Each year, Starbridge honors people and organizations creating positive change in the lives of individuals with disabilities in the Finger Lakes region.
Our annual awards recognize Community Champions who embody the values of advocacy, inclusion, innovation, and respect. Champions may be activists, advocates, educators, employers, human service professionals, or students.
Champions show leadership and courage in making a difference. Together we transform communities to include everyone – all abilities, races, ethnicities, gender identities, national origin, and other identity groups.
Congratulations to our 2022 Community Champions!
Top row (left to right):
Antwan Williams, Director of Youth System Services at RochesterWorks!
Elisa DeJesus, Director of Health Literacy & Language Services at Ibero-American Action League
Brennon Thompson, Analyst for Fair Housing Policy & Programs at the National Association of REALTORS®
Bottom row:
The team from The Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) at the University of Rochester
Historical Listing of Award Recipients
2021
| Award |
Recipient |
|
Community Champion
|
Sheen & Shine |
|
Community Champion
|
Michaels - Greece Ridge
|
|
Community Champion
|
Rochester General Hospital's Volunteer and Guest Services Office
|
2020
| Award |
Recipient |
|
Advocacy
|
Sara Walworth
Mary Cariola Children's Center
|
|
Inclusion
|
Kateri Warren
Director, Pupil Personnel Services
Bloomfield Central School District
|
|
Rising Star
|
Ashley Todd
Fairport Central School District |
|
Outstanding Community Partner
|
James Grossman
|
2019
| Award |
Recipient |
|
Advocacy
|
Colleen Brind'Amour
City of Rochester Project SEARCH®
|
|
Inclusion
|
Dr. Katrina Arndt
St. John Fisher College
|
|
Rising Star
|
Jaymie Eden
People, Inc. |
|
Outstanding Community Partner
|
Stephen G. Schwarz, Esq.
|
2018
| Award |
Recipient |
|
Advocacy
|
Jeiri Flores
Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities |
|
Advocacy
|
Navlette James
Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Services Office |
|
Inclusion
|
Kathy Lee
Mary Cariola Children's Center |
|
Rising Star
|
Ashley Donlon |
|
Outstanding Community Partner
|
David DeGraff & Sharon Pluta-DeGraff |
2017
| Award |
Recipient |
|
Community Impact
|
Michael Doherty
|
|
Education
|
Gaie Sarley Goodness
|
|
Founders
|
Lawana Jones
The Autism Concil
|
|
Outstanding Community Partner - Individual
|
George Gray
|
|
Outstanding Community Partner - Corporate
|
Wegmans Food Markets
|
|
Self Advocacy
|
Jensen Caraballo
|
|
Youth
|
Sapna Ramesh
|
2015
| Award |
Recipient |
|
Community Impact
|
Sarah Jane Clifford
Gymnastics Training Center of Rochester
|
|
Education
|
Stephanie Scism
Monroe #1 BOCES
|
|
Founders
|
Patricia Muir |
|
Outstanding Community Partner
|
Adam Anolik
|
|
Self Advocacy
|
Julie Whittemore
|
|
Youth
|
Jack Milko
|
2014
| Award |
Recipient |
|
Community Impact
|
Mariellen Cupini
Stepping Stones Learning Center
|
|
Education
|
Michael Hohman
Rush-Henrietta School District
|
|
Founders
|
Rich & Deb Vanderpool |
|
Outstanding Community Partner
|
Walter Parkes
O'Connell Electric
|
|
Self Advocacy
|
James Britt
|
|
Youth
|
Curtis John "CJ" Clemont
|
2013
| Award |
Recipient |
|
Community Impact
|
Joseph Barry
Greece Central School District
|
|
Corporate Support
|
AT&T |
|
Education
|
Brandin C. Jones
Rochester City School District
|
|
Founders
|
Wendy Watkins
AIM Independent Living Center
|
|
Outstanding Community Partner
|
Don Alhart
|
|
Self Advocacy
|
Donald Chrisman
|
|
Youth
|
Sarah McLaen
|
2012
| Award |
Recipient |
|
Barbara Bryson
|
Jeanne Ricigliano
Monroe #1 BOCES
|
|
Community Impact
|
Seneca Park Zoo
|
|
Community Inclusion
|
Jan Whitaker
Cape Ability Outrigger Ohana
|
|
Corporate Support
|
Beth Platt & Associates, Inc.
|
|
Education
|
Jackie Bartell
Monroe #1 BOCES
|
|
Founders Award
|
Tricia Brown
|
| Outstanding Community Partner |
William "Bill" Napier |
|
Self Advocacy
|
Brady Dean
|
|
Student
|
Kelsey O'Sullivan
|
2011
| Award |
Recipient |
|
Barbara Bryson
|
Jutta Pearl
Livingston-Wyoming ARC
|
|
Community Impact
|
Scott Sargeant, Manager
Starbucks Coffee, Twelve Corners, Brighton
|
|
Community Inclusion
|
Diane Sturmer
Heritage Christian Services
|
|
Corporate Support
|
Faraci Lange Attorneys |
|
Education
|
John Campolieto
Roberts Wesleyan College
|
|
Jeanne Krautwurst Award for Family Advocacy
|
Laura Khederian
|
| Outstanding Community Partner |
James "Kip" Hale |
|
Self Advocacy
|
Keith Perlet |
|
Student
|
Joshua Fidler |
2010
| Award |
Recipient
|
|
Barbara Bryson
|
Carl Case |
|
Community Inclusion
|
Carolyn Salvatore
|
|
Corporate Support
|
KeyBank
|
|
Education
|
Marie Cianca
|
|
Jeanne Krautwurst Award for Family Advocacy
|
Ruth Whiting
|
|
Outstanding Community Partner
|
Helen Pluta |
|
Self Advocacy
|
Cheryl Vining
|
|
Student
|
Camille Enaharo
|
2009
| Award |
Recipient |
|
Barbara Bryson
|
Cheryl Englert
|
|
Community Inclusion
|
Ashley Manchester
|
|
Corporate Support
|
MVP Health Care |
|
Education
|
Susan Doyle
|
|
Jeanne Krautwurst Award for Family Advocacy
|
Brenda Hanson
|
|
Self Advocacy
|
James Ciurca
|
|
Student
|
Emily Johncox
|
2008
| Award |
Recipient |
|
Barbara Bryson
|
Julie Buick |
|
Community Inclusion
|
Janet Opila-Lehman |
|
Corporate Support
|
Wachovia Securities |
|
Education
|
Jeff Crane |
|
Jeanne Krautwurst Award for Family Advocacy
|
Stephanie Phelan-Davis |
|
Self Advocacy
|
Robert Terry |
|
Student
|
Brandon Vermeulen |
2007
|
Award
|
Recipient
|
|
Barbara Bryson
|
Joyce Simons
|
|
Community Impact
|
Anne Harvey
|
|
Corporate Inclusion
|
Wegmans Food Markets
|
|
Corporate Support
|
Fred & Floy Willmott Foundation
|
|
Education
|
Lisa Poinan
|
|
Self Advocacy
|
Maggie Arnold
|
|
Student
|
Jacob Kuebler
|