Archive: Around Town

Tompkins Trust Company honored two local non-profit organizations and six individuals with 'Awards for Excellence' for their outstanding volunteer service to the community.

A total of $12,000 was donated to local charitable organizations from the bank's endowment fund through the Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County. The honorees each designated their $1,500 award to not-for-profit organizations of their choice.

This year's group honorees are the Volunteer Mediators of the Community Dispute Resolution Center and The Ink Shop, both in Ithaca.  The individual honorees are Marg Albern of McLean, Holly Hollingsworth of Brooktondale, Ed LaVigne of Lansing, Diane Miller of Dryden, Karen Powers of Trumansburg, and Keith Randolph of Groton.

Tompkins Trust Company President/CEO Gregory J. Hartz, current  president of the Legacy Foundation, presented the awards at a reception at the bank's main office on May 23.

"The time and talent that these groups and individuals unselfishly invest in their respective communities is invaluable," said Hartz. "The Trust Company and the Legacy Foundation are honored to have this opportunity to officially thank them for making Tompkins County a special place to live and work."


The Awards for Excellence program was established during the bank's Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1986 as a means of sharing its success with community members who have helped to enrich the quality of life in Tompkins County.  This year's group of winners was honored as part of the bank's 175th birthday celebration.

The endowment is administered by the Legacy Foundation, a not-for-profit trust formerly known as the Tompkins County Foundation.  The vision of the Legacy Foundation, which began in 1945, is a commitment to “to improving the quality of life in Tompkins County for those who come after us."

Since 1986, the Awards for Excellence program has recognized more than 213 individuals or groups with awards totaling more than $296,000.


A capsule look at this year's recipients:

• Volunteer Mediators of the Community Dispute Resolution Center, for enabling the agency to offer interpersonal mediation services at no cost.
• The Ink Shop, for its board and volunteers donating thousands of hours to artistic endeavors in the Ithaca area, i.e. organizing a series of workshops on printmaking and organizing “Gallery Night,” on behalf of the Community Arts Partnership.
• Marg Albern, for her volunteer efforts in McLean.  She started “Calling All Teens,” where she supervises teens on field trips and helps them with their homework.
• Holly Hollingsworth, for his efforts on behalf of Veterans.  He chairs the DeWitt Park Restoration/Rededication Committee.
• Ed LaVigne, for his volunteer work on behalf of the Lansing community.  Ed was the organizer and project leader for the North Log Cabin, Myers Park Playground and the Lansing Harbor Festival.
• Diane Miller, for her fund-raising efforts on behalf of The Dream Factory.
• Karen Powers, for her volunteer work for the Family Reading Partnership
• Keith Randolph, for his volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland counties.

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