John Mitty Thursday, December 6, 2012 |
Peconic Landing honored by LeadingAge New York
Innovation of the Year Award presented for Community Connection program established to improve quality of life for those who live and work in region
GREENPORT, N.Y. –– LeadingAge New York – a premier organization dedicated to creating the future of aging and continuing care services in New York state – recently presented the 2012 Innovation of the Year Award to Peconic Landing for its social accountability program, Community Connection.
Presenting to the lifecare community, Kristen Myers, LeadingAge New York senior director of member services, said, “The goal of this initiative is to be applauded for two fundamental reasons: it recognizes that non-profits have a role in effecting change within the greater community and that, as a society, our older citizens have a wealth of knowledge and are an amazing resource, not only for guiding future generations but for building a better society. Community Connection is designed with the recognition that together we have more – more resources, more knowledge and more time – the biggest commodity in today’s multi-tasking world.”
Community Connection integrates categories of stakeholders for a common goal: to improve the quality of life for those who live and work in the region, including Peconic Landing’s own employees. In 2011, 117 programs were offered and 7,341 people served in its six areas of partnerships: school/education, arts and culture, business, healthcare, community enrichment and charitable giving.
“This award is truly a testament to all those whose creativity, vision and hard work make Community Connection a success,” said Robert J. Syron, Peconic Landing president and CEO. “Working in concert with other organizations with shared missions and goals, we are able to develop programs that were previously not available in the community or were financially prohibitive for a single organization to offer, such as ballroom dancing, African drumming and music appreciation. Through this integrated approach of partnerships, we’re able to function on a minimal budget and utilize existing staff and resources.”
A sampling of Community Connection activities includes job shadowing, mentor programs and scholarships for area high school seniors; and concerts, plays, lectures, juried sculpture shows and the routine simulcasting of events direct from New York City’s 92nd Street Y, all open to the public.
Peconic Landing’s May Mile and 5K Race has raised more than $125,000 for the local fire department over the past five years. The business community also joined together in 2011 to thank active military and veterans for their service by making donations and hosting a wedding free of charge to a deserving military couple at historic Brecknock Hall.
Peconic Landing jointly and individually hosts community health initiatives and health education forums, and supports fund drives and community-wide strategic planning efforts to encourage healthy living and access to quality care. It also offers opportunities for local residents as well as Peconic Landing residents and staff to enrich their physical, emotional, occupational and recreational lives through a wide variety of classes ranging from professional development, college financial aid, photography and jewelry making to aerobics, pilates and sessions with a personal trainer.
Charitable giving spans the entire organization and includes not only monetary donations but the giving of a most valuable asset: staff and management’s time volunteering with not-for-profit organizations. Peconic Landing hosts fundraisers for local charities; sponsors toy, clothing and food drives; provides meeting space for local not-for-profit organizations at no charge, and has supported a local food pantry with food donations on a weekly basis.
For more information about Peconic Landing and all of the partnerships and programs for which it has become so well known, please visit www.PeconicLanding.org.
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