For Immediate Release:
May 27, 2010

For more information, contact:
Francine Patella Ryan
ESL Public Affairs Manager
fpatella@esl.org
585.336.1089 or 585.261.6220 (cell)

ESL Announces 2010 Jefferson Award Winners

Awards recognize individuals for commitment to community and public service

The 2010 ESL Jefferson Award Winners (l-r): David L. Fiedler, President and CEO, ESL Federal Credit Union; Virginia Molino, Peter VanPeursem, Claudia Amorese,Tom Simmons, and Reny Ninan

Rochester, New York... They are your neighbors, co-workers, friends and family - the ordinary people who do extraordinary things everyday that make a difference in the lives of others. They are the unsung heroes who shine brightly in our community.

This is the seventh year ESL and News 10NBC have teamed to recognize and honor the area's most committed volunteers with the prestigious ESL Jefferson Award for Public Service. These awards are intended to celebrate unsung heroes and their commitment to community and public service.

The winners of the 2010 ESL Jefferson Awards are:

Virginia Molino -	Virginia believes in the power of music to teach. This retired music teacher has combined academics, social skills and physical activity into a music program at the Hochstein School for special needs young adults. Virginia's five year devotion to the program continues with the hope of helping many more with special needs. "I think that many parents of special needs children often meet so many obstacles in getting services that they throw their hands up in despair. So I have become an advocate."
Peter VanPeursem -	Leadership, compassion, dedication and determination describe Peter as a person. And, they're also the reasons he started the Run for Hospice. Peter's mother died of cancer, but he was deeply touched by the care his mother received in hospice. "It's my race. I started it with my kids and it's all in memory of my mother so it's very personal to me." His 15-year commitment to honor is mother has raised nearly $350,000 for Visiting Nurse Service and continues to grow every year.
Claudia Amorese -	For 18 years, Claudia has volunteered more than 10,000 hours at Highland Hospital. "You feel like you have accomplished something when you go home. You've made somebody's day, somebody smile or somebody said thank you that you wouldn't have met before." Claudia writes the volunteer newsletter, created custom-designed puzzles and knits children’s mittens for the gift shop. So far, she has kept 3,400 little hands warm in our community.
Tom Simmons -	For many children with developmental disabilities, playing sports is out of the question. Tom is changing that. Twelve years ago, he started the Rochester Ice Cats, a hockey team geared towards children with special needs. When the program started, many of the players could not even skate. Now, they race each other across the ice. The Ice Cats play games and tournaments with teams throughout the northeast, but it's not about winning; it's celebrating the bigger goal. "When you walk away from a game you say to yourself, "If they can do that, I can do anything." And I would do anything for this program."
Reny Ninan -	Reny is a "software developer with a soft heart." Through his volunteer work at Children Awaiting Parents (CAP), Reny saw the desperate need to keep track of thousands of families and children. He brought CAP into the 21st Century by creating a computer software program to replace their outdated system. "I think I have a sense of social responsibility and that drove me to volunteer. I actually started quite late in life, and to be honest, I wish I had volunteered years ago."

Among these five recipients, Peter VanPeursem was chosen as the Greater Rochester regional honoree. Peter will be eligible to participate and receive a national award at an Awards Ceremony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., later this month.

"There are many unrecognized heroes in this community who unselfishly dedicate their time to helping others everyday," said David L. Fiedler, President and CEO, ESL Federal Credit Union. "We're looking to the Rochester community to nominate these dedicated individuals and to give them the recognition they deserve. We hope these awards will serve as an inspiration to others."

In 1972, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft, Jr., and Sam Beard, founder and Chairman of the National Development Council (NDC), initiated the American Institute for Public Service as a way to establish a "Nobel Prize" for public and community service - The Jefferson Awards.

Founded by George Eastman in 1920, ESL Federal Credit Union is a full-service financial institution with $3.9 billion in assets. ESL employs more than 600 people locally and has more than 300,000 members world-wide. Access to the credit union includes 20 branch locations and more than 42 ATM locations, a Tele-Banking Center, and Internet and online banking channels. The company is headquartered at 225 Chestnut Street, in Rochester, and can be found on the Internet at www.esl.org.