2023 Non-Profit Executive Leader of The Year Award

Presented to: Mary Robinson, CEO Habitat for Humanity of New York State

 

This award recognizes an Executive of a Non-Profit organization who exemplifies the knowledge, skills and leadership necessary for effective non-profit management.

 

Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope. As a state support organization, Habitat for Humanity of New York State shares that mission by creating resources, providing assistance, and developing tools for New York State’s habitat affiliates.

 

Habitat for Humanity, with Mary Robinson in her role as CEO, has expanded state and federal grants which did not compete with funding for local Habitat affiliates. She has also led the development of a salesforce portal which increased efficiency in administering those grants.

 

Out of all her accomplishments with Habitat for Humanity, Mary is most proud of advancing Habitat’s advocacy position in the state, which helped the organization realize the only way to gain headway on affordable housing is through coalition and policy changes,

 

During her six-year tenure, Habitat for Humanity of New York State has built, rehabilitated, and repaired over 900 homes for families and has trained over 200 Habitat staff and volunteers annually.

 

Habitat for Humanity has worked tirelessly to give low-income families across New York State better opportunities and create a legacy for generations to come.

 

2023 Community Advocate of The Year Award

Presented to: The Johnson City Rotary Club Carousel Day

Accepted by: Susan Paredez, Coordinator of Carousel Day

 

This Award is given in recognition of a grass-roots organization, event, or festival that has made an extraordinary contribution to the improvement and/or enrichment of the neighborhood that it serves within the Greater Binghamton community.

 

The Johnson City Rotary’s mission “service above self” was established in 1927. Carousel Day was initiated by the Johnson City Partners Organization in 2009 to commemorate the local history with carousels with the goal of showcasing the Johnson City community.

 

In 2017, as membership decreased and the event grew, the Johnson City Partners decided they needed the Johnson City Rotary take over Carousel Day.

 

Carousel Day is a day of fun and entertainment for people of all ages. It also serves to showcase the community agencies which provide much-needed services to the people of the Johnson City area.

 

Carousel Day has instilled a renewed sense of community in the Johnson City area, helping to make the village a better place for people to live.

 

2023 Corporate Citizen of The Year Award

Presented to: Sam A. Lupo & Sons Inc.

Accepted by:Sam Lupo, President; Steve Lupo, Vice-President; and Eliott Lupo, Jr. Vice-President

 

This award recognizes a company that has made significant contributions and commitments to the greater Binghamton area through active involvement with events and community organizations.

 

Since 1951, Lupo’s has been providing quality food for our area and beyond. Today, Lupo’s is a USDA inspected meat plant, specializing in spiedies and sausages; their bottling plant produces eight different types of marinade and their mail order division ships throughout the continental United States. Their unfailing commitment to and involvement in the community was honored at the Thanksgiving Luncheon. Their philanthropic commitment has touched a tremendous number of non-profit organizations throughout the years.

A few notable examples of their generosity are, donating Lupo’s marinade bottles to organizations to use in fundraisers, and their annual donations of spiedies to lunches for the YMCA and Make-a-Wish Foundation Golf Tournaments.

 

In 2020, when Lupo’s moved into their new USDA plant on Dickson Street, Endicott they honored the community by donating $2,000 to both Catholic Charities and the Broome County Council of Churches.

 

Through their Rumble Ponies’ jersey raffles, Lupo’s also raises thousands of dollars in donations for organizations such as Mom’s House, Gigi’s Playhouse, Voices Recovery Center, and more.

 

Sam A. Lupo & Sons continuous support of the community and nonprofits has helped the area grow as a whole. The events listed above are just a fraction of what Lupo’s has done to better the community.