More than 400 attendees joined Nonprofit Westchester (NPW) Dec. 3 for its annual Keep Westchester Thriving Awards Ceremony and Emerging Leaders Program Graduation to celebrate the 2025 Changemakers, the graduating Emerging Leaders Class of 2025, and Westchester’s nonprofit sector.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins and New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins kicked off the ceremony with powerful remarks honoring the resilience of the nonprofit sector and reaffirming their commitment to championing its impact particularly at a time when nonprofits are confronting growing challenges and uncertainty at the federal level.
“Each year, it is truly an honor to celebrate Westchester’s nonprofit sector. This year brought unprecedented challenges, yet the nonprofit sector consistently rose to meet the moment. Together, we strengthened the social and economic fabric of Westchester with expertise, resilience and care. Our dedication made our community stronger, fairer and more compassionate,” said Jan Fisher, executive director of NPW.
“The nonprofit sector represents nearly 20 percent of the county’s workforce, underscoring its vital role in Westchester’s economic and social health. NPW’s Keep Westchester Thriving Awards remains the county’s only event solely dedicated to honoring the people and organizations who advance emotional, economic, physical and social well-being,” said Ron Abad, NPW board president and CEO of Community Housing Innovations Inc.
The 2025 Keep Westchester Thriving Changemakers were celebrated for their extraordinary ingenuity, expertise and resolve in addressing the challenges faced by our neighbors and in creating opportunities for all members of the county.
In addition, NPW announced its new 2026 board member: Jonathan Alvarez, executive director of 914United, a nonprofit that offers young people troubled by exposure to the criminal justice system in the lower Hudson Valley a positive path forward.
Also, CarlLa Horton was honored for her lifetime of unwavering leadership, groundbreaking advocacy and transformative impact in the field of domestic violence prevention and social justice. Her distinguished service is marked by a deep personal commitment to uplifting marginalized communities, advancing gender and racial equity and building systems of support that empower survivors and strengthen families across Westchester and beyond. She grew up on Chicago’s west side in a family affected by violence and poverty — experiences that fueled her lifelong commitment to social change. After moving to California in 1975, she helped launch Rosasharon, Los Angeles’ first domestic violence shelter.
In 1977, she came to New York for a short-term fundraising assignment and chose to stay, spending the next 15 years in organizing and campaign roles while earning an executive MPA from Baruch College/CUNY, graduating first in her class. CarlLa became executive director of Hope’s Door in 1997, leading 28 years of major program expansion, including Love Shouldn’t Hurt, Next Step Economic Empowerment, Hope’s Door Ossining, the Family Justice Center, the Westchester High Risk Team, and the Hope’s Door Legal Center. She also serves on the executive board of the STRIVE initiative.
A widely respected advocate, she has served with state and county domestic violence councils and is active with Nonprofit Westchester and the Westchester Women’s Agenda, championing housing, health care, reproductive rights, childcare, immigrant and worker rights, voting rights, pay equity and contract reform — work rooted in her anti-racist, feminist and social justice principles.
Horton said, “The collective strength of NPW member organizations is essential to this mission, because survivors need more than any one organization can offer. They need housing, childcare, furniture, health care, food, vocational training, immigrant services and more. Together, we are the village that surrounds and uplifts them. I deeply appreciate this recognition and the shared commitment that makes our work possible.”
Jeremy Christopher Kohomban, Individual Changemaker, was honored for his visionary leadership in child welfare reform, his unwavering commitment to family preservation and his transformational impact on systems that serve vulnerable children and families. His work has redefined national standards in foster care and prevention services, grounded in equity, compassion and the fundamental belief that every child deserves the stability and love of family.
Jeremy Christopher Kohomban, Ph.D., president and CEO of The Children’s Village and Harlem Dowling, that serve over 30,000 children and families, and national leader in child welfare reform, which helped shape the federal Family First Prevention Services Act and transformed The Children’s Village into a model for community-based family support, was honored. Kohomban is a strong advocate for reducing family separation and addressing the roots of social justice of foster care and juvenile justice. Under his leadership, The Children’s Village has earned numerous national awards and recognition from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He serves as a trustee of Save the Children and SCAN, sits on the Bipartisan Policy Center’s child welfare initiative, and advises New York City on immigrant support and community reinvestment.
Westchester Parks Foundation was honored for its work that inspires public engagement and ensures long-term sustainability of over 18,000 acres of cherished parks, trails and open spaces. It was designated a Nonprofit Changemaker because of its impactful programs, community events and strategic investments, which strengthen the connection between parks and people. Together with public and private partners, it enhances access, fosters pride and encourages all residents to experience, care for and celebrate their parks. Of note is its Trails Without Limits program, which provides people with mobility disabilities and related concerns with the opportunity to explore Westchester County Parks trails using specially designed all-terrain Trackchairs or handcycles, at no cost.
“Westchester Parks Foundation is honored to be recognized as a Nonprofit Changemaker. We believe that parks are the great equalizer — welcoming to all, regardless of economic, physical, or cultural barriers. Our mission is to ensure that every resident and visitor can access and enjoy Westchester’s extraordinary park system….” said Executive Director Joseph Stout.
914United was honored for its dedication to empowering dual-impacted and at-risk youth to break free from cycles of violence, incarceration, and systemic injustice. Through a structured, mentorship-based model, it offers critical resources, transformative programming and safe spaces designed to foster resilience, personal growth, and long-term success.
What sets 914United apart is its frontline approach to violence prevention and reentry support. Its mentors — many of whom are formerly incarcerated individuals — leverage their lived experience to build authentic, one-on-one relationships with youth. These mentors serve not only as guides, but as living proof that change is possible.
“It’s an incredible honor to receive this award. Since becoming involved with NPW in 2021, I’ve witnessed its inspiring evolution — not just in membership, but in its capacity to address complex issues and uplift communities across Westchester. NPW is exactly what Westchester needs—they support nonprofits of all sizes and magnitudes, and they create safe, inclusive spaces for executives and leaders to continue growing, learning and developing. We are truly grateful for their service, leadership, and unwavering support. Congratulations to my fellow honorees, and heartfelt thanks to the entire NPW team for their commitment to keeping Westchester thriving,” said Alvarez.
Nonprofit Westchester is Westchester’s only membership organization dedicated solely to advancing and advocating for the needs and interests of the county’s nonprofit sector, the people and populations served and the nonprofit workforce. Representing more than 300 members, NPW’s vision is to build a thriving county with vibrant nonprofits and resilient, inclusive communities that value equity and inclusion, innovation, and integrity.
