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Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester's 15th Annual Humanitarian Award Dinner Raises $515,000

Mount Kisco, NY (June 23, 2009) – More than 350 community supporters, local corporations, and board members recently gathered at the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester's 15th annual Humanitarian Award Dinner. Ursula and Thomas LaMotte (of Bedford, NY), were named Humanitarians of the Year, the highest honor given by the Club to its supporters. The gala took place on Saturday, June 6, 2009 at Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, NY and grossed $515,000 for "The Positive Place for Kids."

The annual dinner is the Club's signature fundraising event. All proceeds go directly to subsidizing programs for the Club's 2,500 youths, boys and girls ages 6 months to 18 years, from more than 60 Northern Westchester communities. The traditional gala was accompanied by both silent and online auctions. Actor/Comedian Kevin Flynn served as Master of Ceremonies and Christie's Senior Vice President and Business Manager Tash Perrin was auctioneer for the event's live auction.

The Club's highly regarded Humanitarian Award was presented to Ursula and Thomas LaMotte by Skip Beitzel, President of the Club's Board of Directors. Ursula and Thomas LaMotte have a long history of giving back to their community. A former Westchester County Legislator, Ursula became a Club board member in 1996. She served as President and 1st Vice-President of the United Way of Northern Westchester, Chair of the Bedford/Pound Ridge/Lewisboro Drug Abuse Prevention Council, and is a member of numerous boards throughout Westchester. Thomas is a board member and active singer in the Westchester Chordsmen Chorus and a member of the Bedford Republican Town Committee. Previously the Chairman of the SPCA of Westchester, he was also formerly on the board of the Westchester Chapter of the Boy Scouts of America and the Rippowam Cisqua School, among others.

"We are proud to name Ursula and Thomas LaMotte our Humanitarians of the Year for both their leadership and commitment to our organization," said Brian Skanes, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester. "For years Ursula and Thomas have been an inspiration to this community. They are dedicated Club supporters and we are very fortunate to have them as a part of our team."

Club member Jasmin Gonzalez, a senior at Sleepy Hollow High School, received the Youth of the Year Award, the highest honor the Club gives to one of its youth members who demonstrates exemplary character, superior leadership skills, academic achievement, and outstanding service to Boys & Girls Clubs. Since 2003, Jasmin has volunteered over 950 hours of her time at the Club helping with the 5 and 6 year olds. She describes the Club as her "second home" and "reason for getting up and going to school." Currently President of the Keystone Club, Jasmin credits the Club for bringing her out of her shell, making her more confident, self assured, able to ask for help, and for teaching her to develop strong friendships.

The 2009 Humanitarian Award Dinner event gained support from 20 individual and corporate sponsors including:

♦ Diamond Sponsor: Bonnie Trotta

♦ Platinum Sponsors: Seema Boesky, Entergy, and Martha and Richard Handler

♦ Gold Sponsors: Kevin and Susan Bannon, The Beitzel Family, and George and Maria Roach

♦ Silver Sponsors: Skip and Michaela Beitzel of Hickory & Tweed, Leslie Cecil and Creighton Michael, Jim and Jill Lawrence, Lee Manning-Vogelstein of Birdstone Farm, Sue and Scott Schaevitz, and Richard Talmadge and Karen Ward

♦ Bronze Sponsors: Bill and Jane Balter, Kent Karlsson, Linda Mahon and Robert Saunders, Proskauer Rose LLP, The Reader's Digest Association, Lisa Rockefeller and Herb Reinke of Ridgebury Graphics, and Holly and David Singer of Robison Oil

"We are incredibly grateful for our generous sponsors," Skanes said. "Their contributions helped make this year's Humanitarian Award Dinner a great success."

The 2009 Humanitarian Dinner was co-chaired by Heidi Johnston (of Cross River), Maria Roach (of Pound Ridge), and Bonnie Trotta (of Mount Kisco). Linda Mahon (of Mount Kisco) and Christine Gelwicks (of Katonah) were associate chairs.

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. To contact the Club's Teen Center, located at 317 Main Street in Mt. Kisco, please call (914) 733-0033.

About the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester

The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester was established in 1939 as a place for "boys to get off the streets." It is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and enabling young people, especially those who need it most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. Located in Mt. Kisco, NY, the 36,000-square-foot facility features an eight-lane pool, Child Care Center, gymnasium, games room, and two computer labs, and an additional 1,600-foot Teen Center facility. The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester serves 3,000 youths, boys and girls ages 6 months to 18 years, from more than 60 Northern Westchester communities. The Club has been ranked among the outstanding Clubs in the national network of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Press Contacts: Kelly Lee, Co-Communications, 914-666-0066, kelly@cocommunications.com

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Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester
351 Main Street, Mt. Kisco, New York 10549 (914) 666-8069