The Counseling Center will host its 48th annual benefit on Friday, May 3, 2019, at the Bronxville Field Club. This year’s event honors Rosanne Welshimer, whose commitment to community service, lived out with energy and good cheer, has enriched so many people in Bronxville and beyond.
Rosanne’s volunteer work began as a tutor while attending Mount Holyoke College and continued during her long, stellar career at The Bank of New York, where many of her 38 years there were spent as senior vice president and division head for the bank’s securities industry banking division.
Early on, she taught church school and baked for the soup kitchen at The Reformed Church of Bronxville; remarkably, she continued as a monthly cookie baker for the soup kitchen for 26 years, and after 34 years, she still teaches fourth-grade church school.
Soon after leaving banking, through Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter, she became a mentor and scholarship supporter of several youths as they aged out of the foster care system. Further, she has held many lay leadership positions at The Reformed Church of Bronxville: as chair of several councils, deacon, elder, and vice president and acting president of consistory. In addition, Rosanne served as president of the board of the Bronxville Public Library and as chair of the board of The Counseling Center, where she was on the board from 2011 to 2018.
In all of these roles, Rosanne brought compassion and focus, an eye for detail, and an enduring warmth. Over the years, she and her husband, Mark, have supported many local organizations with a focus on wellness, education, and faith. The mother of four children and grandmother of six, Rosanne delights in spending time with her family. She also enjoys gardening and cooking and is famous for her scrumptious chocolate chip cookies.
Thanks to the generosity of four families who are sponsoring this year’s benefit, all of the proceeds from this event will go to support the important work of The Counseling Center, especially its fee subsidy program, which allows the center’s professional staff to offer critical services, including psychotherapy, marriage counseling, family and child therapy, and pastoral counseling, to those who are unable to afford full-fee treatment.
“We want to help all those in need,” said Carol Godfrey, chair of the board. “For anyone facing a difficult moment in life, no matter what their age or the kind of challenge they face, The Counseling Center can be a vital resource. The exceptional psychotherapists on our staff stand out for their many years of experience. And through a well-funded fee subsidy program, we can offer our expertise to more people, making a positive difference in their lives and in those whose lives they touch.”
Virgil Roberson, LP, MDiv, NCPsyA, executive director of The Counseling Center, said: “Some come to the center with serious mental health challenges, including major depression, anxiety/panic disorder, eating disorders, bipolar illness, self-injury, or addiction. We specialize in treating those serious difficulties and many others—sometimes in short-term-focused psychotherapy and, when appropriate, in longer-term, more intensive therapy. But many clients seek help with the normal rough spots of life. All of us face difficult situations, and often it helps to speak to an objective, impartial person who is not a friend or family member. The Counseling Center provides expert assistance in those situations, too. Sometimes in just a few sessions, clients find the clarity and reassurance they are seeking.”
Godfrey, added, “The upcoming benefit offers an opportunity for people to reacquaint themselves with the terrific contribution The Counseling Center makes to the community. I’m excited by this chance to continue our outreach and expand our fee-subsidy program. And I’m especially excited to honor Rosanne Welshimer, whose leadership, dedication, and warm friendship over the years have helped ensure that The Counseling Center remains a welcome resource.”
The Counseling Center offers a warm, safe, and confidential place to get help. It has offices in The Reformed Church of Bronxville, as well as in Scarsdale, Riverdale, and New York City. For more information, visit www.counselingcenter.org
