WPCNR STAGE DOOR. November 25, 2009: In this time of year when many organizations are staging benefits asking for donations, Westco Productions, Westchester’s most popular, loved-by-all-ages nonprofit theatrical company, held an intimate buffet and cocktail gathering at the Westchester Arts Council rehearsal space Westco leases, last week to thank the donors who have supported Westco over the last 30 years.

Serena Russell, center, member of the Westco Board of Directors welcomes donors and supporters of Westco last week. Susan Katz, founder and impressarioess of Westco Productions is at left.

White Plains Susan Katz, founder of  Westco in 1979 has been staging shows and experiences that matter throughout the county, such as  The Magic to Do Players (show business experience for disabled youngsters, lauded by WARC and parents, that is in need of more support to keep the program going), Healing Walls, Bedside Buddies (actors visiting hospital-bound kids),  original educational shows in schools around the county, plus Ms. Katz’s Gold Star Concert Series – the county’s most successful, affordable popular artist’s series, which helps fund Westco’s public service performances. On hand were many of the persons who support the arts, including Chester Day, Jim Benerofe, Assemblyman-White Plains Mayor-Elect Adam Bradley, and others.

Susan Katz -- reminisced about how Westco grew out of a county program she originally began in the County Center with Westchester  -- which eventually turned into Westco Productions

Among the foundations who support Westco work are The Shirley G. Benerofe Foundation,The Bossak/Heilbron Charitable Foundation,The Louis R. Cappelli Foundation,The Thomas & Agnes Carvel Foundation, Drew Industries, Edith Glick Shoolman Children's Foundation, Fein Foundation, Glickenhaus Foundation, Hitachi America Ltd., Hitachi Foundation,The H.O.P.E. For Youth Foundation, HSBC Bank USA (which funded the cocktail party) , Hudson Valley Developmental Disabilities Service, Office of Westchester County Hudson Valley National Foundation, James A. Macdonald Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts,New York State Senate, Paul & Harriet Weissman Family Foundation, The Janis & Alan Menken Foundation, The John H. & Ethel G. Noble Charitable Trust, Westchester ARC, Westchester Arts Council, Westchester Delegation of New York State Assembly