Meet Our Board
Janet Lefkowitz (Co-founder,
Program Director, Secretary)
Janet co-founded HERO, Inc in 1992. Over the past thirty years HERO’s recreation programs have served over 18,000 underserved, socially isolated adults and children in NYC metro area living with intellectual, social and physical challenges. Since 1992 she has concurrently served as Tennis Director for the Town of Greenburgh, NY in Westchester County where she participates in programs for youth, teens, adults living with autism and wounded veterans. She wrote the first adaptive tennis curriculum for the USTA and is a recognized leader in adaptive recreation. She lives with her husband in Hartsdale, NY and is the mother of two adult children.
Hailey Callanan
Hailey is a special education teacher in the Greenburgh, NY School District. She is a 2018 graduate of Manhattanville College and in 2019 went on to earn a Master of Professional Studies in Special Education. Since 2014 she has been a HERO volunteer tennis instructor as well as Tennis Camp Director at Greenburgh Parks and Recreation.
Robyn Pasternak
Robyn joined HERO in 2019 where she has been able to foster her love and passion for tennis by volunteering to play tennis and assist those with developmental disabilities. Robyn also works as a team facilitator at Wagon Road, which is run by the Children’s Aid Society, one of NY’s largest social service agencies. At Wagon Road, Robyn works with a diverse group of children helping them to partake in a day of challenges and exciting recreational programs. She also facilitates in adventure training for professionals assisting in their companies’ team-building programs. In 2009, Robyn launched Gear It Up, a custom screen-printing business out of the need to give her school district a more efficient and economical way to fundraise.
Sue Plath (Treasurer)
Sue is a retired special education teacher, mother of three, grandmother of six. Sue is active in Town of Greenburgh CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and active member of Hartsdale Kiwanis and Scarsdale Women’s Club. Sue is passionate about HERO’s mission to provide social connection to people with special needs through recreation.
Jerry Weil (President)
Jerry has a diverse background in community relations and recreation program development. A lifelong tennis player and coach, he is the father of a son with an autism spectrum disability. He first met HERO co-founder Janet Lefkowitz in 2001 and was inspired to develop adaptive tennis programs for numerous community- based organizations including Special Olympics, Riverview School and Chapel Haven Schleifer Center. He has served on the USTA National Adaptive Tennis Committee and is currently on the Board of New Haven Youth Tennis and Education (New HYTES)
Patti Robbins
Patti Robbins is a retired occupational therapist/hospital administrator. She has worked with adult and pediatric populations in many settings. She is also an avid tennis player who loves to share her passion for the sport with everyone. She also coaches a running club for children with autistic spectrum disorders and other disabilities in Westchester County.
Linda Sokol
Linda has a strong background in tennis coaching and physical education. A long-time tennis player, she has now added pickleball to her repertoire. She has coached high school and college tennis teams and has recently retired as a Health education teacher. She is enjoying working with the diverse population of adults and children that are served by HERO.