The Friends of Westchester County Parks held its 2011 Best Friends Awards Reception on Wednesday, April 13 at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle.
Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino joined the Friends to pay tribute to people and businesses who have been great supporters of Friends and the county Parks Department.
The celebration, "An Evening with Friends," honored the following people and groups:
- Thomas F. Secunda, Best Friend. Secunda, of Croton-on-Hudson is a founding partner and Global Head of Financial Products and Services with Bloomberg. His contributions to the Friends as a sponsor and a trustee have been integral to the organization's success.
- Hudson Valley Bank, Best Business Friend. Another longtime supporter of Friends, the bank's foundation makes contributions that help support and protect county parks. A bank Hudson Valley Bank officer also serves as a Friends trustee.
- Entergy Corp., Best Green Friend. Entergy recently donated 17 trees that helped the county Parks Department take a major step forward in a reforestation project at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla. Entergy is also represented on the Friends board of trustees.
- The Miracle League of Westchester, Best Volunteer Friend. The league provides volunteers whose work enables hundreds of children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities to play baseball on the county's specially designed Miracle Field at Ridge Road Park in Hartsdale.
For more than 30 years, the Friends of Westchester County Parks has continued its tradition of raising thousands of dollars to buy equipment, fund children's programs, provide amenities and support the Westchester County Parks system.
Learn more about Friends of Parks.
Photo caption (left to right) Best Friend honoree Thomas F. Secunda, County Executive Robert P. Astorino and Joseph A. Stout, executive director of Friends of Westchester County. Photo taken by John Vecchiolla.