“Before you complain, have you volunteered yet?”

That was the theme of the Hudson Valley Women’s Association & Friends 23rd annual People Who Make a Difference Recognition breakfast, held on September 26 at the American Legion Hall in Highland Falls. On hand to be honored were Town of Highlands Recreation Director Aaron Falk, SUNY New Paltz Adjunct Professor Felicia Hodges, Heritage Historian Virginia ‘Ginny’ Norfleet, Town of Highlands Councilwoman Nancy Sporbert, and Pastor Agnes Campbell Saffoury, an educator and spiritual wellness leader in the greater Highland Falls community.

HVWAF President Ann Molina welcomed all to the event, which featured a buffet provided by Robin’s Nest Catering. Offering the invocation was CEO of Single Moms Making Moves Arvinese Reid, and then Orange County Legislator Laurie Tautel – the chairwoman of the legislator as well as a 2025 recipient of a ‘People Who Make a Difference’ award – then stepped in as mistress of ceremony.

The event was sponsored by the Haverstraw African American Connection and American Legion Post 633 as well as several local businesses and individuals. Each honoree received a plaque, as well as a booklet of information about HVWAF and the other honorees.

A full page of that booklet defined a Community Volunteer – “One who willingly performs a service, task or works for others or an organization without being forced or expecting monetary compensation, and freely offers time, energy and skills to help a community, charity or the public in general”. That, Molina said, is each of the honorees in a nutshell.

A little about each of the honorees:

Aaron Falk was presented his award by Rich Fox, from The Center of Highland Falls Inc. Falk has served as the Town of Highlands Recreation Director since 2015 and has been a member of the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District’s Board of Education since 2015. While well-known for his youth sports programs, Falk has organized local food distributions and vaccination clinics, as well as his personal mission to make sure every child in the community who wants to participate in a program can, no matter the cost. He lives by the motto DO MORE, TALK LESS.

Felicia Hodges award was presented by her husband, Malcolm Burks. Hodges, a resident of Newburgh, is a journalist who has worked as a writer, editor and photojournalist for nationally recognized publications such as The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Tribune, as well as the Hudson Valley Times Media Group, Hudson Valley Parent, and the Newburgh Evening News. She is a third-degree black belt in USA Goju who teaches karate and self defense classes for area women, children and seniors.

Virginia ‘Ginny’ Norfleet was introduced by Andrea Winograd from The Holocaust Museum. She is a resident of Haverstraw and Douglasville, Ga., and the founder of a community organization Haverstraw African American Connection. The mission of that group is to research, recover, preserve and teach the rich culture and contributions of African Americans, specifically in this area.

Agnes Saffoury was recognized by Tautel. Saffoury, born in Highland Falls in 1936, taught elementary school in Maybrook and Valley Central, and served as an administrator for Orange Ulster BOCES. She is also a retired United Methodist Church pastor, who now volunteers with family counseling projects, and celebrating local history as creator and moderator of the popular Sit & Chat local history program.

Nancy Sporbert stood with her sister, Marty Byrnes, for her honor. Sporbert is a native of the Town of Highlands, who, from her family, learned early about faith, hard work and service to others. She is a volunteer at Sacred Heart Church (lector, Sunday School teacher and choir member) and, in her retirement, has added work with the American Legion Auxiliary, the Veterans Resiliency Coalition, the Garden Club of the Highlands, and serving as an elected member of the Town Board.