Alyzza Ozer, attorney and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester (BGCNW), was recently honored by City & State as one of the top 100 New York City & New York State 2025 Non-Profit Trailblazers for her leadership and dedication to making New York a better safer place to live.
After working in the legal and corporate arenas for over 20 years, Ozer came to philanthropy in 2009 making an impact at American Cancer Society NYC, United Way of Westchester & Putnam and serving as CEO for 10 years at The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester using her business acumen and legal expertise for youth advocacy. Ozer has implemented a comprehensive mental wellness program that includes trauma-informed and dialectical behavioral therapy training for staff, age-appropriate curriculum development and the addition of more staff. She also has advocated for more state funding for youth mental health services.
Ozer is most proud of working with the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester’s Board of Directors and club staff in implementing a comprehensive wellness program for club members, staff, families and the community. In 20 months BGCNW’s on-site clinicians have performed over 6,800 one-on-one therapeutic sessions and conducted workshops for all ages and families.
“In order for our youth to benefit from our over 40 programs they must be physically, spiritually and mentally healthy. All children deserve to be able to go to a safe, nurturing place where they can learn and grow,” Ozer said.
BGCNW has been serving community youth, ages 6 months to 18, for 85 years, has taught more than 70,000 kids to be water safe and provided over 135,000 nutritious meals made with love on site.
The honorees on this year’s list were celebrated at an evening gala in Manhattan’s Battery Park on May 22, with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services’ Michael Sedillo and Caura Washington Richardson of the state Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services as keynote speakers.
