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Trust Company honored four individuals and two local non-profit organizations with 'Awards for Excellence' for their outstanding volunteer service to the community. Six thousand dollars was donated to local charitable organizations from the bank’s endowment fund through the Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County. The honorees each designated their $1,000 award to not-for-profit organizations of their choice.

This year’s individual honorees are Rick Grossman of Ithaca, Mary Camobreco of Trumansburg, Juanita Teeter of Ithaca, and Thomas Baldwin of Ithaca. The group honorees are the combined efforts of the 2-1-1 Tompkins/Cortland Help-line Volunteers and the Cornell Retirees Volunteering in Schools.

Tompkins Trust Company President/CEO Gregory J. Hartz presented the awards at a reception at the bank’s main office on Monday (May 19). “The Trust Company, through the Legacy Foundation, is proud to honor and support the work of this year’s recipients,” said Hartz. “Their contributions continue to have a positive impact in our community and demonstrate the mission of the Foundation by improving the quality of life for so many here.”

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. The endowment is administered by the Legacy Foundation, a local not-for-profit trust.  The vision of the Legacy Foundation, which began in 1945, is a commitment 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 234 individuals or groups with awards totaling more than $326,000.  During this year’s presentation Greg Hartz announced that the program will be renamed the James J. Byrnes Award for Excellence in honor of the long time lead of Tompkins Trust Company and Tompkins Financial Corporation, Jim Byrnes.

A capsule look at this year’s recipients:

• Rick Grossman, for his commitment to the College Discovery Program of the Ithaca Youth Bureau.
• Mary Camobreco, for her dedication and volunteer efforts to Birthright of Ithaca.
• Juanita Teeter, for her continued efforts volunteering at Foodnet’s congregate dinning room located at Titus Towers.
• Thomas Baldwin, for his commitment to the Finger Lakes ReUse and work he has completed at their e-center.
• 2-1-1 Community Service Help-line Volunteers, for their outstanding efforts, and continued enthusiasm to the Human Services Coalition’s Help-line program.
• Cornell Retirees Volunteering in Schools, for their commitment to enhancing the education of our community’s children.

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