Nominate a Bronxville or Eastchester Person or Group for Public Health Service Awards

The following notice is from the Westchester County Department of Health:

To recognize adults, teenagers and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to public health in Westchester, the county Board of Health is soliciting nominees for its annual public health service awards. The deadline is February 9.

The Distinguished Public Health Service Award is presented annually in recognition of Public Health Week in April to a person or community-based organization that exemplifies a commitment to public health and has served the community with distinction during the past year.

The J.R. Tesone Youth Public Health Service Award recognizes creative contributions to public health in Westchester by young people who live, work or attend school in Westchester. The award was created in 2014 in memory of J.R. Tesone, a Board of Health member who had a lifelong commitment to Westchester children and who died Feb 15.

“The health department and the Board of Health rely on creative partnerships with the public to promote public health,” said Steven Nakashima, president of the Westchester County Board of Health. “By shining a spotlight on the successful efforts of our partners, we hope to inspire more people and organizations to join us in this work, which is so vital to the health of our community.”

Last year, the first youth public health service award went to Rachel Cohen, a Mamaroneck teenager. She was recognized for her ongoing effort to collect, clean and donate more than 300 small stuffed animals to the Mamaroneck Village Police Department for officers to give to children involved in emergencies as a way to reduce trauma and provide comfort.

Past recipients of the Distinguished Public Health Award have included: Yonkers Healthy Connections for LYFE Coalition, 2014; Passage to Excellence Be Fit Program at Bethel Baptist Church, 2013; Westchester Cares Action Program, 2012; Children’s Environmental Health Center of the Hudson Valley, 2011; Westchester Jewish Community Services Young Parents Achieve Program, 2010; African American Men of Westchester, Inc., 2009; Reverend Hugh Farrish and the Port Chester/Town of Rye Council of Community Services, 2008; and the Rye YMCA Activate America Program, 2007.

For more information, or to obtain a nomination form, visit the Westchester County Department of Health’s website at www.westchestergov.com/health

Photo: 2014 award recipient Rachel Cohen.