Cynthia B. Knox, Esq., is the Chief Executive Officer of Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP). CHHOP works to alleviate hunger and homelessness in Peekskill, New York and its surrounding areas.
As CHHOP’s leader, Ms. Knox successfully increased the organization’s revenue by over 225%, private revenue by over 17%, and program staffing by 280% within five years. She has also developed additional programs in response to community needs, including a collaborative RISE Program for domestic violence survivors and a short-term rental and utility arrears program, Tierra Solida/Solid Ground. Ms. Knox has transformed CHHOP’s food pantry into a “farm to pantry” model with a rigorous focus on health equity.
Ms. Knox’s social justice work spans more than three decades, with 20-plus years of nonprofit executive experience working on behalf of low-income individuals. She has developed programs and funding for specialized populations, advanced strategic partnerships, and led performance management processes in her leadership roles.
Ms. Knox’s leadership has garnered recognition for her dedication to helping those in need, including from The Loft, which recognized her as an LGBTQ+ Trailblazer, and from the City of Peekskill, which named her as an LGBTQ+ leader in the community, both in 2024. Additional accolades include the 914 Inc. Women in Business Leaders in 2023, Crain’s 2023 New York Notable LGBTQIA+ Leaders, the 2022 New York State Empire Award, the 2022 Peekskill NAACP Distinguished Service Award, and the 2022 Feeding Westchester Neighbor Service Award.
She has served on numerous boards, committees, and commissions. Currently, Ms. Knox serves on the Executive Committee of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce and the Westchester County Community Development Advisory Group. She is a member of the Policy Advisory Committee for “Welcome Home Westchester!” and is on the NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital Community Advisory Board.
Ms. Knox holds a Juris Doctor from CUNY Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Sarah Lawrence College.
