The 99th Cinderella Ball recognizes 17 debutantes’ volunteerism
At a stylish event inside the Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland, 17 young women were celebrated for hundreds of hours of volunteer service.
Dressed in white ball gowns and coordinating long gloves, they were honored June 20 at the 99th Cinderella Ball, which is Pittsburgh’s oldest fundraiser and one of the longest-running debutante balls in the country.
It’s about tradition. It’s about giving back.
Part of their commitment required a minimum of 30 volunteer hours each to the beneficiary organization, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium in Highland Park.
This year’s group from schools across Western Pennsylvania accumulated more than 770 hours volunteering at the zoo and for zoo-related events, coordinated by Leadership Forum for Young Women.
Leadership Forum for Young Women provides experiences that prepare them for the future through volunteerism and personal development opportunities, such as networking events with guest speakers and professional development training.
“The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is thankful for the hard work and tireless efforts of the Cinderella Ball young leaders over the past year, helping us to provide the highest quality of care for our animals and to deliver exceptional events and educational programming to the community,” Ron Gruca, chief advancement officer for Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, said via email.
Gruca said the women are “truly exceptional young leaders and acted as exemplary stewards for the zoo.”
The debutantes participated in craft-making for children during a Breakfast with the Animals event. They attended ZooBoo, the Asian Lantern Festival, the Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza, Noon Year’s Eve and Wild Illuminations. They also assisted the zoo’s education department with animal presentations and learned how the zoo cares for its more than 8,000 animals.
Holiday wreaths were made by the volunteers and sold at auction to support the Sea Turtle Second Chance Program.
The debutantes helped with a backpack drive in support of Urban Impact, took a college essay-writing workshop led by Allison Rath Espinel, helped with a donation drive at Bits and Bows for the Foster Love Project and did holiday gift wrapping with Charlie Batch’s Best of the Batch Foundation.
They participated in a sock drive and workout hosted by Leg1on Training and Performance in support of UPMC Mercy Hospital’s Operation Safety Net. Additional organizations independently supported by the debutantes included East End Cooperative Ministries, Jeremiah’s Place, UPMC Kid-a-palooza and U.S. Blind Tennis Association.
At the ball, presented by the Cinderella Women’s Committee, a scholarship was awarded to the debutante who has contributed the most volunteer hours to the beneficiary organization. Committee board member and volunteer coordinator Diana Rath presented the scholarship, typically between $1,500 and $2,000, to Cooper McCord Danforth, a Shady Side Academy graduate, who amassed more than 108 hours of volunteer work.
“Winning the scholarship means so much because college is expensive,” Danforth said. “I loved being at the zoo and with children, which connected me back to my childhood. Volunteering is a way to help people and make a difference.”
Three former debutantes and graduates of Shady Side Academy — Caroline McSorley Colville, Angela Rose Fazio and Christina Rath Lamport, who was escorted by her husband Jason Lee Lamport — co-chaired the event.
“We are so proud of the young ladies for all of the time they dedicated volunteering this year,” said Christina Rath Lamport. “Through their volunteer opportunities, the girls learned accountability and the importance of giving back to our community.”
The dedication to service is inspiring, said Mark Recchi, a former Pittsburgh Penguins player and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
His daughter, Samantha Grace Recchi, was presented as one of the debutantes.
Her mother, Alexa Christine Sheptak Recchi, a Shady Side Academy graduate, was presented in 1987, and her sister, Christina Elizabeth Recchi, is a former debutante. Her brothers, Austin Peter Recchi Cameron Louis Recchi, were former floor committee members.
“They take volunteering seriously and they make friends while they are volunteering,” Mark Recchi said. “It is so nice to see them all interacting.”
Samantha Recchi said having a father who is a former professional athlete is cool, but she loves that her friends treat him like all the other dads. She and her father, like the other young women and their fathers or presenters, made a formal entrance into society as each debutante curtsied before dancing a waltz and doing the Grand March.
In fairy-tale fashion, the name of Prince Charming was kept a secret until master of ceremonies Brendan Reeves Kelley announced John Findlay Macadam Cathey to the approximately 500 guests.
Cathey is a senior at the Westminster School in Simsbury, Conn., who founded an organization that facilitates donations for animal shelters throughout the country.
Cathey, of Ligonier, said he was honored for the opportunity. He attended previous balls when his three sisters were presented, he said. He randomly selected a card from a silver bowl and placed it inside a glass slipper atop a pillow. Inside the museum’s Hall of Sculpture, where presentation music was played by The Rick Purcell Big Band, he handed the card to Kelley, who announced this year’s Cinderella, Ava Carolyn Jankowski.
“It was a moment of shock,” said Jankowski, a Shady Side Academy graduate, after she and Cathey waltzed. “I was both excited and nervous.”
After cocktails in the Scaife Foyer, guests gathered for dinner and dancing with music from The John Parker Band in the Music Hall Foyer. Prior to the meal, Jankowski danced with her father, Dr. Donald Franklin Smith Jr. Other guests joined in.
Waltz
The debutantes will go on to attend colleges including American University of Paris, Bucknell University, College of Charleston, Endicott College, Fairfield University, High Point University, John Carroll University, Ohio State University, Providence College, Southern Methodist University, Tufts University, Tulane University, University of Georgia, University of Maryland, University of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing and Virginia Tech.
Maya Bella Caton-Aziz, a graduate of The Ellis School, plans to study business with a minor in fashion at the American University of Paris.
“What I learned through volunteering will be with me for the rest of my life,” she said. “The Cinderella Ball is all about a welcoming and warm vibe and has been such a wonderful experience.”
William Wallace Danforth wanted this experience for his daughter, Cooper McCord Danforth, who said dancing with her dad is a moment she will remember forever.
“The Cinderella Ball is a wonderful tradition,” the 1985 Prince Charming said. “It’s a magical night. It took me back in time.”
The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh will be the 2026 beneficiary. The 100th Cinderella Ball will be held June 26, 2026, at The Duquesne Club in Downtown Pittsburgh.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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