Nominations are Open for the Good Neighbor Awards!

Goddard Riverside’s Good Neighbor Awards are now accepting nominations through May 9.

The awards celebrate volunteers who are helping build a better community on the Upper West Side, Harlem, East Harlem, or Yorkville.

Submit an online nomination today—it’s quick and easy! The link is https://goddard.org/goodneighborawards/.

A committee of past winners and longtime volunteers will choose this year’s honorees, who will be recognized at a festive event in June.

Last year’s honorees are:

Geraldine “Gerri” Collins for her many years of work on housing issues. Gerri shows her leadership and passion as President of the National Alliance of HUD Tenants, a member of the National Low Income Housing Coalition board, and president of our own Phelps House Tenant Association.
Jameka Collins for her work as a parent leader on the Citywide Council for District 75 (CCD7S), made up of schools throughout New York City that teach students with special needs, and volunteer contributions at the Susan G. Komen Annual Breast Cancer Awareness event and the Uptown Grand Central Party on the Park Street Resource Fair.
Johnny Grima for connecting people experiencing homelessness with Goddard’s Homeless Outreach staff advocating for more housing for New Yorkers. As a former outreach client, Johnny understands what it’s like to be homeless and has tirelessly protested the mistreatment of unhoused people.
Valerie Padilla for creating the online Valerie Padilla Women’s Empowerment Group in 2018 “based on a dream from her grandmother,” which has now grown to five thousand members who serve communities and strengthen families.
Rob Sweren for his many years of volunteer work and leadership on the Goddard Riverside Holiday Meals committee and all the work he has done to support Goddard Riverside and the communities it serves for over 17 years.
Assembly Member Daniel J. O’Donnell for over twenty years of leadership representing our community in the New York State Assembly. O’Donnell has been a key force behind major legislative accomplishments, including Marriage Equality and the Dignity for All Students Act. He has also supported our work at Goddard Riverside.