Leonardo Donati
Chapter 280jn Sycamore Middle School
Adviser Heather Yost
Principal Chris Schmidt
Gridley Unified School District

Leonardo’s early community service at a school garden led him to seek more opportunities to help others. His introduction to CJSF in middle school provided a good platform for service to the Sparrow Foundation, helping families struggling with cancer, and Pennies for Patients for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Leonardo wrote “I believe that every act of kindness, small or large, will cause change.”

His community service also includes caring for animals displaced by wildfires and has helped him grow as a person as well as inspire other kids to join in service opportunities.

Bailey Boyd
Chapter 382 AE Wright Middle School
Adviser Pam McDonell
Principal Scott Foli
Las Virgenes Unified School District

Bailey volunteers with her mother through the National Charity League, a mother-daughter philanthropic organization focused on community service. Bailey writes “This experience has taught me the value of teamwork, taking responsibility, handling challenges, and giving back to my community, especially as I work alongside my mom and other volunteers.”

She especially enjoys volunteering at the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) where she works with the senior citizens at MPTF assisting at game and movie nights. She has learned the impact small acts of kindness have on people.

Bailey appreciates her school and CJSF for encouraging community service and providing access to the DiGiovanna Award essay contest so she can share her experiences.

Zoe Ceballos
Chapter 844js St. Rose of Lima School
Adviser Gretchen Schaar
Principal John Turskey
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego

Zoe Ceballos wrote her essay about the service activities she has done that led her to say, “Serving others is an experience like no other.”

Spending time at Noah’s Homes with adults with disabilities “has taught me the value of patience and the beauty of small, meaningful interactions. I’ve learned that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.”

Zoe is a student and CJSF member at St. Rose of Lima School where, as a result of her experience with her severely autistic sister, she has led discussions about making school more inclusive of students with disabilities.

Arya Chaunkdar
Chapter 1074jc Tom Hawkins Elementary School
Adviser Nicole Craft
Principal Fiona Bessette
Jefferson School District

Arya Chaunkdar wrote her essay for the 2024-2025 DiGiovanna Memorial Award Essay Contest about volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club, initially as a way to earn service hours for her CJSF chapter. “What started as a simple way to fulfill service hours quickly became something I look forward to every week.”

Tutoring kids and helping with homework led to helping a boy with reading. “I’ll never forget when he proudly read a page on his own. It wasn’t just a victory in reading—it was a victory in belief, both for him and for me.”

Arya is a student and CJSF member at Tom Hawkins Elementary School. Her participation in service to the Boys and Girls Club has changed and enriched her life.

Ayesha Sood
Chapter 1137  Gale Ranch Middle School
Adviser Gail Trenerry
Principal Jenny Torres
San Ramon Valley Unified School District

Ayesha Sood’s essay submission for the 2024-2025 DiGiovanna Memorial Award Essay Contest begins “Community service has been a huge part of me for as long as I can remember.”

Growing up in the Sikh community Ayesha was taught the concept of selfless service called Sewa in her community. Lifelong service to others brought her to CJSF and its emphasis on community service. “For me, CJSF is not just an extracurricular activity or something to put on my college application. It’s a way to put my values into action.”

Ayesha is a student and CJSF member at Gale Ranch Middle School where she participates in community service projects including passing out blankets to homeless people in San Francisco.