Kathleen Mauceri has devoted countless hours to helping youth in Franklin Square since she moved there 11 years ago — from teaching pre-kindergarten, to helping at Parent Teacher Association events, to teaching religion at Saint Catherine of Sienna Church and beyond.
Mauceri, 42, a mother of three, said she believes volunteering is an important value to instill in her children — one that was passed down by her mother.
“My mother was an amazing role model (who) always (went) above and beyond with organizations as I was growing up — and still (does),” Mauceri said.
Throughout her kids’ years at Polk Street School, Mauceri has volunteered at events as a class mom. Her daughters, Isabella and Abby, have graduated from Polk Street, and her son, Liam, is still there.
“I think it’s important for the children to see their family being involved in their school and giving back,” she said of PTA events. Fundraisers hosted by the organization help pay for programs that support students’ education. She also believes that the fun events the PTA helps organize foster pride and unity in the community, even among its youngest residents. She is now the treasurer of the Polk Street PTA.
Ten years ago, Mauceri began teaching at Saint Catherine of Sienna when her oldest daughter, Isabella, started faith formation there. She feels that faith is something people can take pride in recognizing in their daily life.
“I just feel that it’s important to have a good faith basis,” Mauceri said. “Especially when you think about like service and community and family, that you can have different aspects of that (faith). So, not only is it important to just be a good person, but to get involved, and you can have fun at different events, but you can also bring your faith into it.”
She also helped out with her daughters’ Girl Scout Troop 1392, as a Girl Scout Cookie Mom. “My time is more valuable when it’s given to others,” Mauceri said. “I work a lot with younger children, not only for my own family, but I teach pre-K, and I’ve babysat and taken care of families in the neighborhood. So I just feel that it’s important for them to see that your time is more valuable when you’re helping others.”
Since moving to Franklin Square, she said, she has come to care deeply for the community.
“It’s such a family-oriented neighborhood, and there really are people who are willing to go above and beyond to get involved in things, that it just makes it a nice place to raise a family,” she said. The wide variety of community events, library offerings and local small businesses make Franklin Square a special place for Mauceri to live.
“It’s just a nice place to see that you can have a connection with your church, your local restaurants and your school, and you feel like you’re a part of everything that’s going on,” she said. “I think it’s important for kids to see that, you know, they’re not on their own, and it’s not just you and your family, but it’s more of like a big community family.”
Last month, Mauceri was honored as one of 13 Women of Distinction in the 19th Assembly District. She was accompanied by Natalie Osorio, of Franklin Square; Michelle Notti, of West Hempstead; Juliette Giorgio, of West Hempstead; Maureen Mahoney, of West Hempstead; Ninfa Annunziata, of New Hyde Park; Marilynn Bauman, of Williston Park; Kimberly Corcoran-Galante, of Mineola; Anita Fitzpatrick-Carbain, of Mineola; Diane Jones, of Garden City; Rachel Lubertine, of Carle Place; Diana O’Neill, of Garden City; and Bernadette Sosnowski-Funk, of Westbury. The women were honored for their contributions to their communities.
“The women honored today do the incredible work they do not for the sake of recognition, but because they have a deep commitment to making our community a better place for everyone,” Assemblyman Ed Ra said in a news release. “This event is our chance to recognize and support the remarkable contributions they make in areas like education, health care, veterans’ affairs and community service.”
Mauceri said she was “humbled” to be honored at the event. “It was just an honor just to be acknowledged among the women that were there,” she said.