RECOGNIZING COUNTYâ€™S NONPROFIT SECTOR

From left: Steve Myrthil, vice president of IT at Westhab and a KWT individual changemaker award winner; Karin Anderson Ponzer, Ph.D., director of Neighbors Link Community Law Practice and a KWT individual changemaker award winner; Jan Fisher, executive director, Nonprofit Westchester; Margaret KÃ¤ufer, president of The STEM Alliance accepting the KWT organization changemaker award on behalf of the agency; Nasiem Lopez accepting the KWT organization changemaker award on behalf of The Youth Shelter Program of Westchester.

More than 250 guests celebrated the work of Nonprofit Westchester (NPW) at its annual meeting and Keep Westchester Thriving Awards Ceremony and the winners of its 2022 Changemaker Awards.

“Selecting a few of the many exceptional nonprofit professionals for the changemaker awards was a daunting task. This year”™s honorees reflect the best attributes of our sector ”“ commitment, innovation, collaboration and work that is changing systems and advancing equity,” said Jan Fisher, executive director of Nonprofit Westchester.

The honorees were:

Karin Anderson Ponzer, Ph.D., director of Neighbors Link Community Law Practice, was recognized for building a nonprofit immigration law practice that is holistic, comprehensive and collaborative. Ponzer has integrated critical support into legal services to help lawyers and paralegals succeed in their challenging work and immigrants thrive in their new communities.

Steve Myrthil, vice president of IT at Westhab, was honored for leading efforts to address the urgent technological needs of more than 10,000 shelter and affordable housing residents across Westchester and New York City. He dedicates his time to elevating underserved communities and creates solutions that help thousands of students and teachers across New York and Connecticut learn remotely.

The Youth Shelter Program of Westchester has been named a changemaker because of its innovative, collaborative and life-changing programs that tackle the racial injustices rooted in the criminal legal system and provide pathways for justice-involved young people ages 16 to 25 succeed in life.

The STEM Alliance was recognized for bridging systemic gaps in education to provide equal access to science, technology, engineering and math learning experiences, empowering communities, inspiring innovation and creating opportunities for all.

“Now more than ever, it”™s important to recognize the leaders and organizations that make our Westchester nonprofit community so strong,” said Lisa Morris, assistant vice president at Hudson Valley Credit Union, a Keep Westchester Thriving Awards sponsor. “The tenacity and grit shown by so many these past few years is on full display with this year”™s honorees.”