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Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

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Greenlight Award comes to Greeley!

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Greenlight Award Challenges Greeley Students to Make a Difference

Bedford 2020’s 2017-2018 Greenlight Award competition, Changemaker 2020, challenges local high school students to become activists and motivate at least 20 people to change their behavior 20 times to benefit the environment.

Horace Greeley High School students are invited to join the contest this year along with students from Fox Lane High, John Jay, Harvey School and Rippowam Cisqua students.  Student teams present proposals for meeting this challenge before a Round One “Shark Tank” panel of judges and the best proposals receive up to $1,000 to implement their projects.

Joseph Montuori, Horace Greeley High School Social Studies Teacher, Instructional Technology Coach, and advisor to the Greeley STOP Club (Students and Teachers for Our Planet) participated as a judge at the Greenlight Award Finals last year where the finalists who implemented their projects presented their results, and the winning team received $500 and the Greenlight Award.

“We are excited to involve Greeley students join this year’s challenge. Getting people to change their habits is critical in the struggle to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and students have great ideas!” says Midge Iorio, Bedford 2020’s Executive Director.

In the third year of a three-year pilot, the Greenlight Award will focus on measurable action and a positive experience for students. “We are training future environmental leaders and want to make sure that they are set up for success,” says Olivia Farr, Greenlight Award Chair. “Student participants will receive information on behavior change strategies, support from community experts, opportunities for public speaking, and finalists will engage in collecting data, reporting results, teamwork, leadership, and a chance to make a real difference.”

The sign up deadline is approaching on October 16th. Interested students submit names of team member and a faculty advisor along with a general idea of the project they intend to propose in December.

How the contest works:

  • Students sign up online at Bedford2020.org/greenlight and check out the Greenlight Award Toolkit to get started on their proposal.
  • Bedford 2020 hosts an Incubator Workshop on November 1st where community experts advise all participating students on their proposed projects.
  • On December 9th, students present their proposal before a panel of judges and the highest scoring projects receive up to $1,000 funding and a “green light” to carry out their project.
  • Finalists work with community experts to implement their project and ultimately present their results at a community-wide event in early May 2018. The winning team receives a cash prize of $500 and the Greenlight Award.

For more information about the Greenlight Award visit bedford2020.org/greenlight

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Bedford 2020 is a non-profit organization leading a community-wide effort in the Town of Bedford, NY, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020 and to create a sustainable community that conserves natural resources. More information is available at www.Bedford2020.org.

Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester Board Honored with Inaugural Philanthropic Leadership Award

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Photo/Tom O’Connell (from L to R) Westchester County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, BGCNW board members Emily Stoddard and Todd Rockefeller, BGCNW CEO Alyzza Ozer, BGCNW board member Bonnie Trotta, Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett, BGCNW board members Skip Beitzel, Stuart Marwell and BGCNW Board President Erik Kaeyer.
Photo/Tom O’Connell (from L to R) Westchester County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, BGCNW board members Emily Stoddard and Todd Rockefeller, BGCNW CEO Alyzza Ozer, BGCNW board member Bonnie Trotta, Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett, BGCNW board members Skip Beitzel, Stuart Marwell and BGCNW Board President Erik Kaeyer.

Tarrytown, N.Y. (March 9, 2016) – For the first time in Westchester County, the Association of Development Officers (ADO) awarded a select group of long-time board members from the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester with the Board Philanthropic Leadership Award at the 2016 Philanthropy Awards breakfast at Abigail Kirsch at The Tappan Hill Mansion on March 9.

The award was given to an extraordinary group of long-time board members who served together on the board of the Club, successfully pooling their philanthropic and volunteer efforts in support of the Club’s mission to improve the lives of youth in the community.

Honoree Stuart Marwell, President and CEO of Curtis Instruments, Inc. and himself a Club kid, stated that the board honorees “as a team have an average of 24 years of service with the Club because we believe fervently in its mission. It is indeed our privilege to serve.”

CEO Alyzza Ozer noted, “It is a rare occasion and a brilliant reflection on our community to have a collection of intelligent, powerful, effective generous board members making such a significant impact. The lives of kids have been improved in so many ways for generations to come because of the hard work of these community leaders.”

This incredible impact is evidenced by 2015 Youth of the Year Nethmi DeSilva’s description of her Club experience: “The Club is my second home where I learned that I have a voice.  Thanks to the Club I have found my passion for helping the youth of the future.”

The board will next celebrate the mission and accomplishments of the Club at the 22nd Annual Humanitarian Award Dinner on June 4, 2016 at the Hilton Westchester in Rye.  The Club will honor local restaurateur and philanthropist Leslie Lampert of Love Hospitality and long-time Club Aquatic Director Dennis Munson for their service and devotion to the Club.

The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester is located at 351 Main Street, Mt. Kisco, NY and may be reached at 914-666-8069 or by visiting www.bgcnw.com. For the latest news, photos and updates, please “like” the Club on www.facebook.com/BGCNW.

 About the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester

The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives youth in the community through quality programs designed to enhance their lives through education, athletics and social interaction.  Established in 1939, the Club is committed to serving all children, ages 3-18, including the economically disadvantaged, the learning disabled and the physically challenged, with an emphasis on meeting the needs of at-risk adolescents, ages 10-18 years old.  The mission of the Club is to inspire and enable young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.  Annually, the Club lovingly serves 60,000 free meals and provides programming to over 1,200 youth from all throughout Westchester.