she became room mom for their classroom going on class trips and assisting teachers in class parties and field days. At their church, she taught Sunday School. She volunteered in the church’s program MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), she also headed Vacation Bible School and served as a Youth Leader for years as her children entered those programs. She served as an usher and member of the prayer team in her church and eventually became a Stephen’s Minster. She served feeding the homeless and needy by going on the city relief bus, which goes into NYC and such cities in New Jersey as Patterson and Jersey City.
A long-standing role she plays is heading the National Day of Prayer gathering which takes place annually on the first day of May every year nationally. She has done this every year for 30 years.
She was a stay-at-home mom for 15 years returning to the workplace in 1995. She was hired by the Board of Education as an aid to a boy in a wheelchair. She worked both in the classroom and eventually because of her secretarial skills was placed in the main office, where she worked over many years. She enjoyed working with children and helping them in any way she could. Her priority was always to be there for her family and this position with the school system enabled her to be there for them. She retired from her position of Office Manager in 2019.
After retirement, she continued to be active in her community. She is a member of the Seniors Inc., the Golden Lunch Bunch at the Senior Center, where she leads an exercise group twice a week and is also a member of the Hopatcong Woman’s Club. As a member of the Woman’s Club, she contributed her time and services to such organizations as the Veterans Lyons Hospital, Dasi and local nursing homes. As a member of the Senior group, she became involved with an individual’s needs helping her move, helping daily with packing and cleaning the home. Her involvement with seniors goes beyond just exercising, she reaches out to them if they have not attended in a while. Always offering assists whether physical or prayer offering. She helps raise money for Steve Milford Independent Living as well as physical needs for helping this group of adults participate in local activities, while delivering meals to the homebound. She collects food and non-perishable items to disburse to local organizations such as the Wellness Center, West Side Methodist food pantry, Grace Church food panty and local seniors. She volunteers at the local food pantry serving citizens that come in for services. In 2023 she was selected as Sussex Country Senior of the Year.