Recognizing our Five Outstanding Finalists for the 2026 CARES Award
Stephen Rapp
Martha Blair and the Nunda Town Council, Nominators
It is with great enthusiasm that I nominate Stephen Rapp for the Livingston County CARES Award. Having known Steve for many years, I can attest to his unselfish acts to those in need in the community and beyond, as well as his dedication to serving the public.Steve has consistently demonstrated a commitment to service. One of the most notable public examples is his work with Honor Flight. Steve started formally with Honor Flight on the first mission, #1 in October 2008, as part of the “welcoming home” event for 10 WWII vets. He took WWII vet John Osajca to Washington on trip #2 and has since flown 31 of the 93 flights.
During this time, he personally escorted 5 local veterans and convinced his father to assist him as a guardian for my father on one of them. Numerous other local veterans in and around Livingston County have participated due to Steve’s efforts. Honor flight participants are many times overwhelmed, receiving the thanks and appreciation they may never have gotten following their service. They return with a new sense of pride and feeling of accomplishment for their sacrifices. Steve has been the overall trip leader for 19 of the 31 trips, responsible for 130 people each trip, (60-65 veterans, their guardians, and 18-20 Honor Flight volunteers), and was a mentor for new leaders 3 times.
Steve is a key advocate with numerous speaking engagements and fundraising events year round spearheading advocacy for this cause. Steve recently retired from the Livingston County DSS where he worked for over 30 years in CPS and foster care, and was a Senior caseworker since 2008. His job required compassion and strength to do what was best in the interest of the children. He served as CSEA Vice President, and negotiated contracts for decades. During his weekends and evenings he worked as a Nunda Police Officer for 27 years receiving multiple letters of commendation from the District Attorney's Office. Even when off duty, Steve would come out in protection of the community.Steve is an active member for over 40 years in the Nunda Trinity Church, serving as an Elder, Church council, Nominating Committee, and Building and Grounds Chair. He is an active member of the Masonic Lodge 682 in Nunda where he has served as Master and has received both the Masonic Symbolic Lodge Award and James R. Lee Award for outstanding service in the community. Steve also is an active member of the Nunda Fire Department.
The Livingston Cares award recognizes individuals who embody exceptional service to the community and selfless acts. Steve perfectly aligns with these values not only through his dedication in work and activities as stated above, but in his willingness to give of himself, literally. Steve not only is a regular blood donor of over 14 gallons, he also donated a kidney through the URMC Living Kidney Organ Transplant Program!In conclusion, I can think of no one more deserving of this honor than Stephen Rapp. His positive influence , selflessness and service to our community and the county make him a valued asset.I hope you will consider him as a recipient of this award.
Tom Wilson
Julie Brocklehurst-Woods, Nominator​
I would like to nominate Tom Wilson for the Livingston CARES Award. He has donated countless hours to the community with Livingston County Habitat for Humanity. This local chapter was formed in 1988. He has worked on Habitat houses since the first, in Nunda. He became much more involved with Habitat construction after he retired from teaching at BOCES, and also participated for several years by serving on the Board of Directors. This organization has welcomed over 24 families home in Livingston County (Hunt, Livonia, Piffard, Avon, Lima, Dansville, Groveland, Caledonia, Mount Morris, Cuylerville, Scottsburg, Sparta, and Springwater.), and Tom worked on many of these.
Currently he acts as a Habitat construction problem-solver. Tom also gives generously of his time to Central Presbyterian Church, which houses the Geneseo-Groveland Emergency Food Pantry. He has consistently served on the Facilities Committee with Jeff Crane for many years, which responds to building use needs of this organization. The Pantry has used this space at no cost since 2016. Tom additionally gives unlimited time and talents to maintaining the buildings and properties of Central Presbyterian Church. Most notably, after the sanctuary ceiling collapsed in 2022, he dedicated countless days over several months to organizing people and cleaning up the mess, dealing with insurance, finding contractors, supervising the construction work, and working with others with hands-on tasks.
This church owns two adjacent properties which are maintained by the Facilities Committee: a group home rented to GLOW ARC, and a smaller home rented usually short-term to people in the community. Central Presbyterian Church enjoys supporting our community in this manner, and Tom certainly helps to make this possible. Finally, Tom helped the Genesee Valley Conservancy by design and construct the footbridge over the creek at the Indian Fort Preserve. We are fortunate to have Tom in our community.
