United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region announces 2020 Kindness Champion finalists
Poughkeepsie. The 14 finalists have been notified and the community will choose the Kindness Champion by voting for their choice through Sept. 28
| 16 Sep 2020 | 11:37
Susan Armistead, pictured here with her husband Kevin, is one of the 14 people nominated for the Dutchess-Orange Region’s 2020 Kindness Champion award. In the past four years, Sue’s leadership has lead to more than $70,000 in donations through the $5 Goshen Generosity Challenge.
United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region will reveal the 2020 Kindness Champion during its Virtual Community Breakfast on Wednesday, Sept. 30 (8 to 9 a.m. www.uwdor.org/breakfast2020).
The 14 finalists have been notified and the community will choose the the Kindness Champion by voting for their choice through 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28 (www.uwdor.org/kindness).
“We are so pleased to recognize the amazing acts of kindness by so many members of our community,” said Jeannie Montano, President & CEO, United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region. “It was incredibly difficult to narrow the nominees to just 14 finalists. We look forward to seeing who our community chooses as the champion, but know that each of the nominees and finalists are champions of kindness.”
The finalists range from a young student in the Newburgh Enlarged School District (Michael Galm) to a woman in her 80s who continues to volunteer (Irene Decker).
Many were nominated for acts of kindness during the COVID-19 crisis that range from helping feed community members and first responders (Dana Collins, Tara Shafer) to providing compassionate care in hospital settings (Joan Cusack-McGuirk, Lisa and Gabby Hodges).
Others received their nominations for their ongoing compassionate work in the community (Simone Berry, Jo Ann Brown, Cynthia James, Brian Riddell, Sarah Weikel) as well as being volunteer superstars for their community causes (Susan Armistead, Amanda Friedemann, Amanda Pecorella).
To find out more and vote for each of these finalists, go to www.uwdor.org/kindness and click on their individual page.