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MHA on the move: Run, Walk, Dance!
September 20, 2008
Westchester Community Raises
Awareness and Funding for Mental Health at MHA on the move: Run, Walk,
Dance!
The Mental Health Association
of Westchester’s MHA on the move 5K Run/Walk and 1
Mile Kids’ Race Raises Nearly $300,000
Westchester County, NY,
September 23, 2008 ─ Several special celebrity
guests including CNN’s Gerri
Willis, Stone Phillips, and CBS’s Lou Young joined more than 500
Westchester residents to raise nearly $300,000 to promote mental health
programs at The Mental Health Association of Westchester’s (MHA’s)
“MHA on the move: Run, Walk, Dance!”
held on Saturday,
September 20th. The
day began with the agency’s fourth annual 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Kids’
Race, at FDR
State Park in Yorktown Heights, and culminated with a Gala Dance
Celebration at 7pm at the Marros in Rye. All proceeds from the events will
directly support MHA’s advocacy, education and direct
services. “Both of these
great events are all about addressing the stigma of mental disorders that
prevent people from getting help early,” says Dr. Amy Kohn, MHA’s CEO and
Executive Director. “People
living with psychiatric disabilities and those who have experienced trauma
can recover with dignity when they receive the help they need.” “This is an amazing community
event that brings people together to raise awareness” adds Dr. Kohn. “Mental Illness and emotional
disturbance touches all of us and the stigma associated with seeking help
can be devastating”
This year’s Corporate and Small
Business sponsors included Gold Sponsors: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ginsburg
Development Companies, and NBC
Universal as well as Media Sponsors: News12 Westchester, Optimum,
Westchester County Business Journal and WFAS Radio.
In the 5K race, Francois Vignon
of Croton, NY won the men’s division with a time of 18 minutes and 43
seconds. Cindy Pomeroy of New
York, NY led the
women with a time of 19 minutes and 50 seconds. Additional winners included the
lucky participants who walked away from the event with raffle prizes
including a Chopper Bike, an iPod Nano-chromatic, and airline tickets,
courtesy of JetBlue.
In the evening, guests joined
MHA again for the “Dance!” at the Marros in Rye. There, MHA honored television
journalist and author Jane Pauley, Westchester developer and community advocate Martin
Ginsburg, long-time MHA friend and supporter Aline Raisler and CASA (Court
Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer Yvonne
Tropp. Stone
Phillips was the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, and Tipper Gore was the
honorary co-chair. Guests
participated in Live and Silent auctions, and enjoyed dinner and
dancing.
View
photos from this event
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