2019 Good Neighbor Award Recipient
GCAR has named one local real estate professional as the 2019 Good Neighbor Award winner spotlighting the practitioner’s impact on their community through volunteer work. This marks the association’s first year celebrating the Good Neighbor Award. The winner, who was selected by a panel of GCAR past presidents, will receive a $3,000 grant for their charity. The award winner will be honored at the annual membership meeting on November 21.
Meet this year’s winner
Virginia “Ginny” O’Brien
Coldwell Banker Prime Properties
When it comes to dedication to community, few rise to Ginny’s level of involvement. She is a member of St. Michael’s Church Social Justice Committee and Parish Council, a Trustee of Catholic Charities, on the board of the Women’s Club of Albany, and is a member of GCAR’s community relations committee. Formerly, she was a member of the East Greenbush Town Board and minority leader of the Rensselaer County Legislature.
Ginny has been volunteering with St. Paul’s Center, a homeless organization in Rensselaer County, since 2013. She currently sits on the board is a past president. St. Paul’s Center provides emergency shelter, housing, and case management support to assist families in moving from homelessness to a sustainable future.
During Ginny’s tenure as president, the Center decided to expand services to include a scattered-site supportive housing program for families and apply for state funding that would allow the center to establish a Center-owned apartment program. Through her knowledge of government and her expansive network, Ginny helped to expand the service menu allowing the Center to serve more families in a broader and deeper way. She has also helped to broaden the donor base to support the expanded services. Ginny brings to the Center her boundless energy and a huge heart.
In addition, in 2019 alone she has volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House, the Heery Center, and is currently involved in fundraising for the Northeast Kidney Foundation. She works tirelessly to help anyone that she can.
St. Paul’s Center will receive the $3,000 grant on Ginny’s behalf.