
By Joan Toffolon, Member, Board of Directors, Gramatan Village
Sep. 26, 2018: Bronxville Village residents Helen Gerken and Susan Salerno were recently elected to the Gramatan Village Board of Directors.
"We are very pleased to welcome these two individuals to the board," said Kerry Walsh, president of the board. "Both of them bring broad professional experience in a number of key areas to Gramatan Village and share a deep sense of commitment to our mission of helping older adults in our community continue to live safely and confidently at home."
Helen Gerken has a master’s degree in literacy and is a retired literacy specialist from the New York City public school system. She is presently an active real estate agent and licensed broker with Houlihan Lawrence in Bronxville.
Volunteering has always been of utmost importance to her, as can be proven by her prior involvement in the Bronxville School councils, Saint Joseph Church, the Junior League, Heartsong, and the Bronxville Adult School.
Helen recently chaired the very successful Gramatan Village 2018 May Magic gala and has graciously agreed to chair the 2019 Gramatan Village major fundraiser, which will be held on Wednesday, May 15, at the Bronxville Field Club.
Helen has been a resident of Bronxville Village for over thirty-two years and has been married to her husband, Peter, for almost fifty years. Their sons were raised in Bronxville and attended The Bronxville School.
Susan Salerno has held several nonprofit board positions, including director and treasurer of the Impact Capital Forum in New York as well as events chair and general board memberships. Locally, Susan was a committee co-chair in the Junior League and the League of Women Voters.
Her work as director of UBS Private Banking focused on product development for real estate investments, where she developed private equity funds for international clients. Susan spent her early career in commercial real estate as an analyst and subsequently as project manager for large-scale high-profile developments. Susan also served on the investment committee of the Private Equity group MicroVest. Susan holds a BA in economics and an MBA.
Susan, a long-time resident of Bronxville, has been a supporter of Gramatan Village for many years and is committed to our mission and long-term goals as an organization.
Retiring Gramatan Village board members include J. Gregory Coleman and Liz Folberth. “We acknowledge and thank these talented individuals for their dedicated years of service and their significant contributions to Gramatan Village,” said Kerry Walsh, president of the board.
Gramatan Village is a membership organization that engages community residents who want to remain in the home and neighborhood they love. It provides a network of volunteers, community partnerships, and peer connections that enable members to stay independent and fully engaged in the community. Gramatan Village is recognized as a leader in the National Village Movement. For more information, contact us at 914-337-1338 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.gramatanvillage.org.
Pictured here: Helen Gerken.
Photo courtesy Gramatan Village
Editor's note: As a public service, MyhometownBronxville publishes articles from local institutions, officeholders, and individuals. MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements therein, and any opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff.
HOME & GARDEN
Bronxville Beautification Council
Organized in 1982, the Bronxville Beautification Council (BBC) is a not-for-profit organization administered by a volunteer Board of Directors. The mission of the BBC is to enhance and maintain the natural and man-made beauty of the village of Bronxville, with an emphasis on the downtown business district.
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Boulder Ledge Garden Club
Founded in 1966, the Boulder Ledge Garden Club is rooted in a mission to inspire a deeper appreciation and love for gardening and flower arranging. The club is dedicated to fostering and promoting interest and knowledge in gardening.
The Club maintains Bronxville’s Bicentennial Park and other civic gardens. In 2019–2020 the club raised $18,000 to replace trees in the village, reflecting its active role in community beautification. It also holds garden therapy projects and educational garden trips for members.
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Bronxville Giving Garden
The Bronxville Giving Garden is a community-centered garden that donates organic produce to Eastchester Community Action Partnership in Tuckahoe and Community Service Associates in Mount Vernon. The garden is also a gathering place where school children and volunteers can discover the joy of tending plants and growing food.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bronxville Green Committee
The Bronxville Green Committee is a volunteer organization that is part of the Village of Bronxville. It proposes and implements environmentally sustainable programs in our community.
You can contact them HERE.
SCOUTING
Bronxville Boy Scouts
The village of Bronxville has a long tradition of scouting. “The troops and packs of Bronxville have maintained the finest scouting organizations and have taught the boys of the Bronxville area to be leaders and outstanding members of the local, national and global communities.”
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information
Bronxville Girls Scouts
The Girls Scouts is “the world’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world.” In Girl Scouts, “girls discover the fun, friendship and power of girls together. Through the many enriching experiences provided by Girl Scouts, they can grow courageous and strong.”
Here is more information about girl scouts.
HISTORY
Bronxville Historical Conservancy
Inspired by the highly successful Bronxville Centennial Celebration in 1998, the Bronxville Historical Conservancy was founded to record and preserve Bronxville's history and life in the village today.
BRONXVILLE SCHOOL
Bronxville School Foundation
The Bronxville School Foundation, founded in 1991, is a non-profit organization independent from the school with the sole purpose of supporting the school.
The mission of the Bronxville School Foundation is to enhance the quality of public education in our community by engaging the support and energies of educators, citizens, parents, students and alumni.
The Foundation awards grants for projects
CLICK HERE to learn more.
LECTURES, EXHIBITS, CONCERTS
Bronxville Women's Club
The Bronxville Women’s Club offers lectures, exhibits and concerts. It also has a beautiful clubhouse which is available for rental for events.
135 Midland Avenue
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3252
Concordia Conservatory
Concordia Conservatory, a preeminent center for music education in Westchester and Fairfield Counties, is a welcoming community where children and adults find lifelong inspiration and joy through learning, performing, listening to, and participating with others in music.
The Conservatory’s mission is to inspire, instruct, and enrich lives through music offering excellence in education and performance.
CLICK HERE for more information.
COUNSELING
Counseling Center
Founded in 1971, the mission of the Counseling Center “is to provide a wide range of psychotherapeutic and counseling services to individuals, couples and families by a staff of highly trained, experience and dedicated psychotherapists.
The Counseling Center
180 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-3388
www.counselingcenter.org
SERVICE & VOLUNTEERISM
Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester & Tuckahoe
The mission of the Community Fund is “to support broad social services in Bronxville 10708, Eastchester and Tuckahoe through grants and technical support to local agencies and community projects. All money raised here in our community stays here in our community.”
15 Park Place
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-8808
www.thecommunityfund.org
Junior League of Bronxville
The Junior League of Bronxville is “an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and to improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.”
Rotary Club of Bronxville
The Rotary Club of Bronxville is part of a national network of 1.25 million problem-solvers. They see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
READING & LEARNING
Friends of the Bronxville Library
The Friends of the Bronxville Library is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to focus attention on the “Library’s services, facilities and needs” as well as sponsor projects and provide materials that are beyond the reach of the Library's regular budget and perform other services.
SENIORS
Gramatan Village
Gramatan Village is a unique community model offering programs, services and social connections that help members continue to live independently in their homes as they age. In addition, GV offers one-on-one consultations and counseling with our experienced staff to guide members through life’s transitions.
Senior Citizens of Bronxville
Senior Citizens of Bronxville is a not-for-profit organization that provides services and programs to seniors within the 10708 zip code area. “Programs cover a wide range of activities from educational seminars and cultural enrichment to community services, bridge classes and exercise.”