Pictured with each award recipient are Jennifer Carbone Zuccaro, MD – President Utica Advisory Board of Directors (black dress) and Dick Mattia, Executive Director American Heart Association (dark suit, red tie). Award winners pictured from top are Patricia Roach, Benjamin Poplaski, Ronald Cuccaro and Helen Robinson.
(Utica, NY – Sept. 2013) The Greater Utica Division of the American Heart Association honored 62 individuals and organizations at its annual Leadership Volunteer Awards Ceremony Sept. 17. All of the award recipients played a crucial role in helping the American Heart Association improve the health of the Mohawk Valley community.
Some of the top awards include the Distinguished Service Award, given to Helen Robinson, and the Distinguished Leadership Award, given to Ronald Cuccaro. Robinson was honored for her work with the Kids Walk event, including her design of the heart obstacle course. Cuccaro was recognized for his service on the Greater Utica Area Advisory Board of Directors, including serving as the Chairman of the Volunteer Leadership Committee.
The Heart Survivor of the Year was also honored during the ceremony. Benjamin Poplaski was diagnosed with a heart condition at the age of 3 and had open heart surgery in June of 2012.
The American Heart Association is also proud to honor Volunteer of the Year Patricia Roach. Roach is a member of the Greater Utica Area Advisory Board of Directors, as well as the Go Red For Women Committee. She was also the lead coordinator for the Campaign for Quality, which educates more than 400 healthcare providers from 30 different hospitals.
“Without our volunteers, the work the American Heart Association does in our community would not be possible,” said Executive Director Dick Mattia. “We want to sincerely thank all of our volunteers for the hard work they do all year round.”