SFCS Celebrates Centennial and Honoree Marcy Berman-Goldstein

After a two year delay, Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service celebrated their 102nd anniversary, or Centennial +2 and honoree Marcy Berman-Goldstein at Scarsdale Golf Club on Thursday night, May 12, at Scarsdale Golf Club. The mood was upbeat and a wide swath of the community turned out to toast the work of the agency and support it, through contributions and purchases of silent auction items. The evening was emceed by Brooklyn based comedian Carmen Lynch whose no hold barred performance had everyone in stitches.

Gala Co-Chairs Laura Daniels and Wendy Gendel presented an evening that was joyful and light-hearted, while at the same time recognizing the serious work SFCS has done during the pandemic to provide families with mental health resources to navigate difficult times.

Executive Director Jay Genova thanked everyone in the community and the agency for their work on the event and noted SFCS’s collaboration with the Village Government and School Board. He noted the attendance of Mayor Jane Veron, Village Trustee Randy Whitestone, School Board members Carl Finger and Ron Schulhof, State Senator Shelley Mayor, Assemblymember Amy Paulin and others. He saluted the work of honoree Marcy Berman-Goldstein, who is the founder of local boutique, “I Am More Scarsdale,” and challenged the audience to be more for their neighbors and get involved in local initiatives.

SFCS President David Lee stressed the importance of the agency to the community and highlighted the need for them to raise 17% of their budget on their own. He said, “Many have not heard about us or don’t know what we do. We fly under the radar. We have to do a better job of spreading the word. The more residents know, the more they will help us.” He continued, “Mental help issues are affecting many and there is an increasing need for services.”

Chairs Laura Daniel and Wendy Gendel said, “This remarkable agency has been in the community for 100 plus 2 years. It will always be there for us.”

Mayor Jane Veron gave a well deserved tribute to Berman-Goldstein, saying:

It is truly my honor to introduce SFCS’ Rising Star, Marcy Berman-Goldstein, who accelerated so fast that she has already reached sun status. Marcy is there at the top, bringing energy, vitality, and warmth to our community. We are the lucky beneficiaries, basking in Marcy’s light…(OK – that’s probably enough of my astronomy analogies - let’s talk Marcy)

Marcy is a force for good who pours every ounce of herself into making Scarsdale a better place. I’d like to take you back several years pre-COVID, when our beautiful Village Center looked bleak. We had far too many empty storefronts, a defunct Chamber of Commerce, and a feeling of gloom, bordering on despair. This was not what we wanted for Scarsdale.

A group of us had gotten together, and we knew we had to act. But wanting something and doing something are very different. Action requires leadership, and that’s where Marcy came in. Marcy had just pivoted from radiologist to entrepreneur and set up shop in the Village Center. She heard the conversation, rolled up her sleeves, and got started - she became all things Scarsdale Business Alliance. The early days were exceedingly hard and not very glamorous. There were pressures to keep businesses afloat, to combat negativity and hopelessness. We can all see it - Marcy going door to door, imploring merchants to take the leap of faith - sending emails at all hours, calling meetings with sparse attendance. But despite the obstacles and doubts, Marcy persevered. And just as she was building momentum, launching one of the SBA’s crowning achievements, the Scarsdale Music Festival (which she pulled off by sheer will and no sleep for a full month), COVID pummeled us. But nothing keeps Marcy down. She joined the Village task force to reopen shuttered businesses, and from those dark days emerged great inspiration. We piloted sidewalk shopping and outdoor cafes, a pedestrian friendly Sidewalk Sale, and of course, our pride and joy, the Dine the ‘Dale tent. It might look easy, but I assure you it was not. Marcy brokered the deal and then attended to every detail from fundraising, to design, to seating, to security, to clean up. And now there’s programming, music, community meetings, and beautification. The tent is where people want to go. Marcy gave us a place to belong.

And that’s just one slice of Marcy’s life. Marcy is a proud business owner who adds vitality to our Village. With her partner Abbey, Marcy built I AM MORE into a destination boutique focused on lifting up spirits and giving back. Westchester Magazine recognized I AM MORE as a Best of Westchester “Best Women’s Empowerment Shopping,” and Marcy and Abbey were named Westchester’s Most Powerful Women for three years running by the Westchester County Business Journal.

Marcy’s commitment to philanthropy defines her. I first met Marcy when our children were in elementary school, and what became immediately apparent was her passion for impactful service. She was known as the go to person at the Junior League and was the dynamo behind their successful fundraising events. She’s a sought-after panelist. speaking at County events on inspired leadership and revitalization.

Marcy is really just that good. Amidst it all, she finds time to be a wonderful mother, caring wife, and loyal friend. I couldn’t be happier to be standing by her side this evening as we all celebrate the extraordinary and inspiring woman that she is. Let’s Show our Appreciation for Marcy Berman-Goldstein.

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2019 Rising Stars Michelle Sterling and Ron Schulhof thanked Marcy for everything she has done and presented her with the Rising Star award. Schulhoff said, “When we see an email from you, we know something great is going to happen.”

Looking dazzling, Marcy Berman-Goldstein accepted the award charting her personal journey in Scarsdale where she went from working as a radiologist to opening a store in the Village. She remembered her first volunteer efforts in the Junior League that set the stage for a new path. She said, “as a radiologist, I spent my days alone reading charts,” and discussed the birth of an idea to start and entrepreneurial venture that would also be philanthropic. With her partner Abby Solomon, she opened the boutique which contributes their profits to other non-profits.

From there, she became president of the Scarsdale Business Alliance and worked with Mayor Veron, Amy Nadasdi and Dalia Kahn to revitalize the Scarsdale business district. Among many successful efforts include the first Scarsdale Music Festival and another planned for June 4, 2022 and the placement of the dining tent which is used as an outdoor gathering and meeting place in the Village.

She thanked her husband Barry and all of the volunteers, About SFCS, she said, “You hold our community together.”

Commenting on the event, SFCS Board Member Jing Lu said, “SFCS is an organization that has done great and important work to the community and that I have had the honor to serve as the board member for the past three years, during which I introduced a Mandarin-speaking social worker Ms. Jie Wu to be on staff and was instrumental in getting two PPP loans for the SFCS.” She shared photos of herself, Lynn Lin and other members of the Chinese community who attended the event, adding, “We have been working hard to get Chinese people immersed into local affairs, of which SFCS Gala is a big integral component.”