Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester Toasts Three Longtime Staff Members for One Century of Service

Alumni Cocktail Reception honors staffers for a combined 100 years of teaching and support

This past Sunday, Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester (BGCNW) alumni, staff and supporters made a toast to a combined 100 years of profound service and influential teaching carried out by just three longtime staff members.

At a BGCNW Alumni Cocktail Reception Sunday, February 9 at the Club’s Main Street location, three pillars were lauded for their lasting impact: Aquatics Director Dennis Munson, for 45 years of service; Director of Operations Barbara Cutri, for 30 years of service; and Director of the Pre-School Child Care Center Betty Lou Ostrye, for 25 years of service. Each of the three have dedicated their careers to supporting, educating and encouraging youth from around Westchester County, and setting them on the path to success and good citizenship. More than 200 guests attended Sunday’s reception.

“Dennis, Barbara and Betty Lou are extraordinary individuals,” said Brian Skanes, executive director of the BGCNW. “There are countless adults who can trace their success back to these three. And because of that, those adults are now enrolling their children in the Club, too.”

Deepening Munson, Cutri, and Ostrye’s ties to the Club and the children it serves are their own histories – all three began attending the Club as children in the 50s and 60s. A deep affinity developed swiftly, and the three found themselves committed to the Club’s mission.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized for doing what I love,” Cutri said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in our members’ lives.”

“The pool – and entire Club – is a supportive, safe environment for so many children and teens from around the area, and I’m thankful to be a part of it,” Munson continued.

“The past 25 years have been marked by the best memories and the best people,” Ostrye added.

The Alumni Cocktail Reception coincides with the Club’s 75th anniversary, a year-long celebration that recognizes influential alumni, staff, and philanthropists, and culminates with the annual Humanitarian Award Dinner on June 7. Other events include a golf tournament at GlenArbor on September 16, and a Family Fun Day for the entire community on September 28.

Since the Club’s founding in 1939, over 100,000 children have walked through its doors and taken part in its life-changing programming.  

About the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester

Celebrating its 75th year,  the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester remains dedicated to its mission to inspire and enable young people, especially those who need it most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. A non-profit organization established in 1939, the Club has served more than 100,000 youth and welcomed nearly 10,000 volunteers, staff and board members over the years. Located in Mt. Kisco, NY, the Club’s 36,000-square-foot facility features an eight-lane pool, Child Care Center, gymnasium, game room and two computer labs, and an additional 1,600-foot Teen Center facility. The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester currently serves 1,700 boys and girls ages 6 months to 18 years, from more than 60 Northern Westchester communities. The Club has been ranked among the outstanding Clubs in the national network of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.