Ossining Woman Wins Spirit Award From Volunteer New York!

Volunteer New York! will recognize the impact of extraordinary local volunteers, including Suzi Ross of Ossining, during National Volunteer Week at the 38th Annual Volunteer Spirit Awards. Presented by Regeneron, the 2018 Volunteer Spirit Awards breakfast gala will take place April 20 at the Westchester Marriot in Tarrytown, NY.

“There will be six awards given to the outstanding honorees from throughout Westchester, Rockland and Putnam, chosen from a stellar group of nominees submitted by local nonprofits,” said Volunteer New York! Executive Director Alisa H. Kesten. “Our board of directors will also present its Legacy Award to Geri Shapiro. This event, now in its 38th year, recognizes those who give their time to strengthen our community, its people and resources– without asking for anything in return. We are inspired by their selfless actions, and expect hundreds to join us in celebrating the power of volunteerism.”

It will take place during National Volunteer Week, which began in the US in 1974, a full 25 years after Volunteer New York! was founded by a small group of Westchester County women determined to set up a system to connect local individuals who were looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities, but were coming up short finding them with efficiency.

After 68 years their legacy continues and has expanded to include connections in Rockland and Putnam Counties. In the last year alone Volunteer New York! helped inspire over 20,000 volunteers to take action, managing 285,000 hours of service at a value of $8.1 million to the community. Active volunteer opportunities of over 500 local nonprofits are now readily available through its searchable database, which is accessible for free at volunteernewyork.org. Additionally, staff and volunteers provide personal placement advice for individuals and groups, and work with local nonprofits to identify meaningful ways volunteers can increase agency capacity – from the board room to the front line – to achieve mission goals.

VOLUNTEER SPIRIT AWARD WINNERS

The 2018 Volunteer Spirit Award winners who will be recognized during National Volunteer Week, include:

Education & Literacy Award: Ardsley resident Stephanie Marquesano & the New Rochelle High School CODA Club for their volunteer work with the harris project.

Going Green Award: Ossining resident Suzie Ross for her volunteer work with Green Ossining.

Quality of Life Award: Mahopac resident and founder of United for the Troops, James Rathschmidt.

Safe Community Award: Bedford resident Paul Alcorn & Mount Kisco resident Mel Berger, for their volunteer work with The Emergency Shelter Partnership.

Social Advocacy Award: Stony Point resident Christine Silverstein for her volunteer work with United Women of Rockland.

Youth Leadership Award: Shakil Henriques of Mount Vernon, for his volunteer work with Wartburg.

2018 LEGACY AWARD: Geri Shapiro

Every year the Board of Volunteer New York! selects a recipient for its Legacy Award that goes to a business or civic leader who has made a personal and professional commitment to volunteerism, has significantly supported the values and mission of Volunteer New York!, and who encourages deep community engagement in service. This year, long-time Scarsdale resident Geri Shapiro has been selected to receive the Legacy Award, which will be presented at the Volunteer Spirit Awards, for her exemplary leadership and commitment to volunteerism.

Previous honorees, now members of the Volunteer New York! Legacy Circle, include Betty Cotton, Markham F. Rollins III, Matthew G. McCrosson, and George Troyano.

JUDGES

• Amy J. Allen, Westchester County Association, Inc. / Hudson Valley Workforce Academy
• Joseph Kenner, Westchester County Department of Social Services
• Grant E. Mitchell, MD, Mount Sinai Beth Israel
• Albert (Doug) Rogers, New York Life
• Laura Rossi, Westchester Community Foundation
• Katherine Stipicevic, JustShareHope
• Genna Woods, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital / Westchester Division

Event sponsors include:

Regeneron; The Affinity Group, LLC; Bunge Limited; Clarfeld Financial Advisors; Con Edison; Entergy; The Gallin Family; Keystone Property Group,;New York-Presbyterian; PCSB Bank; PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP; Reckson, a Division of SL Green Realty Corp.; RNN and The French Family; Mark and Jody Rollins; and White Plains Hospital and Burke Rehabilitation Hospital.

“We are a proud partner of Volunteer New York! and thrilled to join with the local community to honor the 2018 Spirit Award recipients,” said Hala Mirza, Vice President, Corporate Communications and Citizenship of Regeneron. “Regeneron is committed to ‘doing well by doing good’ and supporting our people in giving back in the ways that are most meaningful to them.”

For more information, to get tickets, or become a sponsor, please visit: www.volunteernewyork.org/awards, or contact Elisabeth Vieselmeyer at 914-227-9307 or evieselmeyer@volunteernewyork.org. Tickets and journal ads are now available.