Volunteer New York! has announced that seven local volunteers will be honored during its 45th annual Volunteer Spirit Awards breakfast benefit, presented by Regeneron. The popular breakfast benefit will take place at the Westchester Marriott at 670 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, on Friday, April 11, from 7:45 –11a.m. with a post-event networking component for guests beginning at 10 a.m.
The Volunteer Spirit Awards breakfast benefit is held annually in April during Global Volunteer Month to honor volunteers in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties. The event is attended by more than 550 leaders from the community, including representatives from the business, nonprofit and public sectors, to honor extraordinary individuals and groups who have made a significant difference in their communities.
Nominations are held for five categories and an independent panel of judges selects one individual volunteer or nonprofit group for each category.
“This year’s honorees exemplify the incredible power of volunteerism to create real, lasting change in our communities. Their dedication and selflessness remind us that service is not just an ideal — it’s actually doing what it takes to build a more connected, compassionate and resilient world,” said Volunteer New York! Interim Executive Director Suzanne Tillman. “As we celebrate Volunteer New York!’s 75th anniversary, we recognize the multitude of people who have given their time and heart to making a difference. We are proud to uplift these seven extraordinary individuals and grateful to our sponsors and supporters who make this celebration possible.”
Tickets, congratulatory journal ads and event sponsorship opportunities are currently available online at volunteernewyork.org/awards.
THE 2025 WINNERS
Education & Literacy Award: Kimberly Janeway
for volunteer action with Family Service Society of Yonkers
Presented by The Seiden Family
Quality of Life Award: Chivas Wakuta
for volunteer action with One Sandwich at a Time
Presented by PCSB Community Foundation
Resiliency Award: Najib Arsalan and Freshta Nazari
for volunteer action with Open Arms for Refugees
Presented by WMCHealth
Social Advocacy Award: Paul Adler,
for volunteer action with NAACP – Nyack Branch
Presented by United Way of Westchester and Putnam.
Youth Leadership Award: Christian and Rowan Dias
for volunteer action with Able Athletics Inc. Presented by PKF O’Connor Davies LLP.
Legacy Award: Volunteer New York!
Every year 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 employee and community engagement in service. This year, the Volunteer Spirit Awards will also serve as Volunteer New York!’s 75th anniversary celebration by honoring Volunteer New York! with the 2025 Legacy Award, not just the organization itself is celebrated, but the thousands of volunteers, partners and supporters who have fueled its mission over the past 75 years.
The mission of Volunteer New York! is to mobilize the communities of Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties to address its greatest challenges. Volunteers have contributed over 457,000 hours of service to 300 local nonprofits — an economic value of $16.9 million reinvested into the community.
Judges for the awards included Amy Allen, Patrick Bardsleym, Tom Gabriel, Phillip Ham, Joseph Kenner, Michelle A. Nicholas, Kara Pacheco, Daniel Patrick, Alessandra Restiano, Becky Silverstein, Linda Tyler and Lilian Wu.
Event sponsors include Cuddy+Feder LLP, Hudson Valley Credit Union, PCSB Community Foundation, PKF O’Connor Davies LLP, Regeneron, TechCXO. The Seiden Family, Webster Bank and WMCHealth.
The 75th Anniversary Benefit Committee included Alisa H. Kesten (co-chair), Joanna Straub (co-chair), Joseph Ali, Gayle Binney, Deborah Blatt, Celia Brown, James Burton, Betty Cotton, Bianca Di Salvo, Tony Fasciano, Deborah Fay, Ally and Tom Gallin, Jeanette Gisbert, Jennifer and Bud Gruenberg, Nikki Hahn, Kenny Herzog, Dale Hisiger, Ted Kesten, Joanne Kirkpatrick, Susan Kushner, Valerie Mason Cunningham, Matthew McCrosson, Wendy Nadel, Agnes Nowak, Joe Ricca, A. Douglas Rogers, Markham and Jody Rollins, Joan Rothman, Susan Russ, J. Loren Russell, Emily Saltzman, David Severance, Geri Shapiro, Nicole Sheindlin, Lynn Sobel and Elisabeth Vieselmeyer.
The Steering Committee included Lydia Kris (chair), Ilana Arbeit, Cathy Boyle, Karen Gabor, Joanne Kirkpatrick, Monica Martinez-Hess, Amy Seiden, Laura Romeo Sobel, Abbe P. Stein, and Christine Stufano.
Volunteer New York! is a one-stop resource devoted to increasing volunteerism in Westchester and its surrounding communities.
Last year, Volunteer New York! helped to inspire more than 35,000 volunteers to take action and coordinated more than 457,000 hours of service that supported more than 300 nonprofits and local organizations, providing a value of $16.9 million back to the community.
