Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins has announced that 61 seniors from 33 municipalities will be honored at the 43rd Annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Awards Celebration. The event is scheduled for Friday, December 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Westchester Marriott.
This year’s program will present top honors to Dr. Nicholas Cicchetti of Hawthorne and Lena Anderson, Esq., of White Plains. Four additional seniors—Helen Frankel of Yonkers, Janice King Griffith of White Plains, Colette Phipps of New Rochelle, and Meow Yee of Millwood—will be recognized as Distinguished Honorees.
Jenkins stated: “I am deeply honored to recognize this year’s distinguished group of seniors as they are inducted into the Westchester County Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is one of the County’s most meaningful traditions, providing an opportunity to express our gratitude to the seniors whose leadership, service and dedication have strengthened our communities. The exceptional accomplishments of this year’s honorees reflect the very best of Westchester County, and I look forward to celebrating their achievements at the awards ceremony.”
Mae Carpenter, Commissioner of the Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS), said: “We are celebrating 43 years of the Senior Hall of Fame. I am so proud of this accomplishment and the wonderful people who have given countless hours of their time helping others. This is what building communities is all about! I could not be more delighted to acknowledge this year’s honorees and thank them all for their incredible contributions to improving the lives of others.”
The Senior Hall of Fame was established during Westchester’s 300th anniversary to highlight how older residents have contributed to community development. Over four decades, more than 1,700 seniors have been inducted into the Hall. Nominees must demonstrate significant and lasting contributions through professional or volunteer work that enhances life in Westchester County; selections are made by a panel after nominations from community members.
Dr. Nicholas Cicchetti has spent nearly four decades working on community health initiatives and elder care in Westchester County. As Chairman of Wartburg’s Foundation, he led efforts in governance reform and donor engagement while supporting partnerships such as music therapy programs for seniors with neurological challenges. He also chairs the board at Westchester Community Health Center.
Lena Anderson has focused her career on education, civil rights, and empowering communities in Westchester County. She served as President of the White Plains/Greenburgh NAACP branch where she advanced reforms in education and policing while advocating for fair housing through various organizations.
Distinguished Honoree Helen Frankel founded Westchester’s first nonprofit guardianship program for vulnerable elderly residents and launched several initiatives supporting both seniors and children under kinship care.
Janice King Griffith has worked on civil rights advocacy as President of her local NAACP branch and led police reform efforts in White Plains.
Colette Phipps directs Livable Communities: A Vision for All Ages—a county initiative promoting age-friendly policies—and holds leadership roles with state aging organizations.
Meow Yee volunteers with OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates focusing on anti-Asian hate issues, inter-cultural dialogue, women’s leadership development, and cancer support services.
The awards ceremony is organized by DSPS along with Parks, Recreation & Conservation and the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services. Sponsors include NewYork-Presbyterian (annual sponsor), Wartburg, and Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services (bronze sponsors).
Tickets can be purchased or congratulations sent via www.westchesterpartnership.org/hall-of-fame/ or by contacting Angelique Morelli at (914) 218-3968.
A full list details each municipality’s honorees including those from Ardsley, Briarcliff Manor, Bronxville, Croton-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Granite Springs, Harrison, Hartsdale, Hastings-on-Hudson, Hawthorne (Dr. Nicholas Cicchetti), Katonah, Larchmont, Lincolndale, Millwood (Meow Yee), Mount Kisco, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle (Colette Phipps), North Salem, Peekskill, Pelham, Pleasantville, Pound Ridge, Rye Brook/Rye City/Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow/Somers/South Salem/Valhalla/White Plains/Yonkers/Yorktown Heights.
