Friends of Westchester County Parks Announces Honorees for Annual Best Friends Awards Reception

Friends of Westchester County Parks announced today the honorees for the annual Best Friends Awards Reception to be held on Wednesday, April 9 at the Glen Island Harbour Club.  This year’s honorees include Al DelBello, Partner at DelBello, Donnellan, Weingarten, Wise & Wiederkehr, LLP and Dee DelBello, CEO & Publisher at Westfair Business Publications; Glenn Pacchiana, President and CEO of Thalle Industries; Ellen Koelsch, Owner, and David Swope, Founder, of Club Fit; and Pace University Environmental Center.

Since its inception in 1977, Friends of Westchester County Parks has held close to the notion that merely building a park is insufficient to ensure its use; it is critical to provide ongoing support for maintenance, civic improvement and access to nature.

“We are thrilled to honor these individuals and organizations for their contributions,” said Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson, Chairperson, Friends of Westchester County Parks. “The reception will also give us the opportunity to stop and celebrate the countless programs we funded to keep our 50 county parks open and beautiful.”

Honorees Include:

Al and Dee Delbello, who will receive the “2014 Best Friend” Award, will be recognized for their numerous contributions to the Westchester County Park system over the years and particularly for rescuing Muscoot Farm, which was slated to be sold for development.

This year’s “2014 Best Green Friend” Award will be handed to Glenn Pacchiana. He will accept this award on behalf of Thalle Industries for its environmentally sound business practices that enhance the quality of life in Westchester County.

Pace University Environmental Center will be honored as the “2014 Best Volunteer Friend” Award recipient.  They have been an active Adopt-A-Park participant, donating many hours of sweat equity to the Bronx River Reservation. Pace University has also hosted numerous “Conversations on Conservation” that bring good science to the conservation practices of Westchester County. Accepting on behalf of the Pace University Environmental Center will be director, Angelo Spillo.

Ellen Koelsch and David Swope, will receive the “2014 Best Business Friend” award for their continuous support of Westchester County parks through financial and volunteer efforts. Club Fit’s donations have provided many benches along the North County Trailway.

“Our parks are among one of our most valuable resources and we look forward to working to ensure their continued presence in the lives of all county residents,” said Joe Stout, Executive Director, Friends of Parks. “These honorees are not only exemplary citizens and humanitarians; they also show how vital it is to support our county’s parks and the need for all of us to adopt this cause.  None of our efforts would be possible without the continued dedication and generosity of our volunteers. We can never have too many ‘friends’ and urge residents to join us in our goal of providing quality parks and superior programs and services throughout Westchester.”

The event co-chairs are Friends of Westchester County Parks board members Christopher L. Cawley of William Raveis Legends Realty and Linda J. Carrington of the Hudson Valley Bank.

The reception will begin at 5:30PM on April 9 at Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle. The ticket cost is $275 per person and sponsorship packages are available. For ticket or sponsorship information, call 914.231.4548 or email lafleischer14@gmail.com. Please visit friendsofwestchesterparks.com.

Friends of Westchester County Parks is the only organization dedicated exclusively to promoting and supporting Westchester County parks. Friends of Westchester County Parks, which is governed by a Board of Trustees, secures and administers private funds that support the mission of the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation. Funds raised through membership fees and donations are used for the sole benefit of Westchester’s parks. All donations are tax deductible.