Approximately 550 people gathered at the Barn at Villa Venezia in the Town of Wallkill for the Orange County Partnership’s 35th Annual Event on Dec. 7.
The 2021 Annual Event was highlighted by the presentation of the Partnership’s 2021 Awards that included:
Spirit of Innovation Award
Ted Doering
Umbra of Newburgh
Quality of Life Award
Joan Cusack-McGuirk
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital
&
Scott Batulis
Garnet Health Medical Center
The program also featured the annual award from the Alliance for Balanced Growth.
Golden Shovel Award
Medline Industries, LP
Other highlights of the evening included a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by Kaitlynn and Michael Lancellotti; welcome remarks by Orange County Partnership President and CEO Maureen Halahan; the Chairman’s address by Partnership Chair Michael Gilfeather and an upbeat and light-hearted update on the current Orange County economy by Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus.
The Partnership also held a moment of silence to acknowledge the recent passing of former Orange County Partnership Chairman Woody Levitan and longtime Orange County Chamber of Commerce President John D’Ambrosio.
The event also paid tribute to retiring Pattern for Progress CEO Jonathan Drapkin and Elisabeth Mansfield, owner Mansfield Commercial Real Estate for their many contributions to Orange County and the Hudson Valley.
The program also set aside time for the “Build A Home For Sky” campaign that seeks donations for Sky Mendoza whose life changed forever on Nov. 17, 2018 when she suffered injuries in a serious car accident at the age of 17. The city of Middletown recently donated a 0.15-acre parcel of land to a trust set up for Sky in order to build a wheelchair-accessible home for the stage 4 paraplegic. Sky currently shares a small apartment in Middletown with her father and brother. To donate online please go to www.gofundme.com/c8evrs-bring-sky-home.
