We are honored to share that Sybil Newell, Executive Director, will be honored as the Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health (SCCCMH) Citizen of the Year at the annual Mental Health Matters Benefit on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge.
Sybil Newell is the Chief Executive Officer of RISE Housing and Support Services in Saratoga Springs, New York, where she leads a community-based organization dedicated to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and substance use challenges. A longtime nonprofit leader, Sybil began her career in the human services field in 2000. Her early work included providing direct mental health support at Four Winds Hospital, spending nearly a decade providing frontline services at Unity House in Troy, and then working at the NYS Department of Health before joining what is now RISE, where she stepped into executive leadership in 2016.
Over the course of her tenure, Sybil has played a pivotal role in expanding RISE’s programs, strengthening community partnerships, and advocating for innovative housing solutions across Saratoga County. As Executive Director, she oversees organizational strategy, program development, fundraising, and public engagement, helping the agency serve hundreds of individuals annually through supportive housing and care management services. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to client-centered care and community impact, shaped by years of hands-on experience within the organization and the broader human services sector.
Sybil received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Skidmore College, and her master’s in Community Psychology from Sage Graduate School. Outside of her professional work, Sybil values time with her family and remains deeply connected to the Saratoga community she serves. Since coming to Saratoga Springs for college, she has fallen in love with the area and has made it her home for the past 32 years. She is known for her thoughtful leadership style, her dedication to uplifting others, and her belief that stable housing is the foundation upon which individuals and families can rebuild their lives.
The Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health (SCCCMH) is a non-profit organization. SCCCMH is committed to ensuring that the needs of people living with mental health diagnoses in Saratoga County are met.
The SCCCMH Mission is to Increase Awareness of the needs of individuals living with mental health diagnosis through Advocacy, Education, and by providing Grants for Program Development and Enrichment to agencies and providing mental health services in Saratoga County.
The Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health (SCCCMH) Citizen of the Year award honors an individual or organization that has made a significant impact on the mental health community in Saratoga County, New York. It recognizes outstanding service, advocacy, and leadership in supporting individuals living with mental illness, promoting awareness, and improving local mental health services, and is typically presented at the organization’s annual Mental Health Matters event.