News
April 26, 2017Mike Rosch honored as 2017 CSSC Volunteer of the Year!
Colonie Senior Service Centers, Inc. (CSSC) honored over 230 volunteers for their hard work and dedication. For the 24th Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner, CSSC honored those volunteers who went above and beyond to help serve the largest population of seniors in the Capital Region.
CSSC was honored to present the 2017 Mildred Best Willey Volunteer of the Year Award to Michael Rosch for his tireless dedication to helping seniors stay independent in their own homes over many years.
Mike has been an Umbrella of Colonie handyman since 2011 and when CSSC created the Tool Box, Mike was one of the first volunteers to help setup the shop and also continue to run it in the years since opening.
Mike is a lifelong resident of the Capital Region. He grew up in the City of Albany and went to Vincentian High School. He later attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture. After his studies, Mike served three tours in the U.S. Navy Seabees as a construction battalion. Upon his return he began working for his family business, Rosch Brothers, Inc., with his grandfather and brother where he worked for 24 years, climbing the ladder from Project Manager to President. Mike later filled the role as the Town of Colonie’s Building Department Director.
According to Mike, “I love helping the seniors with their homes. It is gratifying knowing that I am fulfilling a need to help seniors remain in their own homes and volunteering my time in a program that goes back to help those seniors.”
In 2012, Mike won the “Attitude of Gratitude” award for Umbrella of Colonie. He also volunteered at St. Francis (Christ Our Light) with his wife to help run the religious family program.
Also honored at the event was another of CSSC’s most influential volunteers, Kathleen LeRoux, Rookie Volunteer of the Year. Kathy currently helps CSSC with administrative duties when staff are out of the office. She also helped CSSC serve at the Veteran’s Luncheon and at the Warmth of Wine. She has also logged over 100 hours volunteering at Albany International Airport as an RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) volunteer.
For 36 years, Kathy worked at the State University of New York at Albany as a Secretary in the Student Affairs Office. After this, she held a position at Macy’s as the night supervisor and later was the front desk receptionist at St. Peter’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
“Volunteers are critical to our organization,” said Ed Neary, Executive Director of CSSC. “We hold events like this because many of our programs rely heavily on their help and our volunteers deserve to be recognized.”
Over the past year, CSSC volunteers have given over 20,000 hours assisting seniors in programs for dining, companionship, transportation, health and wellness, and much more.
Also honored at the event was Irma Willie, Lou Dobek Volunteer of the Year Award and Barbara Oliver, Beltrone Living Center Volunteer of the year, along with Senior Volunteer Stars from the seven senior clubs in the Town of Colonie and one honoree for the Town of Colonie Senior Resources Department: Alice Plante and Delores Willey, Christ Our Light Seniors, Helen McCumber, Colonie Senior Citizens Club, Inc., Rose Bland, Hart Social Center, Inc., Nancy Dicerbo, Lisha Kill Senior Citizens Club, Inc., Carmela Bowers, Thunder Road Seniors, Nancy Dimoro, Towers of Colonie Silver Streakers and Carolyn Chabot, Town of Colonie Senior Resources Department.
Colonie Senior Service Centers, Inc. is an independent, community based not-for-profit serving the largest population of seniors in the Capital Region.
