Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester Hosts 20th Annual Humanitarian Award Dinner

Nearly 450 members of the community, staff, and board members gathered in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester (BGCNW) for its 20th annual Humanitarian Award Dinner Saturday, June 7. The event – which coincided with the Club's 75th anniversary – honored Stuart Marwell, president and CEO of Curtis Instruments, as Humanitarian of the Year. The dinner also recognized the Lexus of Mt. Kisco Team as the John Beach Award recipient for its exceptional generosity to the Club over the last five years.

This year's dinner raised nearly $500,000 which will benefit the Club's scholarship initiative, educational programs, and provide services to more than 1,700 youth members. The Club's signature fundraising event featured award presentations to the Humanitarian of the Year, the John Beach Award recipient, as well as to Club member Cristy Lopez-Duarte who received BGCNW's 2014 Youth of the Year award.

The gala included a formal dinner following a cocktail reception, and a live and silent auction, featuring hot-ticket items like VIP concert tickets and a spectacular five-course tasting menu for 10 at Crabtree's Kittle House. The gala was also accompanied by an online auction which ran the weeks leading to the June 7 event.

"I have been a member of the Club since 1958," Marwell said. "I've been a part of it for more than two-thirds of its 75 years. I am immensely proud of this organization on its 75th anniversary. The Club is a tremendous source of pride, joy and satisfaction to me. It is a place that will always have an important place in my heart."

Marwell, who described the Club as "family affair" – with ties dating back to his grandmother, who sat on the board of directors – joined the BGCNW board himself in 1987. Since then, he has acted as an unflagging supporter and advocate for the Club and the children it serves.

The dinner also marked the fifth year in a row that Lexus of Mt. Kisco generously donated its venue for the event. This year's Humanitarian Dinner co-chairs were Linda Mahon, of Bedford Corners, Lisa Shrewsberry, of Bedford Corners, and Lee Manning-Vogelstein, of Pound Ridge; Bonnie Trotta, of Katonah, was recognized as honorary chair.

"This is a special evening to celebrate kids, and our 75th year in the business of saving kids: giving them a platform to be themselves, to be real, to excel, and to be productive responsible citizens," said BGCNW President R. Todd Rockefeller. "We average 600 kids visiting daily; we serve 250 hot meals per day, and serve some who may not get enough to eat at home; we also send food home weekends to families in need. None of this happens without great financial and intellectual support from you and countless others over the years."

Sponsors for the 20th annual Humanitarian Award Dinner included: Curtis Instruments, Inc.; Bonnie Trotta; Seema Boesky; Entergy; Kevin and Susan Bannon; Jane and Bill Balter; Leslie Cecil and Creighton Michael; Chase and J.P. Morgan; Lee Manning-Vogelstein; Clarfeld Wealth Strategists and Financial Confidantes; Muffin and James Dowdle; Kate and Dan Ginnel and Ginnel Real Estate; Kim and Andrew Handler; Homeworks Concierge; Holly and David Singer of Robison Oil; Traub Lieberman and Shrewsberry LLP; Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc.; Skip and Michaela Beitzel; Martin and Blakely Brodbeck; Crabtree's Kittle House and John Crabtree; Ashley and Jim Diamond; Ari and Becki Fleischer; The Hearth at Mount Kisco; Kent Karlsson; Linda Mahon and Robert H. Saunders; Marsh USA Inc./Chubb and Son; Proskauer Rose LLP; Lisa and R. Todd Rockefeller; Shamberg Marwell Hollis Andreycak and Laidlaw, P.C., and TD Bank. The 2014 radio media sponsor was Pamal Broadcasting Ltd.

The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester is located at 351 Main Street, Mt. Kisco, NY and can be reached at 914-666-8069 or by visiting www.bgcnw.com. For the latest news, photos and updates, please "like" the Club on Facebook and follow on Twitter.