Volunteer New York! has announced that seven local volunteers will be honored during their 45th annual Volunteer Spirit Awards breakfast benefit, presented by Regeneron. Volunteer New York!’s popular breakfast benefit will take place at the Westchester Marriott at 670 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, NY on Friday, April 11, 2024, from 7:45 AM – 11 AM with a post-event networking component for guests beginning at 10 AM.
The Volunteer Spirit Awards breakfast benefit is held annually in April during Global Volunteer Month to honor volunteers in Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam Counties. The event is attended by over 550 “who’s who” leaders from the community, including representatives from the business, nonprofit, and public sectors, to honor extraordinary individuals and groups who have made a significant difference in their communities. Nominations are held for five categories, and an independent panel of judges selects one individual volunteer or nonprofit group for each category.
“This year’s honorees exemplify the incredible power of volunteerism to create real, lasting change in our communities. Their dedication and selflessness remind us that service is not just an ideal — it’s actually doing what it takes to build a more connected, compassionate, and resilient world,” said Volunteer New York! Interim Executive Director, Suzanne Tillman. “As we celebrate Volunteer New York!’s 75th anniversary, we recognize the multitude of people who have given their time and heart to making a difference. We are proud to uplift these seven extraordinary individuals and grateful to our sponsors and supporters who make this celebration possible.”
Tickets, congratulatory journal ads, and event sponsorship opportunities are currently available online at volunteernewyork.org/awards. For all inquiries, please contact Dylan Pyne at dylan@volunteernewyork.org.
MEET THE 2025 WINNERS
Education & Literacy Award: Kimberly Janeway for volunteer action with Family Service Society of Yonkers
Quality of Life Award: Chivas Wakuta for volunteer action with One Sandwich at a Time
Resiliency Award: Najib Arsalan and Freshta Nazari for volunteer action with Open Arms for Refugees
Social Advocacy Award: Paul Adler, Esq. for volunteer action with NAACP – Nyack Branch
Youth Leadership Award: Christian and Rowan Dias for volunteer action with Able Athletics, Inc.
Legacy Award: Volunteer New York!
Every year Volunteer New York! selects a recipient for its Legacy Award that goes to a business or civic leader who has made a personal and professional commitment to volunteerism, has significantly supported the values and mission of Volunteer New York!, and who encourages deep employee and community engagement in service. This year, the Volunteer Spirit Awards will also serve as Volunteer New York!’s 75th anniversary celebration. By honoring Volunteer New York! with the 2025 Legacy Award, we celebrate not just the organization itself, but the thousands of volunteers, partners, and supporters who have fueled our mission over the past 75 years.
The mission of Volunteer New York! is to mobilize the communities of Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam Counties to address its greatest challenges. We envision a community that is vibrant, resilient, and equitable, and believe volunteerism and civic engagement are critical strategies to achieve this vision. Last year alone, Volunteer New York! mobilized more than 35,000 volunteers, who contributed over 457,000 hours of service to 300 local nonprofits — an economic value of $16.9 million reinvested into our community. The Legacy Award recognizes this impact and our ongoing commitment to strengthening our communities through service.
