43rd Annual Senior Hall of Fame Celebration
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins is proud to announce that the achievements of 61 seniors from throughout the County will be honored at the 43rd Annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Awards Celebration on Friday, December 5 at the Westchester Marriott. This year’s program will present Dr. Nicholas Cicchetti of Hawthorne and Lena Anderson, Esq., of White Plains with top honors, and will honor 61 seniors from across 33 municipalities.
Jenkins said: “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.”
Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) Commissioner Mae Carpenter 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.”
Among this year’s honorees, four seniors will be recognized as a Distinguished Honorees: Helen Frankel of Yonkers, Janice King Griffith of White Plains, Colette Phipps of New Rochelle, and Meow Yee of Millwood.
The 43rd Annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Awards will be hosted by the Westchester County DSPS, Parks, Recreation, and Conservation, and the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services.
This year’s event is sponsored by: Annual Sponsor- NewYork-Presbyterian; Bronze Sponsors- Wartburg and Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services.
To purchase a ticket or to congratulate an honoree, visit www.westchesterpartnership.org/hall-of-fame/ or contact Angelique Morelli at AngeliqueM@EventsRemember.com or (914) 218-3968.
Westchester County Senior Citizens Hall of Fame – Class of 2025
Top Honors: Lena Anderson, Esq., White Plains
Lena Anderson has spent her life advancing education, civil rights, and community empowerment. As a teacher, administrator, and consultant, she has shaped generations of students in Westchester. As President of the White Plains/Greenburgh NAACP, she guided the branch to implement the National NAACP’s agenda, advancing reforms in education, policing, and economic empowerment. Anderson has been a steadfast advocate for fair housing through her service on the CHI Board, ensuring access to housing for vulnerable families, and her leadership in Bethel Baptist Church and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. has inspired countless others to pursue service and justice. Through her roles in the NAACP, CHI, and Bethel Baptist Church, Anderson has consistently addressed issues impacting seniors, from advocating for affordable housing to promoting lifelong learning opportunities, helping seniors age with dignity and remain engaged in community life.
Top Honors: Dr. Nicholas Cicchetti, Hawthorne
Dr. Nicholas Cicchetti has dedicated almost 40 years to advancing community health, elder care, and civic engagement in Westchester County. As Chairman of Wartburg’s Foundation, he has helped establish a strong foundation for future growth by creating a governance structure that unified leadership, strengthened fundraising, and expanded donor engagement. In addition, Dr. Cicchetti championed groundbreaking partnerships, including Wartburg’s collaboration with the Institute of Music and Neurologic Function, which brought internationally recognized music therapy to seniors and those with neurological challenges. As Board Chair at the Westchester Community Health Center, he has consistently elevated the conversation around health equity and has expanded opportunities for underserved populations to have access to affordable and quality healthcare.
Distinguished Honoree: Helen Frankel, Yonkers
Helen Frankel is a trailblazer in the field of elder advocacy and protection, founding the first ever nonprofit guardianship program in Westchester County and named its inaugural Director. Under her leadership, the Family Service Society of Yonkers Guardianship Program became a critical safeguard for Westchester’s most vulnerable elderly residents, such as those who are incapacitated and at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Since its inception, the program has protected over 2,000 seniors. Frankel also launched a Kinship Support Program, helping grandparents and other relatives provide safe, nurturing homes for children in their care. In addition, Frankel developed the Homestead Program, which provides safe, stable housing for homeless elderly and disabled residents of Westchester.
Distinguished Honoree: Janice King Griffith, White Plains
Janice King Griffith has provided transformative leadership in Westchester County as a civil rights advocate, community leader, and volunteer. As President of the White Plains/Greenburgh NAACP Branch, she has worked tirelessly with elected officials, institutions, and grassroots groups to advance racial justice. Her innovative leadership of the White Plains Police Reform Committee produced some of the strongest reform recommendations in New York State, many of which have already been implemented. Through her NAACP leadership and committee roles, Griffith has worked to build stronger, safer, and more inclusive communities where seniors can thrive.
Distinguished Honoree: Colette Phipps, New Rochelle
Colette Phipps is the Executive Director of Livable Communities, A Vision for All Ages, an umbrella initiative that has provided and promoted awareness, discussion, and action through programming meant to improve quality of life in the Westchester community. Programming developed under Ms. Phipps’ leadership includes, Westchester’s Livable Communities Initiative with six contracted regional coordinators strategically located throughout the country to deliver hyperlocal, targeted services, Caregiver Coaching and other caregiver support programs, Telehealth Intervention Programs for Seniors (TIPS), Health for Life, The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, The Village Approach, The Speaker’s Bureau, and work with the aging network through specialized collaboratives. Under Ms. Phipps’ leadership and direction, Westchester became a member of AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities and the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities of the United Nation’s World Health Organization, paving the way for the county to be designated an Age-Friendly place. Ms. Phipps serves on several boards, she is a New York Academy of Medicine Fellow and an adjunct professor at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service. Ms. Phipps is the current President of the State Society on Aging of New York.
Westchester County Senior Citizens Hall of Fame – Class of 2025
Harrison – Fred Claar
Larchmont – James Owen Druker
New Rochelle – Rita Echevarria, Sandy Savitz Gruenberg, George Morris, **Colette Phipps, Susan Brown Hollander
Pelham – Lisa Kiernan
Rye – Paul Rheingold
Rye Brook – Ervan Caesar
White Plains – ***Lena Anderson, Esq., Rakesh Behal, Sheila A. Giddings, Gingie Greene, **Janice King Griffith, Leroy Jones, Stuart Kolbert, Dr. Vito Sessa, Francine Taplin Shorts