(Yonkers, NY) — State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins held her Tenth Annual Angel Project, celebrating a decade of connecting Westchester grandparents raising grandchildren with community volunteers who help make their holiday season brighter. The Angel Project culminated in a holiday luncheon held at Castle Royale in Yonkers for grandparents and donors.

“For ten years, the Angel Project has been about showing up for grandparents who step up every single day for their grandchildren,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “These grandparents are doing extraordinary work under often very difficult circumstances, and they deserve to be recognized. I want to thank our angels for making that recognition possible. Your generosity sends a powerful message to these families that they are seen, supported, and valued.” 

This year’s event brought together nearly 200 grandparents who serve as primary caregivers for their grandchildren and more than 140 volunteer “angels,” who fulfilled modest holiday wish lists submitted through the program. Since its inception, the Angel Project has grown into a meaningful tradition that recognizes the sacrifices these grandparents make, often while on fixed or limited incomes, to provide stability and care for their families.

The Angel Project was created by Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins to ensure that grandparents who are primary caregivers receive support and recognition during the holiday season. Community partners, including the Family Service Society of Yonkers, Family Ties of Westchester, and the Westchester County Department of Social Services, play a critical role in the program by identifying participants and coordinating wish lists.

The luncheon served as both a celebration and a thank you, honoring grandparents for their dedication and volunteers for their generosity, while highlighting the ongoing need to support kinship caregivers across Westchester County.