Beth Adams, Tim McMahon, Shannon Curly, Kathy Wahl, Lois Heitener, Caroll Williams, Megan Pecenco, Laurel Nelson, Ella Archibald, Tony and Jean Hennessey and Suanne Grove
Rocio Vallejo-Alegre and Leslie McCurdy, ​Nominators
The nominees embody the spirit of C-A-R-E-S: they Care deeply for students and families, Act with dedication and attentiveness, are consistently Reliable and resourceful, bring Enthusiasm to every interaction, and show Selflessness in lifting others up. For ten years, Cultures Learning TOGETHER has thrived because mentors have broken language barriers, built trust, and created meaningful connections for migrant and immigrant families. In 2026, thirteen volunteers are keeping this dream alive. They are not only teaching English and Spanish—they are breaking isolation, fear, and social rejection, providing stability, advocacy, and belonging when families need it most.
The impact of their work is profound and transformative. Lia, a first grader, gained confidence in reading through personalized support. Juanito, an autistic child, is learning to write his name while his mother improves her English alongside him, strengthening the entire family. Rubi, a teenager, joined her school sports teams, discovering courage, joy, and teamwork with her mentors cheering her on. Families like Mario’s receive guidance despite demanding work schedules, while parents like Patty study English alongside their children, fostering family-centered growth.
These volunteers’ efforts result in measurable progress: students thrive academically and socially, parents gain confidence navigating the community, and families access essential resources safely. In today’s challenging political climate, their dedication provides more than instruction—it offers hope, belonging, and resilience. Through their energy, empathy, and unwavering commitment, these volunteers transform lives and keep alive the dream of inclusion, trust, and opportunity for all.
The times we are living in right now are not normal. Good people often question what they can do. One local organization has quietly been doing something for over ten years. This remarkable organization is Cultures Learning Together (CLT). Every day the volunteers of CLT give freely of their time to make lives better for the immigrant and migrant farmworker population. Teaching English and learning Spanish have been major focuses of this organization. Breaking linguistic barriers is crucial for people to fully enjoy all the benefits of residing here. Hundreds of hours of tutoring have been accumulated by dedicated people who volunteer their talents and enthusiasm to improve the lives of hardworking people. In this country, if you are from a different culture, you are sometimes excluded from full participation in society. With our current political climate, it is scary for some people to simply go purchase food at a grocery store. CLT pivoted to make the procurement of food possible. They ensured that all their families had a means of obtaining food, a very basic human need that has been disrupted. For years the organization increased the capability for their partners to experience the vast opportunities available to residents of this country. Lives were changed and improved through wellness workshops, educational field experiences, activities that focused on mental health support, access to healthcare and cultural learning. When the partners were able to meet in a group, honoring the unique characteristics of individuals, lifting them up and having fun was on the agenda. We can only hope that someday this organization will be able to fulfill their mission which is to strive "to create a permanent safe space to eliminate linguistic barriers, grow and connect the community through teaching, learning and cultural integration".
Stephen Wiener
Heather Ferrero, ​Nominator
Steve Wiener loves his community and is the embodiment of service above self. A member of the Geneseo Rotary Club since 1986, he has put countless hours into volunteering at service events in and around Geneseo that continue to this day. As a member of Rotary, he can be found anywhere a grill is needed for fundraisers – he converts hot dogs into community funding. Steve is also a driving force in coordination of Rotary volunteers at the Genesee Valley Hunt Races, where he keeps the Rotarian entry gate volunteers supplied, fed, and trouble-free (as much as one can control those things). He has organized the crafters for the Geneseo Rotary Summer Festival – the club’s main fundraiser for directing dollars back into the Geneseo community - for seven years, and he ran the food tent for the festival for 42 years before that. Steve is the quiet guy with an easy smile who does not call attention to himself but is there in the background doing anything and everything that is asked of him. He puts consistent hours into Geneseo Rotary’s annual fundraisers like the flower sale, bottle drives, and Salvation Army bell ringing. He is also a long-standing member – over 27 years - on the Board of Directors for the Genesee Valley Rotary Camp, a one-week summer camp for young people with various disabilities. Outside of Rotary, Steve is also an active volunteer at the Geneseo Groveland Emergency Food Pantry. He has supported Geneseo Boy Scouts Troop #4070 for decades, organized the Blue and Gold Banquet, and coordinated food for the troop’s annual Geneseo Farm Toy Show.
