Kiwanis names scholarship after Press co-founder Celia Stein

The Kiwanis Club of Riverdale will celebrate 70 years of service with a gala scholarship fundraiser on May 5 at the VIP Country Club in New Rochelle.

As part of the event, Kiwanis will award a scholarship in the name of Riverdale Press co-founder and former Riverdale Kiwanis president Celia Stein. She was the first woman to be a Riverdale Kiwanis member, according to Fernanda Chavez, Kiwanis Club president.

The scholarship will go to Shiya Lin, a student at the Bronx High School of Science. It will be presented by Richard Stein, former Press publisher and son of Celia and co-founder David Stein.

“Shiya is an extraordinary young lady and will carry this well,” Chavez said.

Celia Stein’s community involvement dates back to the Riverdale Neighborhood House in 1950, the same year she and David started the Neighborhood News — a precursor to The Riverdale Press. In 1980, the Steins received the RNH Good Neighbor Award for their long-standing commitment and dedication to Riverdale, according to Celia’s obituary in 2003.

As for the Kiwanis Club, David Stein was one of the co-founders. Their newsletter was a way to report the news of greater Riverdale, which included coverage of the Riverdale Neighborhood House and Kiwanis club.

“At one time, Kiwanis sponsored partnerships and programs with the College of Mount Saint Vincent,” said Bob Rubenstein, vice president of the Kiwanis Club. “Manhattan College even had a Kiwanis club.”

The event will include a cocktail hour, dinner and open bar. Tickets are $150. Write to teamkiwanis@gmail.com.