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Jandon Foundation Scholarship Awarded to Club Member Marianny Hidalgo — Youth of the Year 2007 Finalist Awarded $10,000 Scholarship

Mount Kisco, NY (June 4, 2007) — Club member Marianny Hidalgo has been awarded a college scholarship from the Jandon Foundation. She was recently recognized, along with fourteen other students graduating from local high schools for their academic achievements, at a ceremony held at the County Building in White Plains.

Marianny is a senior at Sleepy Hollow High School and will be attending Berkeley College in the fall. A resident of Tarrytown, NY, Marianny has been involved with the Boys and Girls Club since 7th grade. Marianny coordinates the Club's backpack program, providing member with family meals for the weekend each Friday. She also assists younger members with their homework and plays sports with them. She was selected as a 2007 Youth of the Year finalist, the highest honor that the club bestows on one of its members. Marianny was presented with the Chris Cutri Memorial Award at the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester 12th annual Humanitarian Award Dinner for her positive attitude and integrity. This award recognizes outstanding sportsmanship in honor of Chris Cutri, son of the Club's Director of Operations, Barbara Cutri.

"Marianny has taken part of the Club's many community projects and relentlessly followed through on these challenges," said Brian Skanes, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester. "She serves as a role model for our youth and is most deserving of this scholarship."

Since 1999, the Jandon Foundation has annually awarded 12-15 college scholarships to help promising young students from low-income families attend college. The Jandon Foundation is a private foundation created by Jane and Donald Cecil of Harrison, parents of Leslie Cecil, who serves on the Club's Board and is the 2007 Humanitarian Award recipient. The Cecils, who have dedicated more than $1 million to the program, hold twice yearly functions to bring the scholars together and offer advice and moral support. Cumulatively, there have been 111 students awarded this scholarship since the program's inception.

"Thanks to the generosity of the Cecil family, these students will have the opportunity to pursue their education and achieve their goals. We congratulate them and wish them the best of luck,'' said County Executive Andy Spano.

"The Jandon Foundation recognizes that these youngsters have worked hard to excel in school in the face of financial difficulties and sometimes family hardships," said Donald Cecil. "Jane and I believe that these students should be rewarded for their hard work and given the opportunity to succeed and to become future leaders in their communities. That is what the Jandon Scholars program strives for.''

To be eligible for the Jandon Scholarship program, a student must attend a public high school in Westchester and be a member of a family with substantial financial need. Marianny was chosen by a selection committee who chose their scholars based on junior- and senior-year grades, SAT scores, good character, and an application and interview process. Students submitted essays as well as school transcripts, letters of recommendation and other documentation. To encourage students to complete their education, the program offers an increase in the scholarship amount for each year they remain in school; recipients are awarded $1,000 in their freshman year, $2,000 in their sophomore year, $3,000 in their junior year, and $4,000 in their senior year, totaling $10,000. In addition to helping to administer the program, Westchester County also provides each student with a laptop computer for use at college.

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 visit www.boysandgirlsclubnw.org.

Left to right: Westchester County Legislator Judy Myers (of Mamaroneck); Westchester County Legislator George Oros (of Cortlandt); Westchester County Legislator Lois Bronz (of Greenburgh); Marianny Hidalgo (of Tarrytown), 2007 Jandon Scholarship award winner and longtime Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester member; Westchester County Executive Andy Spano (of Yorktown Heights); and Jane and Donald Cecil (of Harrison), founders of the Jandon Foundation; at the Jandon Scholarship award ceremony held at the County Building in White Plains.

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. The main unit in Mt. Kisco, NY is a 36,000-square-foot facility featuring an eight-lane pool, Child Care Center, gymnasium, games room, two computer labs and an additional 1,600-foot Teen Center facility. The Club has two satellite programs: a youth and teen center in the Yorktown Community Center; and a full service program at The Community Opportunity Center in Tarrytown, NY. The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester serves 5,000 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.

Westchester County Legislator Judy Myers (of Mamaroneck); Westchester County Legislator George Oros (of Cortlandt); Westchester County Legislator Lois Bronz (of Greenburgh); Marianny Hidalgo (of Tarrytown), 2007 Jandon Scholarship Award Winner and longtime Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester member; Westchester County Executive Andy Spano (of Yorktown Heights); and Jane and Donald Cecil (of Harrison), founders of the Jandon Foundation.

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