Good News Dinner
Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce
invites you to the
2011 Good News
Awards Dinner
Old Library Restaurant, Olean
May 12, 2011
6:00 PM Informal Reception
6:45 PM Dinner
Join us as we honor the individuals and organizations who
continue the tradition of “Good News” in our community
Jim Mahar, Community Award
Jen Mahar, Community Award
Maria Finlay Skrobacz, Youth Award
Peg Bothner, Unsung Hero
Dinner $26 • Patron Dinner $40 • Corporate Table of 8 $300
(Patrons and Corporate receive a listing in the dinner program.)
Dinner Menu:
Potato Crusted Tilapia and
Chicken Scallopini Marsala.
Please call (716) 372-4433 for
reservations by May 9th.
GOOD NEWS WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Four individuals have been named recipients of the 2011 Good News Awards given by Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce (GOACC). The awards honor those who enrich the community by their work and activities and will be presented at the annual Good News Award Ceremony scheduled for Thursday, May 12, at the Old Library Restaurant, 116 South Union Street, in Olean.
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Youth Award -- Maria Finlay Skrobacz
Maria Finlay Skrobacz is a junior at Olean High School and will receive the Good News Youth Award.
Community service includes volunteer work with the Gus Macker Tourney, Special Olympics, Geneseo Rehabilitation Facility, St. Mary of the Angels Parish Festival, St. Joseph’s Maharajan, and the Olean Bradford YMCA Corn Festival. One of Maria’s biggest community projects is the National Souper Bowl of Caring. She took over her older sister Annie’s food/fundraising tradition over the past two years and organized a canned goods drive around the Super Bowl.
Extracurricular activates include Hugh O’Brian Leadership Conference participant, Institute for Human Rights and Genocide Studies participant, Model United Nations’ Club, OHS Principal Advisory Council, Interact Club, and National Girls & Women in Sports’ Day participant.
Academic studies is also a priority of Maria’s – she has made honor roll all quarters of her high school career to date and has been awarded the NYS Scholar Athlete for swimming and basketball seasons.
Maria has also received awards from WGRZ-TV Teen of the Week, Kohl’s Kids Who Care, Cattaraugus County Penguin, Harold Dutton Student of the Month, and Global Studies Outstanding Achievement.
Her future goals are to attend college after graduating from Olean High in 2012.
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Unsung Hero -- Peg Bothner
Mrs. Peg Bothner will receive the Unsung Hero – an individual recognized for ‘outstanding but behind the scenes’ service in a segment of our community. The Pines Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center nominated Peg. She comes to their facility once or twice a month and does an activity with the residents. One resident is chosen to have their portrait done in shades of charcoal. Residents gather with soft music playing to watch Peg’s sketch unfold. The facility maintenance staff makes the frames for the sketches but Peg donates all other materials and time.
The most recent portrait is displayed in the lobby of the facility with a historical background of the resident. Copies are made for the residents/families and the facility atrium area displays 12 portraits at a time as an ongoing exhibit.
Peg makes them feel very special with compliments given to all her subjects. Families are so touched by the portraits that they are often on display at the person’s wake. Peg was inspired to do this act of kindness as a thank you to the facility that cared for her mother, Frances O’Malley, who lived to be 104. When Frances passed away in 2004, Peg decided this would be a fitting gesture of appreciation.
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Community Award – Jen Mahar and Jim Mahar
BonaResponds was formed in the weeks after Hurricane Katrina. Its purpose is to help others through volunteering. Their original mission was the Gulf, but very quickly it became apparent that there are many others who also need help. Hence, the idea grew that they would not only respond to Katrina, but to disasters and other smaller events whenever we could. This was first laid out in a "good bye" address at Handson Gulf Coast that happened to be captured on film by PBS's the NewsHour. From this small idea has grown one of the most energetic and exciting college led groups in recent memory? Jen and Jim Mahar have been the driving force behind BonaResponds. They will each receive the Good News Community Award for all that they do for our community and the world!
In addition to the aftermath of Katrina, they have responded to disasters in Buffalo NY and Enterprise Alabama and in each were on the ground within 2 days. They shoveled snow in Olean NY after an 18 inch storm, and have had had numerous local service days where they have done everything from building classrooms, to painting high schools, to building trails, helping paint at the Olean General Hospital, Allegany State Park, SPCA, Olean Historical Society, St. Elizabeth's Motherhouse, on campus, the Olean Parks System, and the Olean Theater Workshop.
Some core principles behind BonaResponds: BonaResponds aims to help make things better. They may not make it perfect but they can make it better! Whether the help is "just" being there immediately after a disaster to listen to survivors or if it means to haul trees, gut houses, and pick up debris. Or maybe helping means painting, landscaping, or even roofing. The goal is to make the world a little better. BonaResponds is open to all. From students to staff, from faculty to friends, from friars to sisters, to alumni to community members! They try to find work that all can do.
The main reason for BonaResponds' existence is to provide services to those in need. But they do this in the context of having fun. Let's face it, they are volunteering. They want you to continue to do so. At some level it has to be fun. So be prepared to have fun and work hard at the same time.
Tickets for the event are $26.00 and will include the menu of potato crusted tilapia and chicken scaloppini marsalla. An informal reception will start at 6:00 PM, with the dinner slated for 6:45 PM. Patron dinner tickets for $40 and corporate tables of eight for $300 are also available to reserve. Patrons and Corporates receive a listing in the dinner program. Please call Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce at 372-4433 or email tourism@oleanny.com for reservations by May 6th or more information on the dinner.
GOACC
| Past Good News Winners |