The Catskill Chronicle

SOUTH FALLSBURG, NY (November 10, 2011) — Shelly Field will be honored with the 26th annual SYDA Foundation Community Service Award on Thursday, November 17 at 2:00 p.m. in the monthly meeting of the Sullivan County Legislature.

Since 1986, the SYDA Foundation has presented their annual Community Service Award – one of Sullivan County’s highest distinctions – to acknowledge and celebrate a local citizen’s outstanding service to the community.

This year, Shelly Field is being honored for her service to the people of Sullivan County, notably for her ten years on the board of Sullivan County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) — an organization that advocates on behalf of abused and neglected children.

In January 2010, Ms. Field began serving as board president of CASA. Lilly Hendrickson, CASA’s Executive Director, says of Ms. Field, “Every single board member voted for Shelly for President. And the children all love her.”

Professionally, Ms. Field works as a writer, personal coach and motivational speaker. Her life-long commitment to community service in Sullivan County has included serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Sullivan County Literacy Volunteers; as co-secretary on the Board of Directors of the Village of Monticello’s Human Rights Commission; and as an advisory board member for the Sullivan County Cooperative Extension Hospitality Certification Course.

Ms. Field is continuing a notable family tradition of service to Sullivan County. Her mother and father are both past recipients of the SYDA Foundation Community Service Award. Her mother, Selma, received the award in 1997 and her father, Edwin, in 2001. Shelly has upheld this family value with her own service, not only as a way of giving back to the community, but of honoring what her parents cherished.

This year, the Community Service Award, which includes a monetary award of $5,000, will be presented on behalf of the SYDA Foundation Board of Trustees by Harriette Cole. An active volunteer with the SYDA Foundation since 1990, Ms. Cole is also a best-selling author and nationally-syndicated advice columnist.

The SYDA Foundation, located in South Fallsburg since 1979, is a not-for-profit organization that makes Siddha Yoga meditation available to students around the world. The SYDA Foundation contributes to the Sullivan County community through regular donations to the local volunteer fire departments, police, school district, and hospital, and though its philanthropic affiliate – the PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program.