Nominations Sought for NNY Community Health Hero Awards

Individuals from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to be honored at Community Health Hero Award luncheon

Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization (FDRHPO) and North Country Health Compass Partners are asking residents of Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to nominate an individual in their community whom they consider to be a “Community Health Hero.”

Anyone who has demonstrated outstanding public service and a commitment to improving the health and wellness of their community can be nominated, and one individual from each county will be chosen to receive a 2026 Community Health Hero Award.

All nominees must…

• live or work in Jefferson, Lewis, or St. Lawrence counties (not necessarily in the healthcare field);

• dedicate time and resources toward the improvement of community health and wellness; and

• show a level of care and compassion that exceeds that which an average citizen demonstrates.

“Each year, in celebration of National Rural Health Day, we honor three Community Health Heroes at our North Country Community Health Hero Event. Since 2017, we have recognized 24 individuals from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties for their compassion, selflessness, and dedication to improving health and wellness in our rural communities,” said Kayla Quinn, Population Health Coordinator. “We encourage residents across the three-county region to nominate someone who reflects the spirit of a Community Health Hero—whether a healthcare worker, volunteer, business owner, advocate, or anyone making a meaningful difference in local health and wellness.”

Community members may submit one nomination for consideration. Volunteers from the North Country Health Compass Partners will then select one recipient from each of the counties (three awards total) based on the following factors: relation to health and wellness, scope of impact, depth of impact, social influence, volunteerism, and uniqueness. Recipients will be honored locally during the Community Health Heroes Luncheon in November on a date TBD, and throughout New York State on November 19, National Rural Health Day.

The nomination form can be found by clicking this LINK. All nominations must be submitted by Friday, September 4, by 4 p.m. Nominations submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

For more information, call or email Kayla Quinn, Population Health Coordinator at FDRHPO at 315-755-2020 ext. 21 or kquinn@fdrhpo.org.