White Plains Groups Honored At ArtsWestchester Luncheon

Original Source: Daily Voice
by Tom Renner

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. – Organizations, community groups and individual supporters of the arts in Westchester were honored on Friday, April 4, at the 37th Annual Arts Award Luncheon hosted by ArtsWestchester at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown.

Photo Album ArtsWestchester Awards Luncheon

The luncheon honored individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the cultural life of Westchester. First Niagara Bank sponsored the luncheon, which was hosted by WCBS television reporter Tony Aiello.

The newly-named Emily and Eugene Grant Arts Patron award was presented to Hannah and Walter Shmerler of Rye, who have been generous in their support of many organizations. The Shmerlers have supported the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, Westchester Philharmonic and ArtsWestchester, where Hannah has served on the board since 1999 and as chair of ArtsWestchester’s Education Committee.

Other awards: President’s Award, Village of Ossining Public Art Project; Arts Organization, the New Choral Society of Scarsdale; Innovator’s Award, the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts of Katonah; Community Awards for the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art in Peekskill and the Music Therapy Institute of the Music Conservatory of Westchester, which is based in White Plains; the Education Award to the Yorktown High School Dance Company; and the Sophia Abeles Education Award to the Westchester County Arts Leadership Association of White Plains.

Janet Langsam, ArtsWestchester chief executive officer, and David Ring, managing director of Enterprise Banking and an ArtWestchester board of trustees member, were among the speakers.

Prior to the luncheon, guests enjoyed a boutique and silent auction that showcased the “HATtitude” exhibit at WestchesterArts. The exhibit runs through April 12 and features over 150 hats from 40 contemporary milliners and private collections. The exhibit is on display at ArtsWestchester’s office at 31 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plains. For more information on the exhibit, visit the ArtsWestchester website.