2023 Scarsdale Bowl Recipient Janice Starr Recognizes the Power of Community

Neighbor, friend and volunteer extraordinaire Janice Starr is the recipient of the 2023 Scarsdale Bowl. She’ll be celebrated at the Scarsdale Bowl and Scarsdale Foundation Centennial dinner on April 27, 2023 at Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club. The entire community is invited to attend the dinner and salute Janice, Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps and all community volunteers. You can purchase your ticket here.

We asked Starr some questions about her background, her volunteer work and more and here is what she shared:

Were you surprised to learn that you were the Bowl winner for this year?

There are many so people who are deserving of this award so I was humbled at the prospect of being this year’s winner. Having said that, I have devoted most of my life since moving to Scarsdale to volunteerism so I was not shocked, just incredibly pleased, to receive such a wonderful award, and to be part of such an esteemed group of people who have won it in the past. I do not consider this a “lifetime achievement award” marking the end of my volunteer career in Scarsdale, but, rather, a motivation to continue my work in the community.

What were some of your earliest volunteer activities - what got you started on community service in Scarsdale?

I have always been drawn to volunteerism. I grew up as an only child with seven adults in a large home that was built by my grandfather in our Polish community. On the bottom floor was a small grocery store where I started to “work” at the age of three. My salary was a penny candy a day! I learned to read the labels, add up the bills on the big paper on the counter, make change in the money drawer, and interact with all kinds of people. But most of all, I learned how people in a community help each other. During the depression my grandfather extended credit to many people in our small Polish community. When I worked there, those unpaid credit slips still stood on the nail on the counter of the store as a reminder of harder times. Our family provided services to the community for almost 100 years. Not only did we sell groceries but we helped people with many personal issues including legal assistance and translation.

It was hard to leave my family in Syracuse but I did so with lofty goals. I pursued a wonderful education, worked as a consultant, and started a family. But it was only when I got to Scarsdale that I found a community that I could embrace. I have always marveled at the way our village comes together to support our triumphs and tragedies. And I see the power of how we come together to achieve so much more than we could achieve acting alone.

In Scarsdale, I immediately joined the Junior League where I launched my volunteer career. It was a perfect training ground. I was so impressed with the passion and dedication of the Junior League members. I was proud to become President of the Junior League within a few short years. I later played leadership roles in many other organizations where I felt I could make an impact - the PTA, the Friends of Music and the Arts, the Fox Meadow Neighborhood Association, The League of Women Voters, Scarsdale-Edgemont Family Counseling, Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms, and many more.

What do you most enjoy about volunteering?

Volunteering is hard work but highly rewarding to me. I continually work with smart, passionate, dedicated people. I have learned to respect our differences in the pursuit of common goals. I have learned to accept any help anyone is able to give without judgement. I have learned to give positive feedback and motivate people to do better and to feel good about their contributions. And I have been able to experience so many different things ranging from teaching art appreciation to elementary school children to providing basic supplies to impoverished families in Westchester County. And I enjoy hosting parties at home to raise money and awareness for many organizations!

What were some of your most memorable volunteer achievements? When did you feel like you made a difference?

I think two come to mind. One was the growth and development of the Parenting Groups at Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling. When I joined the SFCS Board many years ago, there were not many parenting groups but I could see the value of them and developed a plan to go to 5th grades in every elementary school and expand them. In one year, the program grew tremendously and has been a cornerstone of the Youth Services Project at SFCS for many years. Another achievement was the development of “Done in a Day’ projects for the Junior League. When I joined the League, all the projects were long-term, with a tremendous amount of lead-time and bureaucracy. I wanted us to be more responsive to the immediate needs of the community when they arose. To address this, we established the “Done in a Day”committee which resulted in many, meaningful initiatives and is still robust today.

How did you navigate controversial issues when it was difficult to reach consensus - for the LWVS? For the neighborhood association?

I tried to respect everyone’s individual opinions. But I also have a very analytical approach to problem-solving which often results in a best answer to many controversial issues. I try to lead with facts and analysis and not emotions. I definitely think that I am able to synthesize information, maybe as a result of the Socratic method at HBS or my experience as a strategic consultant, to come up with the best of many competing solutions. With this approach, generally people do not take things as personally and understand the rationale for the decision.

Now that your boys are out of the school system, has your perspective on issues evolved?

I have always sought out volunteer opportunities that put the broader community ahead of my own personal issues and the issues of my children, although my service to the PTAs was extensive. Having said that, I have become much more passionate about the needs in areas like mental health and the arts because of my own family’s personal experiences and struggles. Every life experience informs us and helps us all grow. Our best education and insights come from personal experiences.

What are your long term plans? Do you plan to continue to live in town?

I never plan to move out of Scarsdale, although my husband says that never is a very long time! I consider it my home and I know my family feels the same way. It may be because I had such strong ties to my home growing up but I would find it extremely difficult to leave my network of friends and colleagues. And this includes new people I meet here every day! But I recognize that everyone has a different perspective and I respect that.

Any insights for people considering a move to Scarsdale?

I think that Scarsdale a wonderful place to live. Every generation seems to think it changes but I believe the values Scarsdale embodies have essentially remained the same - a focus on families, a focus on education, and a place where everyone comes together when someone is in need of help, advice or assistance. I marvel at the power of our community in times of crisis - the way we come together and do our best address to address the issues at hand. I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful place and I cannot imagine living in a better place than Scarsdale.