2009 Jefferson Award Medalists
JEFFERSON AWARDS FETE VOLUNTEERS
Ceremony tonight honors 14 local people who give their time to help others.
The 14 local people nominated for Jefferson Awards that honor community and public service will be feted tonight at Century House Restaurant in Latham.
The awards, which began in 1972, are a call to action for volunteers. Each year, St. Peter's Health Care Services, NewsChannel 13 and the Times Union recognize the Capital Region nominees.
Following are the six chosen as finalists. One of them will be announced at tonight's reception as the Capital Region's representative at a national awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., in June.
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Cha Cha
Cha Cha of Rensselaer completed the English as a Second Language curriculum in a record two years at Rensselaer High School. A respected young member of the Burmese community, Cha Cha now works with ESL students at her high school. She also volunteers at the Refugee Center in Menands where she instructs adults and children in English and helps Burmese people learn about the services available to them. |
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Kenneth Colloton
Colloton of East Greenbush is chairman and chief volunteer officer of the YMCA of the USA. He is also on the executive committee of the World Alliance of YMCA in Geneva, Switzerland. He welcomed 450 American youth at an International YMCA event in Prague, Czech Republic. |
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Robert Curley
Curley of Slingerlands has volunteered for decades with educational and charitable organizations. At Wildwood, he worked on the recent Capital campaign setting up meetings, presentations and proposals with potential donors. Curley has introduced young business people to the concepts of philanthropy and community involvement. |
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J. David Mahoney
Mahoney of East Greenbush developed an advertising program that raises $10,000 a year to support the East Greenbush Little League. Mahoney was instrumental in a fundraising program to help build Burke's Field of Dreams, which is scheduled to open in May. He has also raised thousands of dollars for services for senior citizens, people with HIV/AIDS, the U.S. military and domestic violence victims. |
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Dr. Robert Paeglow
"Dr. Bob" works daily to treat the physical and emotional needs of the indigent and uninsured in Albany. He mentors medical school students, teaching them compassion, humility and the true meaning of health care. On mission trips to Africa, he has established clinics and taught medical students how to do the same. |
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The Rev. Peter Young
The Rev. Peter Young
Father Young of Albany has dedicated his life to those struggling with addiction, to the homeless and to the less fortunate members of society. From his parish at St. John's in Albany, he started a soup kitchen and shelter. He later founded a statewide Council on Alcoholism as a voice for public policy. Over the past 50 years Peter Young Housing Industries and Treatment has grown to more than 70 locations. |
Jane DeMartino
A story in Sunday's paper about the nominees omitted one of them, Jane DeMartino of Niskayuna. Here is an account of her accomplishments.
DeMartino has opened her heart and home to people and animals in need. For the past nine years, she has operated a safe haven for animals that would have been dead were it not for her caring. And to assist her in her work with "Caring About the Strays" (CATS), she has welcomed as volunteers young people and adults with disabilities. In doing so, she has helped them learn how to give and receive love through the care of injured, abused and frightened animals. In the process, children with autism have communicated for the first time, and adults who rarely ever smiled have learned how to laugh.
In 2004, she received the American Red Cross Hometown Heroes Award for pet rescue. DeMartino carries on her mission every day although she is a paraplegic as a result of injuries she suffered in a 1972 plane crash. |
Compiled by Betsy Feldstein, Adrienne Freeman, Azra Haqqie and Jennifer Patterson
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