Stephanie Lemoi’s resume is steeped in success.
For example, after she was crowned Johnston High School’s Homecoming Queen in the fall of 2013, Lemoi landed an even more impressive title – Rhode Island’s Homecoming Queen of 2014. That honor resulted in a trip to Tennessee, where she competed for the national crown.
Although the daughter of Phillip and Lori Lemoi and sister of Phillip Lemoi Jr. didn’t bring home the national banner, contest officials said she “represented her town and the smallest state in the nation with class, charisma and character.”
After her days on Cherry Hill, Lemoi worked part-time jobs and graduated from Rhode Island College in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in business marketing. She’s also the program director at Mastery Martial Arts.
This Saturday night, though, Lemoi is hoping to win the most prestigious title of her young life – Rhode Island Woman of the Year – during the grand finale of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Rhode Island chapter’s Man and Woman of the Year Campaign at the Providence Biltmore Hotel.
For the past two months, the 22-year-old Johnstonian has worked tirelessly to raise $75,000 to support the local LLS chapter. The organization’s Man and Woman of the Year Campaign, as well as a similar student-centered competition, help the nonprofit continue its work to realize the vision of a world without blood cancers.
Lemoi has done her part during 14 events hosted and coordinated by her friends Matthew Glass, Joseph Pezzullo, Allegra Graziano, Ashley Zannini and Daniel Proia. Her squad is otherwise known as Team Lemoi.
Johnston business owners like Vincent Pezzullo Jr., who owns and operates My Cousin Vinny’s Rentals, realized the importance of what Lemoi is trying to do for LLS. He jumped on board during a Bounce Around for a Cure event held inside Mastery Martial Arts off Atwood Avenue in the Burlington Plaza.
“Vinny was so generous and willing to help,” Lemoi said. “He donated many of his famous bounce houses and people were saying what a great event it was.”
Team Lemoi also held a Cycle Bar Ride, four eat-in events that also boosted the coffers at Smashburger on Atwood Avenue and an Eat-In Day at Chipotle.
The fun didn’t stop there – the team also had a Dough-Raiser at Uno’s in Smithfield, a Ladies Paint Night at the Greystone Social Club in North Providence and Music Video Bingo at Brewed Awakenings in Johnston.
Even her friends at Our Lady of Grace Church – where she is a lifelong parishioner and serves as now lector and eucharistic minister for weekend masses headed by the Rev. Peter J. Gower – set up a donation table inside the Johnston parish. So did her alma mater, Rhode Island College, to help Lemoi reach her extraordinary fundraising goal.
She also held a Black Light Bingo at the famed St. Mary’s Feast Society, and The Ave Bar & Grille in Johnston held a special night in Lemoi’s honor.
Tomorrow night, though, will be Lemoi's biggest fundraiser of her classic campaign.
And, if the talents of Brad Pearce, Bill Simas and Mike “The Deaf Comic” Murray offer any measuring stick, Lemoi could move closer to that $75,000 total, which the LLS uses to determine its Woman of the Year.
Funny4Funds, the noted comedy fundraising team, will hold a special night tomorrow, May 10, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Smithfield Elks Lodge at 326 Farnum Pike in Smithfield. Admission costs $25 per person, and the show will start at 7 p.m.
People are invited to bring their own snacks and there will be a cash bar as well as a 50/50 raffle. For tickets or to make a donation to Team Lemoi, call 486-9953.
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