Walden resident to receive Legacy Award

By Laura Fitzgerald
Posted 5/22/19

Real Estate Agent Dickie Baxter will receive Orange County Rural Development Advisory Corporation’s (RDAC) Alice Dickinson Award at the annual Legacy Dinner on May 29.

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Walden resident to receive Legacy Award

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Real Estate Agent Dickie Baxter will receive Orange County Rural Development Advisory Corporation’s (RDAC) Alice Dickinson Award at the annual Legacy Dinner on May 29.


Created in memory of the organization’s co-founder and past 29-year Executive Director, the award honors exemplary community service. Dickinson lost her battle with cancer in 2012.


“We created the Alice Dickinson Legacy Award to honor members of our community that embody her love of it and believe in strengthening homes, people and communities to better everyday life,” said Faith Moore, RDAC Executive Director and daughter of Alice Dickinson.


Baxter is a member of the Walden Rotary and master of ceremonies for the annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation event.


He also created Holiday Help Out, a program which collected donations for five local families in need over the holidays. He started a program with Cyndi and Keith Hunter of Hunter Insurance in which hundreds of backpacks stuffed with school supplies are given to local students.


Baxter and Vincent Reda, parked an Escalade outside Cascarino’s and stuffed it with donated food for Valley Central Backpack Snack Attack, a program which provides children in need with take-home meals.


He also volunteered for Make-A-Wish Club to grant terminally ill children’s wishes. He sponsored the St. Pat’s Ramble and other community organizations.


Moore said Baxter encapsulates giving back to the community where he has been a life-long resident.


“It has been such an honor to watch Dickie grow into the kind, caring, giving and empathetic community member he is today,” Moore said. “He is the true definition of loyal and the love of his family, friends and community just radiates from him. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”


Baxter said his desire to give back is driven by his family. He and his partner, Patricia, have three children, Brooklyn, Madelynn, and Cooper. They call themselves the Goon Squad.


“My shtick is that I’m the NY tattoed realtor, and it’s because I have tattoos all over me, but all my tattoos are based off my family,” Baxter said.


He rolled back his sleeve to reveal “All for my goons” inscribed in black letters on his arm.


“[My family] keeps me balanced, they keep me driven, and without their support and them believing in me, I could never do any of this,” Baxter said. “They are more than the fuel; they are the main components.”


He wants to set an example of giving back to his community for his children and for local youth because they are the future.


“We have a great opportunity right now with our youth. People blame our youth for a lot of our problems, but they don’t realize how strong they are and how they’re gonna fix a lot of our problems,” Baxter said. “We can’t just believe in them; we have to support them. If we want to expect them to work hard we have to work had around them and be an example as well.”


A life-long Walden resident, Baxter represents real estate mostly in Walden and surrounding areas. His work is driven by client trust and the knowledge that he is finding the home where clients will make memories.
“Our job is driven by finding housing and creating people’s memories,” Baxter said.


Baxter entered real estate about six years ago, with the help of Larry and Nancy Curasi. He’s been a business owner since his early 20s, with plenty of help from mentors along the way.


Baxter also received the 2016 Sam Phelps Service Award. It was Phelps who encouraged him to give back to his community years ago.


“I’m glad that I’m able to give back,” Baxter said.


RDAC develops or constructs affordable and senior housing, educates and prepares hundreds of homeowners to purchase their first home, and administers various state and federal grants for rehabilitation of homes. Since its inception in 1983, RDAC has rehabilitated or constructed more than 1,000 housing units and has helped thousands of residents remain in existing homes or apartments.


The 2019 Legacy Dinner includes a cocktail hour, a top shelf open bar, a full dinner, acoustic music by Jason Casterlin, and a silent auction. Public, media and communications company Focus Media, actor Armand Assante, and veteran advocate and supporter of New York Rural Preservation Companies Blair Sebastian will also be receiving the Alice Dickinson Award.


A variety of sponsorship opportunities are still available. Tickets are $95. The event will be at Anthony’s Pier 9, 2795 US 9W, New Windsor, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. For additional information or to secure your ticket, contact Faith Moore at 845-713-4568 or faithmoore@ocrdac.org.

Dickie Baxter, Walden, RDAC, Alice Dickinson Award, community service