UNITED WAY COO RETIRES

Carlene Gentilesco, a tireless, steady force who served as chief liaison to hundreds of corporations and nonprofit organizations and helped to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for community organizations, is retiring after 49 years with United Way. 

A Chappaqua resident, Gentilesco served in a variety of leadership roles under five different CEOs at United Way of Westchester and Putnam in White Plains. Her retirement is effective at the end of this month. 

“Always the first to arrive at 7 a.m. and usually the last to leave, Carlene”™s steady commitment is ever-present and easily relied upon. She is meticulous, focused, goal-oriented and has an amazing gift for retaining facts ”“ all of which make her an ideal member of anyone”™s leadership team.  No wonder five different CEOs have relied upon her during her 49-year tenure at the United Way,”™”™ said Tom Gabriel, president and CEO of the United Way of Westchester and Putnam.  

Since 2008, Gentilesco has served as the chief operating officer at the United Way. Previously, from 1997 she served in a variety of roles to support fundraising efforts at the workplace and in the local community.

“”¦Given the population of our two-county service area and the span of years under consideration, it is quite safe to say that Carlene”™s work has impacted more than a million of our neighbors struggling through poverty, crisis or tragedy,”™”™ said Bud Hammer, general manager of Atlantic Westchester Inc. and United Way board chair.