SOMERS, N.Y. - Nearly three dozen individuals whose dedication and compassion have strengthened their communities were recognized by Westchester County at its second annual District 2 Volunteer Awards Ceremony.
Held in July at the Katonah Village Library, the event brought together awardees, family, friends, and community leaders to honor folks who have “devoted countless hours to improving the lives of others, through civic engagement, emergency services, environmental stewardship, supporting seniors and/or children, aiding food pantries or veterans, and countless other acts of service,” according to its host, county Legislator Erika L. Pierce (D-Bedford).
Eleven of those outstanding honorees were from Somers.
They were Gina Arena, Sharon Ballen, Heidi Cambareri, Rosalind Gallino, Annie Gullen, Paul LaSpina, Ursula Martin, Adam Schilkraut, Chen-Fang Wu-Schilkraut, Grace Zimmermann, and Jeff Zimmermann.
"Volunteers are what turn our towns into community," said Pierce. "Their willingness to give their time, talents, and energy makes our towns stronger, kinder, and more connected.”
“While each volunteer's story was unique, they all shared a common dedication to making a positive difference and inspiring those around them,” she added.
Bedford Deputy Supervisor Stephanie McCaine also greeted those gathered.
Awardees included long-time volunteers with decades of involvement and new residents who were “already showing up in remarkable ways.”
“As was noted, volunteering is a life approach. Most in the room volunteer for more than one activity and all were eager to hear from the other awardees about the causes that inspire them,” Pierce said.
ARENA
According to the person who nominated her, Arena “embodies what it means to be a dedicated community volunteer.”
Nzingha Milanes cited the mother of eight’s efforts that started with the Girl Scouts and expanded into “advocacy work” on behalf of special needs children.
After one of her daughters had faced educational challenges, Arena took action by helping establish the Foundation for Educating Children with Autism and the Devereux Millwood Learning Center.
After losing their six-year-old son, Jimmy, to cancer in 2005, Arena and her husband, Ray, founded the Just Imagine Making Miracles Yours in his memory.
Now a member of the Somers Town Board, “she leads with compassion, perseverance, and a genuine desire to make a difference,” Milanes said.
Volunteers such as herself do what they do because it’s personally fulfilling and because they want to give back to their communities, not because they’re motivated by attention or praise, Arena said.
However, being honored in this way still “feels very, very nice,” she admitted, adding: “It makes us (volunteers) realize that we’re doing good in the world.”
BALLEN
Ballen serves on the town of Bedford’s Prison Relations Advisory Committee.
(The Bedford Hills Correctional Facility and the Taconic Correctional Facility are both located in Bedford.)
However, that’s not what she was nominated for.
Ballen is the financial manager for the Katonah Thrift Shop, the money-making arm of the Katonah Women’s Civic Club, which distributes the shop’s proceeds to community organizations.
Last year, it took in $120,000, “which is pretty amazing,” Ballen said, adding that after expenses are paid, the club gives “every penny away.”
There are scholarships for high school students and close to 50 organizations or endeavors that receive support.
Those include local libraries, a therapeutic horsemanship program, Hope’s Door, Open Door Care Network, Neighbors Link, Community Center of Northern Westchester, and the Katonah Museum of Art.
As for the award?
While “deeply honored and touched,” Ballen said she was more “delighted” at the attention it brings to the thrift shop “and what it does.”
“I hope it (the shop) goes on long after I’m gone,” she said.
Pointing out that Jesus “doesn’t suggest that we love and help one another, he commands it,” Ballen believes in putting others first.
“We really just need to take care of each other,” she said.
CAMBARERI
Cambareri, a former Somers Board of Education president, was tapped for her volunteer work with the Katonah Presbyterian Church.
A member of the congregation since she was 10, she is now the church’s director of Christian Education.
Cambareri volunteers with Midnight Run, an organization that coordinates relief missions for the unhoused in New York City, and with the Emergency Shelter Partnership, an interfaith coalition of more than 35 houses of worship that provides shelter and food to adults during the winter.
She also helps with the church’s weekly vigil for human rights.
Cambareri was both honored and “humbled” to be recognized but felt that homage should also be paid to the many others “who give so much of their time and energy.”
