Board Members & A Message From the Board Chairperson
Our Board Members are dedicated to our mission of creating real and lasting change in the lives of under-served homeless and mentally ill people.
- Mary Grace Ferone, Esq. – Board Chair
- Sharon Moseson – Board Vice-Chair
- Ashley Brody – Secretary
- Martin Krossel – Board Member
- Alexandra Schweitzer – Board Member
- Robert Marrone – Board Member
- Julie Maner – Board Member
Greetings from the Chair…
Thank you for taking the time to check out CHOICE.
We are proud to celebrate our 25th year of providing services to individuals affected by mental illness and other health challenges. I have had the pleasure of serving as Chair of the Board of Directors for the past decade and have observed the tremendous growth of CHOICE. CHOICE began in 1996 as a peer run mental health advocacy organization with a small staff and tiny budget in New Rochelle. In 2021, we now have a staff of over 100 incredibly dedicated individuals, and three separate locations across Westchester County – New Rochelle, White Plains and Peekskill – as we endeavor to be accessible to individuals throughout Area.
People have asked me why I am involved with CHOICE? What is so special about CHOICE? My answer is that CHOICE provides services in a caring and compassionate manner, where the client is treated as a respected individual and is an active participant in his/her own care. Its programs are re-imagined to meet the challenges of life in 2021. No person or problem is too small if someone is struggling. We just want to help.
CHOICE’s care model was not around in the 1980s when my family was attempting to deal with my brother’s mental illness and subsequent suicide. Mental illness was a taboo subject that was often misunderstood and full of judgment and blaming. CHOICE seeks to understand the whole person, not just the illness and helps clients find solutions that work for them. There is no judgment at CHOICE. Wouldn’t it be great if the whole world worked that way….
I encourage you to see what CHOICE can do for you or what you can do to become involved with CHOICE- either way, you will be glad you did.
Mary Grace Ferone
Chair of the Board of Directors
