By Nancy Vittorini

May 9, 2018:  On the evening of May 4, with spring in full bloom, the Bronxville Field Club was buzzing with a tremendous turnout for The Counseling Center’s annual benefit, honoring community leaders Sarah and Bob Underhill.

Marilynn Hill said it best as she paid tribute to the honorees:  "No two people could better exemplify what tonight’s award is about--dedication to a caring community that surrounds, supports, and elevates its fellow members. In the 25 years Sarah and Bob [Underhill] have lived here as a couple, they have represented the highest levels of leadership in countless organizations that foster the values that make the larger Bronxville community so special and different from many other communities. This commitment has come from their personal values of integrity, compassion, and service to others and from their personal dedication and desire to ensure that the cornerstone institutions of this community are supported and sustained – education, government, religion, culture, and the arts, a healthy environment, and family, in both its individual and community senses. And, as a historian, I have to add one more important pillar:  respect for history and tradition. As the saying goes, ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’ and these two come from several generations of family who have been Bronxville community-builders through personal service.”

The Underhills, with their years and breadth of service, captured a crowd of more than 160, all wishing to support and thank them for all the good they have done. A live auction, conducted by board members Richard Pink and Margaret Murtagh, and a silent auction featuring a number of attractive and well-bid items--tickets to Broadway hits Frozen, My Fair Lady, and Carousel, a golf outing at Fishers Island, dinners, wine, and more--all contributed to the evening’s fundraising success.

Helping achieve that goal was the support of event underwriters Marilynn and John Hill, Ellie and Jay Urstadt, Fran and Dave Harris, and Maureen and Bill Barton. "If every patient could afford the full cost of therapy, we would not need to have a benefit or do any other fundraising. As it happens, many patients need help with the costs, so our board raises money to provide fee subsidies. Through the generosity of all our donors and grantors, The Counseling Center provided over 1,100 hours of subsidized therapy last year, and this year we expect to exceed that number,” noted Rosanne Welshimer, The Counseling Center’s board chair.

The executive director of the center, Virgil Roberson, introduced the staff of highly skilled psychotherapists and gave special thanks for the success of the evening to Phia Primps and Carol Godfrey, event co-chairs. “Their hard work, teamwork, and attention to detail made this a record-setting event. We are exceedingly grateful for their energy, enthusiasm, and continuing commitment to The Counseling Center.”

Pictured here:  Top photo (L to R): Rosanne Welshhimer, Bob Underhill, Sarah Underhill, Carol Godfry, and Phia Primps. Photo in text: front row: Ellie and Jay Urstadt; back row: Marilynn and John Hill, Sarah and Bob Underhill, and Fran and David Harris. 

Photo courtesy Counseling Center

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