Volunteer Awards

United Way of the Greater Capital region, at its fall Annual Meeting, recognizes the achievements of several outstanding volunteers. Three annual awards distinguish three categories of extraordinary service to United Way and the community. Congratulations to this year's winners. 

LIVE UNITED Award

The LIVE UNITED Award is presented to a volunteer who not only understands what it means to LIVE UNITED, but demonstrates it every day. LIVE UNITED is not only a mission and a goal, but it is a call to action - to give, advocate and volunteer in order to improve the lives of everyone in the community. The recipient of this award leads by example, and the greater Capital Region is stronger and healthier thanks to his consistent efforts.

2009 Recipient: Michael MacClaury
Mike has volunteered with United Way for nine years as a grant reviewer and has served on a number of United Way committees. Most recently he has served as the Leadership Group chair and serves on the United Way of the Greater Capital Region’s Community Impact Committee. Over the past three years, Mike has also prepared taxes for low- to moderate-income households through United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program at one of our VITA sites in Schenectady. Mike gives tremendously of his time, not only to United Way of the Greater Capital Region but to other organizations in our community as well, including his neighborhood pool organization and to his congregation.Mike consistently shows that he LIVES UNITED by taking time to listen to other perspectives and by weighing them fairly and respectfully in relationship to the decision at hand. Mike also encourages best practices in the systems and processes by which United Way supports programs and individuals in the Capital Region. 

Community Impact Award

The Community Impact Award is presented to an organization or strategic partnership with United Way of the Greater Capital Region that works to create measurable, sustainable progress to improve lives and strengthen communities. United Way believes in the power of collective effort toward a common goal, and the Community Impact Award goes to organization that understands that, united, we can accomplish more than any single group could achieve on its own.

2009 Recipient: IRS Albany SPEC Office
SPEC stands for Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication. This is the local IRS office that works with United Way of the Greater Capital Region through the CA$H Coalition to return hard-earned tax dollars to working individuals and families. This is part of United Way’s strategy to help individuals and families achieve financial stability. The CA$H Coalition, led by United Way, consists of more than 60 community partners that direct an enormous annual effort to provide free tax preparation at more than 50 sites in the five counties served by United Way of the Greater Capital Region. The shared goal is to increase people’s financial stability by helping them receive the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax credits and savings.

Receiving the award on behalf of the IRS Albany SPEC Office was Joann Passineau, Senior Stakeholder Relationship Tax Consultant. Joann collaborates with United Way to provide technical support at all chapter meetings, at executive committee meetings and at tax preparation sites across the Capital Region. She has also helped reach out to populations who may be eligible for tax credits, and she oversees quality control at tax preparation sites so participants in this community program receive professional accurate tax returns. Joann is pictured here with Nancy Dingee, Director of Community Impact at United Way of the Greater Capital Region. 

Tom Curry Inspirational Leadership Award

The Tom Curry Inspirational Leadership Award honors the long-term commitment of energy and resources of an individual to United Way of the Greater Capital Region through inspirational leadership over the course of several years. The award recognizes an individual for reaching beyond his or her own organization to engage others in the work of United Way. It is named for Tom Curry, who worked for Albany International and arranged motivational campaign meetings and was an inspiration for many to increase their support for the campaign.

Tom lived in Saratoga Springs; he worked in Albany and Rensselaer counties; and he supported every facet of United Way’s work across the entire Capital Region. His regional vision continues to be an inspiration to us all. In fact it was his colleagues, who held Tom in such high regard, who asked United Way to create this award in his honor. Appropriately, and at the request of his co-workers, Tom Curry received the inaugural award. His contributions were so significant that we continue to attach his name to this honor. Tom currently lives in Florida.

2009 Recipient: Katharine Doran
Katharine has served with excellence and dedication in almost every facet of United Way’s work across the Capital Region. She has participated as a Community Investment volunteer; she pitched in during our annual community volunteering event – now called United in Action; she has been a campaign volunteer who speaks to CEOs about the value of United Way’s work; and – most significantly – Katharine’s leadership of the former United Way of Northeastern New York as Board Chair during the merger that created United Way of the Greater Capital Region was instrumental in making this transition successful. Katie currently serves as an Officer of the Board and her contributions are always significant, relevant and valuable. We are a stronger, more effective organization today because of Katharine’s work on behalf of United Way.