Former Board Member To Receive Volunteer New York! Legacy Award

TARRYTOWN, NY — Volunteer New York! announced who will receive its 2022 Legacy Award.

Former board member Celia R. Brown will receive the award April 8 at the organization's 42nd Annual Volunteer Spirit Awards breakfast.

Brown played a major behind-the-scenes role during Volunteer New York!'s 2014 organization rebranding, according to a spokesperson.

Jeanette Gisbert, the executive director of Volunteer New York!, said she was thrilled to be able to honor Brown.

"Celia is someone who believes in the impact that volunteer power can have," she said. "We're inspiring tens of thousands more volunteers a year because she saw what Volunteer New York! could become and then helped us get there."

Brown served for 10 years on the Volunteer New York! Board of Directors.

She is an active member of Impact 100 Westchester, currently serving on the Non-Profit Advisory Committee. Prior to Volunteer New York!, Brown was a board member for the New York City nonprofit, The Way to Work. She has also served as a senior strategic advisor to the University of South Carolina’s Center for Executive Succession at the Darla Moore School of Business.

Professionally, Brown is an independent public company director and management consultant. She has an extensive global HR and corporate law background and experience at times of business and leadership transition, integration and expansion.

Brown is currently a member of the Board of Directors of 1-800-Flowers.com, serving as chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Governance Committee. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Volt Information Sciences, Inc., serving as chair of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee.

She previously served as the chief human resources officer of Willis Group Holdings and head of HR and public relations at XL Capital Ltd.

Brown has worked for many years in the areas of CEO transitions, succession planning, talent identification and development, executive compensation, M&A, climate assessment and culture change, including 30 years of service as a trusted advisor to senior leaders.

She has a bachelor of arts degree from Emory University and a jurist doctor degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law. She lives in Purchase with her husband Larry, not far from the Rye Brook community where they raised two daughters.

For information about the 42nd Annual Volunteer Spirit Awards, go here.