TAKE A WALK IN THEIR SHOES

Two powerful women who have used their celebrated careers to help other women, will receive the United Way Women’s Leadership Council’s 2023 ‘Woman of Distinction” award on Dec. 5 at its 11th annual Celebration of Women in Philanthropy. 

The “Take A Walk in Her Shoes” event recognizes and reinforces the work of women helping to lift up women and children living on the financial edge in Westchester and Putnam counties. The breakfast event, generously sponsored by Con Edison, M&T Bank, New-York Presbyterian and PURE Insurance, will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill in Tarrytown. 

During the breakfast, the United Way of Westchester and Putnam in White Plains will honor Judith M. Watson, RN, BSN, MPH, CEO, Westchester Community Health Center and Ellen Bloom, MPH, director of community affairs, New York Presbyterian (NYP) Westchester, NYP Westchester Behavioral Health Center and NYP Hudson Valley Hospital.

“This year we are very fortunate to have two women who are so attuned to our mission of women lifting up women,’’ said Tom Gabriel, president and CEO of the United Way of Westchester and Putnam. “Judith and Ellen are not only incredibly accomplished women who have forged impressive careers for themselves, but they’ve helped to lead the way for other women by supporting and inspiring them to greater things.”

Proceeds from the annual Women’s Leadership Council breakfast help to support lives of ALICE women, children, and their families in Westchester and Putnam who struggle daily to afford their most basic needs. ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed, once known as the working poor.

Watson immigrated to the United States from Jamaica, West Indies, at age 7 and settled in White Plains. Upon graduation from White Plains High School, she joined the United States Army touring on active duty for three years, stationed on Ford Island in Hawaii. She then joined the Army Reserves, where she served actively for seven years, ultimately achieving the rank of Sergeant E-5. She credits her disciplined nature, work ethic, desire to serve and help others and interest in nursing to the time spent in the United States Army. She earned a Bachelor of Science  degree in registered nursing from Pace University and a master’s degree in public health from New York Medical College. Her nursing career began with the Greenburgh Health Center (now WCHC Greenburgh) in 1994, which merged into the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center in 2005. She has been employed with the center for a combined 27-plus years.

Bloom directs community outreach programs, investments and education for New York Presbyterian (NYP) Hudson Valley Hospital in Cortlandt Manor, NYP Westchester in Bronxville and NYP Westchester Behavioral Health in White Plains. She joined NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital in April 2015 as the director of development and the foundation marketing and community outreach and assumed her current position in 2018. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work and psychology from Lehman College of the City University of New York and a master’s degree in public health administration from New York Medical College. 

United Way of Westchester and Putnam is an antipoverty organization dedicated to improving the lives of 40% of Westchester County neighbors who live in poverty or paycheck to paycheck. United Way provides strategic resources and tools to help struggling residents lead a better, more stable life. United Way also supports hundreds of local nonprofits with millions of dollars in grants and essential goods for basic needs, as well as by providing affordable professional development and connecting nonprofits to new resources.