GALLINO
Now a school board member, Gallino has put in more than a decade of service with the PTA and is president of the Somers Education Foundation, a nonprofit that supports schools by raising funds for projects that aren’t funded under the district’s budget.
Recent projects include the “Tusker Zen Den” at Somers Intermediate School, a space where students can go to recharge, take a break, or process big feelings; ping pong tables at Somers High School, and a space at Somers Middle School where teachers can work on their professional development.
Grateful for the opportunity to do this kind of work, Gallino praised the many volunteers in the district “who make all forms of education – academic, social-emotional, and physical – a priority in our district.”
GULLEN
Roadsides and properties in Somers are looking a whole lot tidier thanks to the efforts of the Keep Somers Beautiful, an organization that started out as the Somers Litter Task Force in 2012 and later morphed into the first affiliate of Keep America Beautiful in Westchester County.
As its president, Gullen can be seen handing out safety vests, trash bags, and picker-uppers to volunteers.
It’s recruited organizations and businesses to “adopt” roads and is launching a new website.
Gullen sees her roles as an “ambassador” -- along with the dedicated KSB team -- for the cause, which is to raise “awareness of the need to not litter and to reuse, repurpose, recycle.”
“I’m honored because I wanted to facilitate keeping Somers and America beautiful,” she said.
LASPINA
Past president of the Somers Lions Club and chair of its Finance Committee, LaSpina continues to contribute by “doing a little bit of everything.”
He helps with the service organization’s “Adopt a Family” program, which matches up families in need with donors, and its camp scholarships program.
The club raises money for individuals and charitable efforts such as Friends of Karen, St. Luke’s Food Pantry, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, YMCA, Scouts, and the Stephanie Crispinelli Humanitarian Fund, which was named for the Somers High School grad who tragically lost her life in the 2010 Haiti earthquake while on a mission trip.
Neither LaSpina nor his fellow Lions are looking for a pat on the back.
“This is not why we do what we do,” he said, adding that it was “fun” to be able to connect with other volunteers at the awards ceremony.
MARTIN
Martin has been managing the Katonah Thrift Shop for a dozen years.
She’s also volunteered at the Community Center of Northern Westchester for four years.
The thrift shop’s proceeds go to the Katonah Women’s Civic Club, which distributes the money among dozens of local charitable and other organizations.
Martin thought it was “lovely” to be recognized but was more grateful to have the chance to “contribute” to the community.
SCHILKRAUT
Adam and Chen-Fang Schilkraut were both nominated for their work in Scouting.
The former is Scoutmaster of BSA Scout Troop 376 and the latter is Scoutmaster for Troop 376G, its sister troop, and Cubmaster for Somers Cub Scouts Pack 1.
“Scouting is just a valuable and unique program,” said Adam Schilkraut, noting that “the lessons – such as enjoyment of the outdoors and citizenship -- it imparts to youth today are hard to find elsewhere, especially with all the digital distractions in society.”
The Schilkrauts’ daughter has become the troop’s “historian” and is making a scrapbook of all its accomplishments.
“We want to pay it forward and help the next generation stick with it,” Adam Schilkraut said.
Being recognized is “wonderful, but not necessary,” he said, adding: “We’re not in it for the glory. We’re in it because we think it’s important.”
ZIMMERMANN
Grace Zimmermann is a past president, vice president, and current member of the Somers Historical Society.
During her term, the society received numerous Awards of Excellence from the Greater Hudson Heritage Network and also grants for projects such as an oral history initiative.
She was also a member of the town’s Conservation Board, Somers PTA, and Daughters of the American Revolution (Enoch Crosby Chapter).
Jeff Zimmermann, society member and winner of its Old Bet Award in 2019, has produced two well-regarded videos about the creation and rehabilitation of the Old Bet monument, which sits in front of Town Hall.
It’s a tribute to the pachyderm that had starred in a traveling menagerie owned by local farmer, Hachaliah Bailey.
“It was really nice to be recognized,” said Jeff Zimmermann, pointing out that volunteers don’t look for that, but are grateful for the chance to do something “good for the community.”
Grace echoed her husband’s sentiments.
The work – and there’s lots of it – alone is a source of satisfaction, she said, thanking Pierce for doing something that brings attention to the contributions of so many folks in her district.
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