Award-winning fundraiser celebrates local leaders and raises critical scholarship support for working families
June 3, 2026 (Mount Kisco, NY) — Mount Kisco Child Care Center (MKCCC), a nonprofit dedicated to providing equitable access to high-quality child care and early education, is proud to announce the honorees of its 22nd Annual Feed Me Fresh: An Edible Evening, to be held at 5:30 PM on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the stunning Ivanna Farms in Mount Kisco.
This highly anticipated, award-winning event brings together top local restaurants, generous supporters, and families from across Westchester for an unforgettable evening celebrating fresh food, philanthropy, and community. Proceeds from the event support scholarships for local working families, helping ensure that every child has access to exceptional early childhood education regardless of financial circumstance.
This year, MKCCC is honored to recognize Joanne Stewart and Paula Backer for their extraordinary dedication and support of the Center and its mission. MKCCC will also present a special honorable mention to the Byram Hills High School Global Scholars Program for their meaningful partnership and commitment to community service.
Joanne Stewart, MBA, is the founder and president of Goodworks Advisory Group, LLC, and a dedicated partner to MKCCC since 2010. With more than 30 years of experience across the nonprofit and corporate sectors, Joanne has helped the Center secure more than $4 million in foundation and corporate support. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Joanne played an instrumental role in obtaining critical funding that helped keep MKCCC’s doors open, allowing the Center to continue serving some of the community’s most vulnerable families and essential workers. Joanne’s unwavering commitment to ensuring every child has access to high-quality, affordable child care and early education has had a lasting impact on the Center and the families it serves.
Paula Backer has been a tireless leader and supporter of MKCCC in her role as Director of Development. Under Paula’s leadership, MKCCC has surpassed fundraising goals year after year, achieving record-setting results while elevating the Feed Me Fresh event to new heights. In the years following the Covid-19 pandemic, Paula also played a key role in reinvigorating the MKCCC Board of Directors, helping create the structure and momentum for new members to become actively engaged in meaningful ways. As Paula transitions into a new role at MKCCC, the organization is deeply grateful for the opportunity to recognize and celebrate her many contributions.
MKCCC is also pleased to recognize the Byram Hills High School Global Scholars Program for their meaningful partnership with the Center. Global Scholars is a three-year leadership and global competence program focused on critical thinking, advocacy, and community engagement. In 2025, MKCCC was proud to welcome three student participants to the Center, where they volunteered in classrooms and gained firsthand understanding of the vital role child care plays in supporting working families. That winter, when MKCCC social worker Ruth Goodman launched a holiday fundraising effort for MKCCC families, the Global Scholars enthusiastically stepped up to help, quickly assisting in reaching the goal and helping ensure parents could celebrate the holidays with dignity and joy.
“We are incredibly grateful to Joanne, Paula, the Global Scholars students for the care, generosity, and commitment they have shown to our children, families, and staff,” said Dawn Meyerski, Executive Director. “Their compassion and dedication truly embody the spirit of Feed Me Fresh.”
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available at MKCCC.org/fmftickets. Guests are invited to join MKCCC for an unforgettable evening of exceptional cuisine, meaningful connection, and community impact in support of local children and families.
About Mount Kisco Child Care Center
Mount Kisco Child Care Center is a registered 501(c)3 whose mission is to help working families thrive by providing equitable access to high-quality child care and early education to a diverse group of children through innovative, developmentally appropriate programming and a holistic approach to supporting family needs. The Feed Me Fresh event is inspired by MKCCC’s signature seed-to-table nutrition education curriculum of the same name, which helps MKCCC ensure its students have access to healthy meals, nurturing care, and a foundation for lifelong learning.
Press Contact
Catherine Mason
cmason@mkccc.org
(914) 241-2135 ext: 260