Copyright Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — City Access New York has announced the honorees for its annual Reach for the Stars Gala: High Stakes Edition, to be held Thursday, Dec. 4 at Nicotra’s Ballroom at the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island. The event will celebrate leaders whose dedication, advocacy and innovation have advanced inclusion, opportunity and empowerment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across New York. This year introduces the Ken Struve Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring the legacy of City Access founder Ken Struve, whose leadership and commitment to inclusion transformed services for New Yorkers with disabilities. The inaugural recipient is Winifred “Wini” Schiff, chief executive officer of the InterAgency Council of Developmental Disabilities Agencies, Inc. (IAC). With more than 40 years of experience in direct support, program design, staff training, administration and advocacy, Schiff has been a driving force for collaboration among providers, families and government partners. The Architect of Change Award will be presented to Kimberly Hill Ridley, chief disability officer for the State of New York. Appointed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2022 as the state’s first-ever CDO, Ridley advises on policy and budgetary matters affecting people with disabilities and serves as the state’s ADA coordinator. Her lived experience as a person with a spinal cord injury informs her leadership and belief in the principle of “nothing about us without us.” The Community Commitment Awards will honor two Staten Islanders whose leadership and service continue to uplift the borough. Gail Castellano, senior vice president and division head at Valley Bank, has spent more than three decades in community banking and leadership. A lifelong Staten Islander and active volunteer, she has served on the boards of the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the St. George Theatre. She has also been recognized among “Staten Island’s Power 100″ and “25 Most Influential Staten Islanders by City & State New York.” Dr. Gracelyn F. Santos is a dentist at Santos and Mroczek DDS, PC, whose 29-year career blends family and cosmetic dentistry with civic leadership. She serves on the Executive Board of the St George Theatre and is a life and culture columnist for the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com. She chairs its DEI Committee and co-hosts the “Conversation with Community Giants” series. Dr. Santos has been honored for her community impact by Wagner College, the Staten Island Zoo, the St. George Theatre, Meals on Wheels, the Jewish Community Center and Snug Harbor Cultural Center, among others. City Access NY will also present the Self Advocate of the Year Award to Jared Baskin, vice president of the City Access NY Self Advocacy Group. The award honors an individual who exemplifies courage, leadership and the power of lived experience. “The Reach for the Stars Gala is a celebration of those who make inclusion possible,” said Sophia Rossovsky, executive director. “Each of this year’s honorees embodies the values that define our mission—visionary leadership, compassionate service, and an unyielding belief that every individual deserves the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.” Proceeds from the event will support City Access New York programs that empower individuals with developmental disabilities and visual impairments to achieve independence, inclusion and meaningful community participation. For sponsorships, tickets or more information, visit City Access of New York. ABOUT CITY ACCESS OF NEW YORK City Access New York is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting lifelong access to education, employment and community participation for individuals with developmental disabilities and visual impairments. Through advocacy, partnerships and innovative programs, City Access NY ensures every individual has the opportunity to reach for the stars.
