Volunteer New York! Announces Spirit Award Winners

TARRYTOWN, NY — In advance of its annual breakfast benefit, Volunteer New York! announced the winners of the 44th Annual Volunteer Spirit Awards.

Presented by Regeneron, the benefit will take place from 7:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, April 12 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown.

The Volunteer Spirit Awards is the largest volunteer recognition event in the lower Hudson Valley and is attended annually by nearly 600 community leaders and supporters of local volunteerism.

Each spring during Global Volunteer Month, Volunteer New York! recognizes a group of volunteers who have done extraordinary work in the region.

Volunteers are nominated in six categories, and an independent panel of judges selects one person or group for each category.

Volunteer New York! Executive Director Jeanette Gisbert said the organization is incredibly proud to honor these extraordinary individuals.

“Each of our winners exemplifies a deep commitment to service, embodying our vision of a vibrant, resilient and equitable community,” she said. “Their actions inspire us all and demonstrate the profound difference one person can make in our communities.

“Together, we are building a legacy of service and a stronger, more connected community,” Gisbert said.

The 2024 winners and their categories are:

Education & Literacy Award
Jim Isenberg of White Plains, for volunteer action with Grandpas United

Going Green Award
Michael Penziner of Rye, for volunteer action with Friends of Rye Nature Center

Quality of Life Award
Laura Romeo Sobel of Dobbs Ferry, for volunteer action with Dance for a Difference

Resiliency Award
Matthew Ricker of New Rochelle, for volunteer action with New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce

Social Advocacy Award
Colleen Brathwaite of Elmsford, for volunteer action with Westchester Women’s Agenda

Youth Leadership Award
Mouhamadou Alou of Mount Vernon, for volunteer action with Mount Vernon High School

Legacy Award
Dr. Valerie Mason Cunningham of Chappaqua

Tickets, congratulatory journal ads and event sponsorship opportunities can be found online at volunteernewyork.org/awards.

CORRECTIONS: In a previous version of this article Michael Penziner was misidentified. He was honored for volunteering with the Friends of Rye Nature Center. Also, Laura Romeo Sobel, who volunteered with Dance for a Difference, was inadvertently left off the list of honorees. Patch regrets the error.