The Catskill Chronicle

MONTICELLO – On Tuesday, December 1, Community Unity held their 4^th Annual Community Unity Luncheon and Dinner at Mr. Willy’s Restaurant in Monticello. The luncheon and dinner programs were held to honor one organization and two hard-working couples for their activism and generosity in the community.

The luncheon program honored the Cooperative Federal Credit Union (CFCU), an organization with a long and storied history, inextricably intertwined with the Sullivan County Catskills. CFCU is the sponsor of two $5,000 scholarships awarded each year to students with a demonstrated commitment to community service, one of which is dedicated to a student attending Sullivan County Community College.

The dinner program honored two ‘power couples’ in the field of community activism, Richard and Barbara Sush and Phil and Donna Vallone.

The Sushes were honored for their longstanding commitment to the community and for Richard’s leadership role in the community groundswell to save RISE (Rape Intervention Services and Education). 

The Vallones were celebrated for their exceptional service to a myriad of youth oriented and volunteer organizations in Sullivan County. 

The event was broadcasted on WSUL with Annika Sonic (lunch) and on WVOS with Chris Ingram (dinner).

*Community Unity is a coalition of four established organizations in Sullivan County, New York working to help break the cycles of abuse which harm our children and impair the quality of life in our county. Sullivan County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), The Federation for the Homeless, PPMHV RISE (Rape Intervention Services and Education) and the Recovery Center are effective and dynamic service organizations working with the courts and community structures to repair the fabric of lives. individually we provide meals, housing, intervention, prevention, education, treatment, counseling, support  and advocacy.