Steve’s volunteer activities funnel dollars into the Geneseo community through consistent and selfless effort. Every donation the Geneseo Rotary Club gets from assisting with the Genesee Valley Hunt Races ($12,000 over the last 3 years) is imprinted with his coordination of the Rotary volunteers. The number of meals he has served at fundraisers is countless. His efforts in arranging the crafters and volunteering at the Geneseo Summer Festival not only raise and bring funds into the community, but the Summer Festival contributes to the quality of life and wellness of community spirit in Geneseo and its surroundings. His dedication to coordinating the holiday Salvation Army bell ringing has made it possible to bring roughly $2,500 a year in bell ringing collections each year, which comes back to Geneseo for people in need. His years at the Geneseo Groveland Emergency Food Pantry help to address the very real need for greater food security in the community.
Steve’s impact on improving the Geneseo community cannot be pinpointed to any one program or event. 40 years as a Rotarian, over 27 years with the Genesee Valley Rotary Camp, decades supporting the Boy Scouts, and his years at the food pantry translate into lives changed and improved. His consistent and thorough attention to putting his time and talent towards the betterment of his community is what has led to meaningful, lasting improvements in the lives of residents and the strength of the community as a whole.
Holly Harvey
Anne E. Bishop, ​Nominator​
Holly Harvey is the embodiment of a caring spirit—a person whose life is a testament to the power of volunteerism anchored by kindness and generosity. From her earliest days, Holly has freely given her time, talents, and love to causes, organizations, and people in need, always guided by a deep sense of empathy and a desire to uplift others.
A lifelong resident of the Livingston County, Holly’s journey of service began decades ago. In the 1970s, she was a founder of Prepared Childbirth Classes in Livingston County, helping families embrace novel approaches to childbirth with warmth and encouragement. In the 1980s, she nurtured children volunteering as a co-chair of a nursery school in Lakeville and as a cook in a kindergarten classroom in Geneseo. Her leadership blossomed in the 1990s as president of the Geneseo Garden Club, where she cultivated not only gardens but many community projects. The 2000s saw Holly advocating for those who needed a voice as a member of the Livingston Wyoming Arc board. She also served on the Livingston County Habitat for Humanity board.
Holly’s devotion extends to her faith community, where she has served the Geneseo Central Presbyterian Church with unwavering commitment—leading stewardship, finance, nominating, and education efforts, and chairing a capital campaign. Her community impact deepened when she joined the board of Livingston County CARES in 2014, supporting its mission with enthusiastic volunteerism. Just this year Holly became a docent at the Livingston County Historical Society. Holly only stepped back during times when special family challenges called her to do so, lovingly the primary caregiver to her husband Russ, and supporting their three children and nine grandchildren, always putting their needs above her own.
Two foci central to Holly’s volunteerism and close to Holly’s heart are the Home Away From Home Respite Center in Geneseo and Livingston County CARES Service Trips. While both endeavors may seem quite different, they have a common element – providing volunteer opportunities to our next generation. College students at SUNY Geneseo are given chances to embrace service, teaching them that caring for others—whether seniors with memory-related illnesses or communities recovering from natural disasters—is a privilege and a calling.
As a founding member of the Home Away From Home Respite Center, Holly helped create a sanctuary in 2017 for senior citizens with memory-related illness, which offers a wide array of activities and companionship multiple times a week. Holly continues to be a voice and advocate for the organization. The joy that is brought by this program is immeasurable, unless one can count the number of smiles reflected on the faces of the senior citizens and the volunteers, who are primarily SUNY Geneseo students studying neuroscience. Time off for the caregivers is also immeasurable, providing needed respite from their 24/7 responsibilities.
Holly first participated on a Livingston County CARES Service Trip to Biloxi in 2012, and subsequently has led teams to Staten Island, Big Pine Key, and New Port Richie, helping communities rebuild after hurricanes. Her compassion and encouragement empowered college students on the trips to make a difference, instilling in them the lifelong value of volunteering. Holly’s upcoming trip to Black Mountain is yet another chapter in her lifelong story of giving hope to others.
The ripple effect of Holly’s volunteerism is profound. She has changed countless lives— one by one. Through her dedication and leadership, she has inspired young people to carry forward the mantle of service. Her actions remind us of all that caring for others is not just a duty, but a gift.
As her Geneseo Central School class quote beautifully states:
“I am only one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
What I can do, I ought to do, and by the grace of God I will do.”
For over sixty years, Holly Harvey has lived these words, always putting others first. It is an honor to nominate Holly for The 2nd Annual Livingston County Cares Award, recognizing her selfless devotion and heartfelt commitment to her community.
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