Jennie Menton-Grasso of Yorktown is one of the 43 seniors who will be honored at The Westchester Senior Hall of Fame's 29th annual awards luncheon on Friday, Dec. 2. 

Menton-Grasso said she was honored to receive the recognition especially since there are so many other people in Yorktown who volunteer for various organizations and good causes.

"I do all the things I do because I love volunteer work and I don't do it for any type of recognition," she said. "I do it because I love helping people."

She is a member of the Yorktown Elks Lodge. As a long time member of the Circolo da Vinci, an Italian Cultural Organization, the woman has worked on the Executive Board, raising money for scholarships granted to local high school seniors. Through the years she has served as President, Vice President and Secretary of Circolo da Vinci and is now a member of the Board of Directors. One of her greatest accomplishments is the introduction of the Italian Language Program for the elementary schools' afterschool program which is sponsored by the Circolo da Vinci with a grant received from Cappelli Enterprise.

While a member of the Yorktown Congress of Teachers Clerical Association her leadership was again recognized, becoming Vice President and then President and a member of the Clerical Association negotiation team.

Menton-Grasso grew up in the town of Greenburg, the only daughter of Italian immigrants with three brothers. She attended Greenburgh Public Schools and graduated from White Plains High School. She launched her professional career working for the County Trust Bank, followed by employment at the I.B.E.W in White Plains as office manager. 

At age 20, the woman and her young husband moved to their new home in Yorktown where they planned to raise a family. Immediately, they became involved in church and school-community work.

With three school age children, Menton-Grasso was active in the Mohansic P.T.A, eventually serving as president. She was a Den Leader and Chairperson of Fund Raising for the Girl Scouts of America. After Tom Menton's sudden death in 1973, the woman became a hard-working single parent. Her strength and courage sustained her during this difficult time of her life. She was able to continue her volunteer work while maintaining an executive secretary position within the Yokrtown School District. For 23 years, her technical skills and personal resourcefulness resulted in positive accomplishments, not only in the schools, but also in community endeavors.

Menton-Grasso's leadership qualities are evident in all of her affiliations. She is known as the "go-to" person, a hard worker and a willing, capable advocate for worthy causes.

Currently, she and her husband Tony Grasso, a former Yorktown councilman, actively participate in all aspects of community life in Yorktown. They are members of Saint Patrick's Church and belong to the Saint Patricks Seniors. Menton-Grasso has been president and now serves as a liaison for Yorktown town affairs.

The Senior Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS), Westchester County Parks and the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services. It is co-sponsored by Visiting Nurse Services in Westchester and Putnam (VNSWP).

DSPS established the Senior Hall of Fame in 1982, and since that time more than 900 seniors have been inducted. 

"The Hall of Fame gives Westchester County a chance to showcase the achievements of individuals who have made enduring contributions to enhance the quality of life of our county and in their home communities," county executive Rob Astorino said. "The county has benefited greatly from their years of service and they continue to inspire us."

The names of Hall of Fame winners are engraved on plaques that are permanently displayed at the DSPS office in Mount Vernon.

Tickets for the event cost $50 per person. The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call Caryl Weinstein at 914-813-6425.