Sarah Neuman Center Celebrates their Volunteers

On Wednesday, June 5th, Sarah Neuman Center (SNC) in Mamaroneck recognized the contribution of a particularly dedicated group of community members at its Annual Volunteer Dinner and Awards night.  Amy Lionheart, Director of SNC Volunteers, happily reported that this year’s event drew the largest attendance that the Awards Dinner has ever had since its inception.

Last year, Sarah Neuman Center’s adult and youth volunteers provided over 14,866 hours of service. According to the Points of Light Foundation’s calculations for the value of volunteer hours, this translates to an estimated value of $427,100! Outstanding volunteer, Dorothy Sunshine has logged more than 7,000 volunteer hours, all on her own, during her 18 plus years of volunteering at Sarah Neuman.

The celebratory evening included a special presentation by guest speaker, psychologist and media personality Dr. Dale Atkins, She discussed ways to cultivate happiness and raise one's level of positive attitude. “Volunteering is the best health club anyone can ever join,” said Atkins, when referring to ways in which individuals could foster a positive self-worth and improve wellbeing and overall life happiness.

Distinguished 2012 Awards were presented to the following Westchester residents:

• The Ivy Voris Adult Volunteer of the Year Award:  Audrey Wyman of Scarsdale
• The Oren Brandt-Rauf Junior Volunteer of the Year Award: Benjamin Canter of Larchmont
• The Bernard Wasko Award for Excellence in Service: Kayce Lawrence of Larchmont
• The Community Partner Award: Maxine Elkins, MsEd., Manager of the VIP Program at The Volunteer Center of United Way
• The Golden Paw Award for Excellence in Pet Therapy: Buddy Ray Lionheart, a 4-year-old Rat Terrier
• The Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Award of the Westchester Jewish Council.  Jay Sellinger.  While Mr., Sellinger was recognized at the SNC dinner, the actual award was presented to him on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at the Westchester Jewish Council’s Annual Board Meeting.

In recognition of their notable years of service, Sarah Neuman awarded pins of distinction:

• 20 years of Service : Suzy Steen
• 15 years of Service:  – Deacon Augustine DiFiore, Wilma DiFiore, Lizzi Felsher, and Giacinta Hughes
• 10 years of Service: Joseph Armstrong, Edward Helmrich, Christine Herrmann, Pat Hofmann, Irving Levine, Frances Lisa, Mercedes Samayoa-Rodriguez and Lorraine Stratis
• 5 years  of Service– Angela Cinguina, Kenisha Brown, Fran Carroll, Kathleen Donohue-Webb, Stefanie Greenberg, Catherine Helwig-Robbins, Kate Hulbert, Hugh O’Donnell and Mary Zink