Francesca M. '24 Named 2024 Honoree for YWCA Greenwich Next Generation Women Who Inspire Awards

Sacred Heart Greenwich is thrilled to announce that Francesca M.‘24 (Frankie) has been named as one of the 2024 Honorees for the YWCA Greenwich Next Generation Women Who Inspire Awards. This recognition celebrates outstanding women in our community who demonstrate exceptional leadership and have made a positive impact on society. Frankie perfectly embodies these qualities through her remarkable dedication and service to the arts and sustainability. 

As a passionate artist and dancer, Frankie has been part of East Pointe Dance’s Elite Performance Company, a community service-oriented dance group. Her love of dance led her to volunteer at Heartsong in White Plains where she assists therapists on Saturday mornings, supporting children with significant neurodevelopmental disabilities through dance, art, and music therapy. Frankie is also the co-head of the Sacred Heart Art Club, which raises money to purchase art supplies for a NYC community organization serving low-income students.

Beyond her service in the arts, Frankie has also showcased exceptional ecological leadership, beginning with her position on the Sacred Heart Sustainability Committee. Frankie’s efforts contributed to Sacred Heart Greenwich earning the distinction of Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, making it one of only three K-12 schools in the nation with this prestigious designation. As one of only two students selected to be on Sacred Heart's Audubon Committee, Frankie played a crucial role in achieving Sacred Heart's designation. Frankie also spearheaded Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Earth Day celebration. Under Frankie’s guidance, the Earth Day celebration evolved into a significant event, with an impressive 71 student presenters and 27 faculty presenters leading workshops on crucial environmental issues. Frankie is also a steady force in developing our School’s student-run composting program. By educating her peers about the importance of composting, emptying the compost bins in the dining rooms, and tracking the amount of compost daily in an app, Frankie was instrumental in composting 565 pounds of waste in September alone. 

Furthermore, Frankie was an early volunteer on the School’s beekeeping team and has become a crucial caretaker for the School’s hives.  Currently, Frankie and the beekeeping team maintain multiple hives, harvest honey throughout the seasons, and create educational experiences for the K-12 community on the importance of native pollinators like honeybees. Frankie’s involvement in beekeeping showcases her deep curiosity and commitment to understanding the critical role pollinators play in our changing environment. Her hands-on approach, from building hives to working directly with bees in all seasons, reflects her genuine care for honeybees and environmental stewardship.

Frankie’s selection as the 2024 Honoree is a testament to her outstanding contributions, leadership, and dedication to making a positive impact on the community. The awards ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday, March 6th, will be a celebration of Frankie’s inspiring work and the positive change she continues to drive at Sacred Heart Greenwich and beyond.