Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Senator Shelley Mayer held the 2021 Women’s History Month Celebration virtually on March 23 to recognize exceptional women from their Senate districts.“What better way to recognize the accomplishments and achievements of women than to look to our own community, and the women who selflessly stepped up during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “There are so many strong women to highlight, and this year’s three awardees truly demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to serving their community.”
After reviewing numerous nominees from the community the Majority Leader selected: Phyllis Shelton of New Rochelle, Shih-Ying Sun of Dobbs Ferry, and Dara Gruenberg of Scarsdale.
Phyllis Shelton serves as the Director of Community Relations at New Rochelle Municipal Housing Authority (NRMHA). Shelton has been on the frontlines of the pandemic in New Rochelle, once the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. During that time, she distributed food and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to those in need in public housing, and she performed significant outreach to ensure underserved individuals knew how to get tested for COVID-19 and how to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Shelton also helped organize a COVID-19 vaccine pop-up site in New Rochelle for seniors.
Shih-Ying Sun is the Co-Founder and a Board Member of the Westchester Association of Chinese Americans (WACA) and the Co-Founder and current President of the Greenburgh Evergreen Club (GEC) for Chinese American seniors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, under Sun’s leadership, WACA donated 7,000 face masks to nine local nonprofit organizations and nursing homes, organized a virtual Chinese New Year Celebration, and hosted GEC Zoom classes for Tai Chi, folk and ballroom dance and lectures to help seniors maintain their physical and mental health during lockdown. Sun also helped over 50 seniors schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine in Greenburgh.
Dara Gruenberg, a Scarsdale resident helped secure PPE for the Village of Scarsdale’s government, spearheaded various COVID-19 fundraising initiatives including coordinating Eileen Fisher’s donation of reusable gowns to White Plains Hospital and organized the village-wide “Chalk the Dale” event to thank local healthcare workers and first responders.
This year, Senator Mayer focused on recognizing women who helped their communities overcome the challenges of the pandemic by organizing numerous food drives, leading mask making efforts, and booking vaccine appointments for hundreds of seniors. “During times of crisis, the helpers in our communities provide tangible support, spiritual fortitude, and hope that we will get through this,” said Senator Shelley Mayer. “These women showed exemplary leadership during the worst crisis our nation has faced in 100 years. This year’s honorees went above and beyond to help our communities overcome the severe challenges imposed by the pandemic including severe food insecurity and shortage of PPEs.”
Senator Shelley Mayer’s 2021 honorees are:
Jeanhee Chung (Mamaroneck), Mask Maker & Founder of SewForNY.org/SewForCT.org: When the Coronavirus Pandemic began, Jeanhee heard there was a mask shortage and wanted to help. She knew she couldn’t do enough on her own, but thought she could put her web-developing skills to good use and connect those who were willing to help, with those who needed masks. Through this effort, Jeanhee founded SewforNY.org and SewforCT.org. Jeanhee is immensely grateful to all of the volunteers who sewed over 16,000 masks for people in need.
Shari Matusow and Valerie Sloan (Armonk), Volunteers Helping Seniors Make Vaccine Appointments: After making appointments for many of their friends and family members, Shari and Valerie joined forces to make appointments for seniors in need throughout their community. Together, they have made over 300 appointments for seniors and teachers. Social media groups promoted their efforts, and strangers reached out to them for help. Shari and Valerie find the work immensely rewarding, and it’s been what has kept them moving forward until it is their time to get the vaccine.
Jeni Wallace (Yonkers), Food, Toy, and PPE Drives; Jeni serves as the Executive Director of the Matthew Wallace Foundation, which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2014 in memory of her 17 year old son Matthew who was killed in 2013. The Matthew Wallace Foundation has been instrumental in feeding the community and distributing PPE items throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past year, the foundation has served 800 meals per week for 8 months; delivered food to homebound seniors and quarantined families for 4 months; distributed thousands of PPE items including masks and hand sanitizer; and hosted a holiday celebration for families in need during the month of December where the foundation distributed 500 turkeys, 300 bags of groceries, 400 blankets, and 1,200 toys.
