News

May 1, 2025:

United Way of the Southern Tier celebrated the best in our community at its annual dinner, held Thursday, May 1, at the Corning Museum of Glass.

Hillary J. Austin, Elmira City School District superintendent, was honored with the James B. Flaws Lasting Legacy Award.

The award is presented for demonstration of the full embodiment of United Way’s call to action through Giving, Advocating, and Volunteerism, and further recognizes those who demonstrate vision, courage and commitment to leading community-level change.

Also at the dinner, United Way presented its Give, Advocate, and Volunteer awards to the following:

• GIVE: Tom & Lisa Capek and the Capek Family Foundation
  Tom and Lisa Capek have been generous supporters of United Way of the Southern Tier’s Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library since its inception in 2018. Their philanthropy has helped instill a love of literacy in children throughout the region and is preparing the next generation for success in school and beyond.   

• ADVOCATE: Georgia Landon  
  Georgia Landon was honored with the Advocate award for her tireless work following the devastating flash flood in the Canisteo Valley in August 2024. As an intake coordinator at Arbor Housing & Development, she championed the needs of more than 170 families, helping them find the financial help they needed to begin to recover from the disaster.  

• VOLUNTEER: Troy Preston & Corning Christ Episcopal Church
  The Rev. Troy Preston and his congregation at Christ Episcopal Church in Corning received the Volunteer award for their support of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The Rev. Preston and his caring team have been instrumental in spreading the word about this free book program for all children under age 5 in Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben and Yates counties.

United Way is grateful to our 2025 dinner sponsors, including: Kennedy Valve, The Hilliard Corporation, Corning Incorporated Emerging Innovations Group, Corning Credit Union, Chemung Canal Trust Company, Socha Financial Group, IBEW Local 139, Gough Holding Corporation, Angela and Tymon Daniels, Hale Roofing Inc., First Heritage Federal Credit Union, John G. Ullman & Associates, and MMB + CO.

For more information, please contact United Way Director of Donor Experience Lois Wilson by email or at 607-377-5834.