Wassaic Project wins award from Hudson River Housing

POUGHKEEPSIE — The Wassaic Project was selected as one of five honorees to receive a Community Builder Award from Hudson River Housing during the organization’s annual Evening by the FallKill event on Friday, May 10. 

Intended as a celebration with partners and supporters working to instill positive change in the Hudson Valley, the theme of this year’s event focused on Poughkeepsie’s growing #poughtential.

“We focused on honoring individuals or organizations who show a real commitment to improving life in communities through their work,” said Hudson River Housing Director of Strategic Initiatives Elizabeth Druback-Celaya. “That is Hudson River Housing’s mission, and we can’t do it alone.”

Each year, Druback-Celaya said Hudson River Housing selects a handful of local individuals and organizations that share that commitment to improving lives and communities.

“We are certainly blessed to have a network of people all across the region that share and work with us,” she said.

In addition to The Wassaic Project and Wassaic Community Development Partners, this year’s honorees included Tommy Zuhellen, Community Matters 2, the East Fishkill Community Stitchers and Poughkeepsie residents Mary and Harvey Flad. As a unique way of recognizing the recipients, individuals from Upcycle — Hudson River Housing’s training program to help individuals who have experienced homelessness and unemployment by training them in the fields of art production and retail — fashioned this year’s awards out of pieces of slate roof tiles.

“We are humbled to be honored by Hudson River Housing and grateful to be in the company of so many other dedicated community organizers,” said Wassaic Project Co-Executive Director Jeff Barnett-Zunino in response to The Wassaic Project’s recognition as a community builder.

The Evening by the FallKill was held in the newly restored historical Poughkeepsie Trolley Barn. Live music was performed by Envyus Sound featuring the youth group, III Harmonic; the event also featured a dance performance by the Poughkeepsie City Ballet. Food and beverages were provided by members of the Poughkeepsie Open Kitchen.

All proceeds raised from Evening by the FallKill were directed to help sustain the work carried out by Hudson River Housing.