Five community organizations and employees of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. were honored this month at the utility’s 23rd annual Community Service Award event. “Central Hudson employees volunteer in hundreds of ways with hundreds of organizations, and it’s a pleasure to recognize this year’s award winners,” said Steven V. Lant, Chairman, President and CEO of CH Energy Group, Inc., Central Hudson’s parent company. “This event is one of my favorites because it features a core value at Central Hudson – citizenship.”

This year, recognized employees and the organizations they serve are: Stephen Burger, Manager of New Business Development & New York State Governmental Affairs, recognized for his work with Transformation Life Center’s Build a Bed Campaign; Darlene Clay, Customer Choice Coordinator, as president of the Hudson Valley Knights Basketball Club; Timothy Hayes, Manager of Transmission & Distribution Operations and Emergency Response, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and Chair of its Building Committee; Teresa Leske, Customer Account Services Supervisor, as president of the Silver Starlites Baton Twirling Team; and Robert Miller, Gas Mechanic, as Chief of the Kiskatom Fire Department in the town of Catskill. Each recognized charitable organization received a $500 contribution from Central Hudson.

“Charitable contributions are important, but even more important is the time, skills and leadership that committed volunteers bring to their organizations to help achieve their important missions,” said Lant.

For more than 20 years, the utility’s Community Service Award has recognized employees who carry the spirit of Central Hudson into their communities to help improve the quality of life in the Hudson Valley.  Since 1988, more than one hundred employees and organizations have received the Award, and more than $50,000 in contributions has been donated to the recognized organizations.

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Central Hudson’s 2012 Community Service Award winners, pictured from left, are: Darlene Clay, Customer Choice Coordinator; Robert Miller, Gas Mechanic; Teresa Leske, Customer Account Services Supervisor; Stephen Burger, Manager of New Business Development & New York State Governmental Affairs; and Timothy Hayes, Manager of Transmission and Distribution Operations & Emergency Response.