Andrus welcomed 125 guests to its Yonkers campus on October 1 for A Night to Imagine What’s Possible, an evening celebrating community, philanthropy and a shared commitment to helping children and families thrive.
Held at the historic President’s House, the intimate gathering brought together friends of Andrus, community and corporate partners, elected and public officials, Board members, staff, donors and new supporters for an evening designed not simply as a fundraiser, but as an opportunity to experience the spirit of Andrus, learn more about its One Health vision and consider what becomes possible when a community comes together around children and families.
The evening also marked a significant moment of recognition from leaders across Yonkers, Westchester County and New York State. Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins joined representatives from the offices of Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins in presenting official proclamations honoring Susan Pace Guma for her decades of service and leadership, as well as recognizing October 1 as One Health Day. Mayor Spano currently serves as Yonkers mayor, while Stewart-Cousins serves as New York State Senate President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader.
The evening began with a reception, food and conversation before Andrus Board Chair Dan Fossner welcomed guests and opened the formal program.
Seeing and Supporting the Whole Child
Andrus President and CEO Dr. Corine E. Lurry-Mabin grounded the evening in the organization’s mission and its commitment to seeing the whole child. She spoke about the Andrus One Health vision and the understanding that a child’s emotional and physical wellbeing cannot be separated from relationships, environment, movement, nature, education and community.
At Andrus, that philosophy can take many forms, from caring for animals and spending time in nature to gardening, physical activity, education, behavioral health services and relationships with trusted adults. These experiences are not separate from healing. Together, they can help children build confidence, connection, responsibility and a sense of belonging.
Throughout the evening, Dr. Lurry-Mabin returned to an idea at the heart of both One Health and the work of Andrus: healing does not happen in isolation. It takes a community. That message carried directly into the evening’s fundraising appeal, connecting the support of the community in the room with Andrus’ work to create the conditions in which children and families can heal and thrive.
“A Night to Imagine What’s Possible is about more than one evening,” shared Dr. Corine E. Lurry-Mabin, President and CEO of Andrus. “It is about bringing together the people who believe deeply in children and families and understand that their wellbeing is shaped by all of the people, places and experiences that surround them. To have leaders from across Yonkers, Westchester County and New York State join us in recognizing Susan’s extraordinary contributions and in recognizing One Health Day made this gathering especially meaningful. As Andrus approaches its 100th year, this gathering is also an opportunity to reflect on what we have learned, celebrate the community that has carried this work forward, and imagine how we can continue to evolve to meet what children and families need in the years and decades ahead.”
Behavioral Health Requires Community
Michael Orth, Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health, brought a broader systems perspective to the conversation, speaking about prevention, coordinated behavioral health care, accessibility and the importance of partnerships among government, providers, families, schools and community organizations.
Orth also recognized Susan Guma’s extraordinary service and the importance of sustained leadership and stewardship in strengthening organizations such as Andrus.
Westchester County Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson, Chair of the Committee on Health, expanded the conversation by placing mental health within the larger framework of public health and equity. Her remarks connected Andrus’ One Health approach with the conditions that support wellbeing, including safety, belonging, relationships, nourishment, movement, nature and community.
Together, the speakers reinforced a central principle of Andrus’ work: improving mental health requires more than responding when someone reaches a crisis. It also means creating environments, relationships and systems that support wellbeing before a crisis occurs.
Celebrating Susan Guma
One of the evening’s most meaningful moments was the recognition of Susan Pace Guma with the Andrus Excellence in Leadership and Service Award, honoring her decades of leadership and service to Andrus and the broader Westchester community.
A Bronxville resident and recently retired Dean of Graduate Studies at Sarah Lawrence College, Guma has been involved with Andrus since 1995, including serving as Co-Chair and Board Member of the Strategic Planning Committee at Julia Dyckman Andrus Memorial Home. Her nearly three decades of involvement reflect the longstanding relationships, leadership and stewardship that have helped Andrus evolve while remaining grounded in its mission.
Guma was formally recognized through proclamations from Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins. Jenkins, who attended the event in person, also offered remarks congratulating Guma on her decades of service and leadership and recognizing Andrus as an important community partner in Westchester County.
In accepting the honor, Guma reflected on gratitude, stewardship, the dedication of Andrus staff and Board members, community partnership, the Andrus family legacy, philanthropy and her hopes for the organization’s future. Her recognition connected Andrus’ history with its future: generations of people choosing to invest their time, leadership, resources and belief in children and families.
An Evening of Hospitality and Connection
The evening featured passed hors d’oeuvres, a grazing table, desserts and coffee prepared by Chef Ariela Magaly and her team, along with a silent auction and opportunities for guests to connect throughout the President’s House and surrounding grounds.
Event planning and logistics were managed by Events To Remember 360 Marketing, led by Chereese Jervis-Hill and her team, who helped create an atmosphere that was welcoming, relaxed and celebratory.
A Community Invested in What Comes Next
A Night to Imagine What’s Possible offered a glimpse of where Andrus is headed as it approaches its centennial in 2028: continuing to expand how it thinks about children’s wellbeing and how communities can come together to support it.
For nearly a century, Andrus has worked alongside children and families to provide innovative, coordinated social and emotional support. Today, the organization serves approximately 5,000 children and families annually through programs spanning behavioral health, education, residential services, autism supports, home visiting and family support. Andrus is also home to the internationally recognized Sanctuary Institute, which helps organizations create trauma-responsive environments where people can heal and thrive.