The SUNY Westchester Community College Foundation announced today that it will honor three community leaders at its 2026 Transforming Futures Together Gala, taking place on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at Tappan Hill Mansion, in Tarrytown.
The Foundation will posthumously present the Public Service Award to the late Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey, honor DeCicco & Sons with the Corporate Citizenship Award, and recognize American Women of African Heritage, Inc. (AWAH) with the Community Leadership Award.
“Each of these honorees represents a different kind of leadership that benefits the college and our students: public service with enduring impact, corporate leadership that meets real needs, and community partnership that lifts up the next generation,” said Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President of SUNY Westchester Community College. “We are proud to celebrate their impact and to raise critical support for our students.”
“This gala is about honoring people and organizations who strengthen Westchester through service, opportunity, and care for others,” said Melissa Maurer, Chair of the Special Events Committee of Westchester Community College Foundation. “We are grateful for the lasting legacy of Congresswoman Lowey, the steadfast partnership of DeCicco & Sons, and the community-building leadership of AWAH.”
Public Service Award (Presented Posthumously): Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey
The late Nita M. Lowey served parts of Westchester and Rockland counties, the Bronx, and Queens for 32 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. A mainstay on the House Appropriations Committee, she became its first female Chair during her final term in office. Lowey helped bring financial support to New York for the recovery effort following the September 11 terrorist attacks and helped secure federal funding to replace the aging Tappan Zee Bridge.
A longtime champion of access to higher education, Lowey was a strong advocate for SUNY Westchester Community College in Congress, notably bringing federal support to several important programs, including the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant enabling low-income student parents to receive childcare at the Virginia Marx Children’s Center; the TRIO program to prepare students from disadvantaged backgrounds for success in undergraduate education; and STEM programs on campus. She was also a generous individual supporter. Along with her husband, attorney and WCC Foundation Board member Stephen Lowey, she established an endowed scholarship in 2019 and, in 2022, provided an endowment to sponsor the Phi Theta Kappa honor society membership dues for high-achieving students.
Corporate Citizenship Award: DeCicco & Sons
Founded in 1973, DeCicco & Sons was established when John DeCicco, Sr., convinced his family to acquire a small grocery store in the Bronx, where he had worked as a delivery boy. For over 50 years, DeCicco & Sons has provided its customers with a large selection of top-quality food, offering a friendly and personal touch, while expanding throughout Putnam and Westchester counties. Today, the family operates 11 stores across the region.
DeCicco & Sons has a long tradition of supporting education in the communities where they do business. John DeCicco, Sr., joined the Westchester Community College Foundation Board in 2018 and has been an avid supporter of the Foundation’s special events, such as SUNY WCC’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway, which provides free turkeys and groceries for students and families facing food insecurity. The company also supports the College through store-based point-of-sale donation campaigns and other community-focused initiatives.
Community Leadership Award: American Women of African Heritage, Inc.
American Women of African Heritage, Inc. (AWAH) was founded in the spring of 2001, when five women gathered in the office of the Honorable Lois Bronz, then President of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, to discuss ways to strengthen opportunities for women and girls of African ancestry throughout Westchester County. Those present included Toni Cox-Burns, Dr. Mary Lane Cobb, Valerie Somersille, Esq., and Elizabeth “Betty” Scantlebury. As more like-minded women joined, the organization formalized its name, mission, and vision and achieved nonprofit status, laying the groundwork for sustained, community-centered action.
Over the past 24 years, AWAH has earned a reputation as “the little engine that could,” mentoring emerging leaders, creating platforms to honor women of African heritage, promoting authors and artists, celebrating cultural history, supporting social and educational endeavors, and collaborating effectively with established institutions, including the Westchester Community College Foundation.
Event Details
The Transforming Futures Together Gala is the Foundation’s largest annual fundraising event, providing critical support for scholarships, emergency financial assistance, food and housing resources, and other key programs that help SUNY WCC students thrive. The event brings together community leaders, alumni, faculty and staff, and partners from across Westchester to celebrate student success and invest in the opportunities that make a college education possible. Proceeds from the Gala provide resources to students as they pursue a degree or credential and prepare for rewarding careers in the region.
Date: Wednesday, April 29
Location: Tappan Hill Mansion, Tarrytown
Hosted by: SUNY Westchester Community College Foundation
