White, Griffin Honored at CMSV Gala

The College of Mount Saint Vincent hosted its Scholarship Tribute Dinner at Cipriani 25 Broadway on May 1—and in doing so, raised a record $580K, providing academic scholarship opportunities for students, regardless of economic background. This year, the College honored two individuals for their strength of character, leadership, business acumen, and devotion to the common good: Mary A. Griffin and Richard A. White. Ms. Griffin and Mr. White weren’t the only honorable guests to take the stage—Mount senior nursing student Samannie Estriplet served as the evening’s student speaker.

Samannie captivated the packed crowd as she shared her journey to the Mount.

“Nine years ago, a natural disaster struck my home, Haiti,” said Samannie. “The 7.0 earthquake took more than a quarter of a million lives. I am fortunate to be one of the survivors. The event changed my life, but knowing education is one of the most important things that a child needs, my parents thought it was the best for me, and my sister, to come to the United States.”

After completing middle school and high school in New Jersey, Samannie was stuck trying to find the college that was best for her. She searched, reflected, and prayed—realizing the Mount felt like home.

She quickly settled in, exploring her passions in and outside the classroom. However, during her sophomore year, she was hit by yet another heartbreaking and life-altering challenge.

“I found out that my parents, who were trying to put two daughters through college while rebuilding their lives in Haiti, could no longer help my sister and me with tuition…It seemed like I would have to leave the College.” But the Mount didn’t let that happen. Professors and advisors became mentors and friends, guiding Samannie as she navigated yet another obstacle.

“I’m thankful I did not have to face this challenge alone. People gave their time to help me. They did more than just listen—they recognized my desire and potential, and the College adjusted my financial awards so that I could stay.” Now, Samannie is ready to graduate and looks forward to a career in medical surgical nursing. She plans to utilize her education and skills as a nurse to help those in Haiti, as well as other parts of the world affected by disasters.

The cause of students like her was advanced by the generous outpouring of support engendered by the honorees.

Mary Griffin

Mary Griffin, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Life Insurance Council of New York (LICONY), oversees New York’s leading life insurance organization, representing over

75 life insurer member companies and more than 20 allied professional firm members. Prior to joining LICONY in 2016, Ms. Griffin served as Senior Vice President with Citigroup’s Government Affairs Department. Her career also includes leadership positions at the American Insurance Association, the New York Department of Insurance under the administration of Governor Mario Cuomo, and on the staff of the New York State Assembly.

A notable leader, Ms. Griffin has had a remarkable impact throughout the insurance and government industries—she has been named Outstanding Woman in Government for her significant contributions to New York State and is a past two-time recipient of the Outstanding Government Affairs Representative award from the Northeast Financial Services Association. She attended Newton College of the Sacred Heart and earned a B.A. in American History from Boston College.

Richard White

Richard White is the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of ShelterPoint Life Insurance Company, New York’s largest insurer of both Disability Benefits Law and Paid Family Leave, with over 168,000 employer groups and covering 1.7 million insured employees. Mr. White has over 30 years of experience in creating and implementing effective strategies for business growth, diversification, product development, sales expansion, and operational excellence for several leading insurance companies. Prior to joining ShelterPoint in 2009, Mr. White was Executive Vice President of Domestic Markets with Pan American Life Insurance Company in New Orleans. He also spent nearly 20 years with The Guardian Life Insurance Company—the same organization where he began his career in 1984 as a group sales representative—culminating as Senior Vice President, Group Insurance.

Mr. White serves as a member of the Board of Directors for The Insurance Federation of New York and serves on the Board of Directors for LICONY, where he works directly with fellow Mount Saint Vincent honoree Mary Griffin. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska and holds certificates in Marketing Management from Columbia University, as well as in Organizational and Executive Coaching from New York University.

Each year, the Scholarship Tribute Dinner further expands educational resources, making higher education accessible for all. Ms. Griffin and Mr. White join a growing list of prestigious insurance leaders honored at the event including Steven M. Menzies, Pamela J. Newman, Raul Rivera, William Fishlinger, Donald DeCarlo, David Walsh, Arcadio Casillas, William Flynn, and Thomas Moran.

Proceeds from the event directly support scholarships for talented and deserving students. Join us in recognizing the generosity of our honorees, scholarship donors, and the recipients of their awards.