RyeCity REVIEW THE
September 15, 2023 | Vol. 10, Number 36 | www.ryecityreview.com
HEART OF A GIANT
Eastchester flag football star Michelle Tiso has been nominated for USA Football’s “Heart of a Giant” award. The award is given to a high school football player in the tri-state area for their character, dedication and commitment to their community. For story, see page 16. Photo/Mike Smith
Nonprofit Westchester announces new service award Nonprofit Westchester (NPW) is thrilled to announce that Kathy Halas, executive director of the Child Care Council of Westchester (CCCW), will receive the first-ever Keep Westchester Thriving Distinguished Service Award. This award honors a nonprofit leader who has outstanding accomplishments in a nonprofit agency and has contributed to the vibrancy and health of the nonprofit sector in Westchester. “I’ve always thought myself so lucky to live, raise my children, and work in Westchester County which offers energy, resources, and a level of collaboration among nonprofits, government, and business that I think is rare,” said Halas. “I’ve been with NPW from the beginning and it’s remarkable to witness its growth, not just in numbers but also in the complexity of the issues it’s tackling. I thank everyone at NPW for the support and inspiration along the way.” With Kathy at the forefront, the Child Care Council of Westchester has helped the community at large understand the importance of having safe, affordable,
and sustainable childcare facilities for children, parents, members of the workforce, and businesses of all types. She is a steadfast and respected advocate who has successfully brought together the nonprofit, business, and government sectors as stakeholders in advancing quality early care and education. Along with her team, Kathy has been a one- of-a-kind training and informational resource for childcare professionals across the county and State. Always willing to collaborate and learn, she also lends expertise to like-minded organizations, including the Westchester Women’s Agenda, the Westchester County Families Task Force which she co-chairs, and the Welcome Home Westchester Campaign. “Kathy’s skills, expertise, and commitment to community building have played an integral part in our organization’s growth,” said Jan Fisher, Executive Director of NPW. “She is one of the most effective leaders in the nonprofit sector and the voice for f childcare. Our County is a better place because of her work. We are so thrilled to be able to honor Kathy
with this first-ever recognition at the Keep Westchester Thriving Awards ceremony.” “Whether one’s primary focus is childcare, women’s empowerment, affordable housing, hunger, workforce development, or the arts, the issues are all connected, and we need to be as well. I thank NPW deeply for bringing us together, and continuing to push us to collaborate, create and innovate,” continued Halas. This year’s winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony hosted by NPW and opening sponsors Hudson Valley Credit Union; Maier Markey & Justic LLP; Mutual of America; Westchester Library System; and Westhab on Nov. 29, at the Sonesta Hotel in White Plains from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $90 per person for NPW members and $150 per person for nonmembers. There are also numerous opportunities to sponsor this inspiring event or to purchase a journal ad. There is still time to nominate an individual and organizational changemaker. The honorees will be announced on Oct. 5.
LMC Media celebrates 40th anniversary LMC Media will officially kick off its 40th Anniversary on Oct. 11 at Mamaroneck Cinemas, followed by a celebration at Nonna Carola. This year, LMC is honoring educators and future filmmakers from Larchmont, Mamaroneck, and Rye Neck for their often-unsung contributions to the media industry. This year’s honorees are Michael DiGennaro, Mike Witsch, Emily Dombroff, Dave Golden, Elena Elmoznino, Sara Ettinger, Bella Pianko, Gretchen Barnard, and Nate Greven. The program will feature a short film created by the LMC team. In addition to the Gala, LMC will unveil a new video and podcasting studio in Mamaroneck Cinemas later this fall. The studio will be equipped with
cutting-edge technology and will be available to the entire community. “The studio will serve as a creative hub in the heart of Mamaroneck,” said Matt Sullivan, Executive Director of LMC Media, “and will help LMC maintain a more visible presence in the community. We hope the studio will become a resource for people of all backgrounds to learn about new technology and to tell their individual stories. This studio allows us to continue to fulfill our mission of connecting community through media in a new and dynamic way.” For more information about the gala and to purchase tickets or sponsorships, please go to www. lmcmedia.org/gala2023.
White Plains Hospital named Fortune Media’s Best Workplaces White Plains Hospital announced today it is the only Hospital in New York named to Fortune media and Great Place To Work’s list of Best Workplaces in Health Care, and has also been recertified as a Great Place to Work® for the third consecutive year. The Best Workplaces in Health Care award is based on an analysis of Great Place to Work (GPTW) survey responses from more than 208,000 employees in the health care industry, derived from 60 employee experience questions. In that survey, 87% percent of White Plains Hospital team members said the Hospital is a great place to work, ranking it #32 on the top 40 large companies (1,000+ employees) list of Best Workplaces in Health Care in the country. Reviewed and produced by GPTW, Hospital employees from all departments and job functions were asked to complete a confidential survey that includes questions on leadership effectiveness, respect, fairness and em-
ployee pride in the community. White Plains Hospital scored 30% higher than a typical U.S.-based company in employee experience. “Fortune congratulates the Best Workplaces in Health Care,” says Fortune Editor-in-Chief Alyson Shontell. “Creating a vibrant workplace culture that draws the best talent in health care is vital for the success of the leaders in this highly competitive industry. It is also what’s needed to ignite innovation and deliver best-in-class performance.” In addition to the Great Place to Work and Fortune honors, White Plains Hospital recently earned the highest five-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the second time and was also recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Regional Hospital for the fifth consecutive year. In June, it was the only Hospital in New York to be named to Fortune media and Great Place To Work’s list of Best Workplaces in New York.