To the Editor:

The Altamont Enterprise has excelled in coverage of the Rotary Club of Albany’s annual Youth Recognition program. This year, for the first time since the pandemic, the youth project culminated in an Oct. 20 recognition luncheon in which eight foster-care youth were honored for their extraordinary progress in achieving their goals and for their courage and desire to overcome the circumstances of their early lives.

They, and their families, have been well-served by eight child-care agencies in the Capital Region. The honorees all reside in the agencies, which provide a wide array of services in education, therapy, recreation, and living skills.

Troy Kennedy, guest speaker, held the audience’s rapt attention from his special perspective as a former foster child. During his young adulthood, he lived and learned at LaSalle School in Albany, a residential, not-for-profit child-care organization. Mr. Kennedy is now the assistant director for programs at Northern Rivers, the new name created by the merger of Northeast Parent & Child Society and Parsons Child & Family Center.

Through the office of Albany County District Attorney David Soares and his staff, each teenager was gifted with a brand new bicycle and helmet. The youth were excited and grateful for the bikes and a variety of other donated presents, including gift certificates, movie tickets, bowling certificates, citations from public officials, and more.

Congratulating the youth and their key staff were Mayor Kathy Sheehan; Senator Neil Breslin; and Brian Barr, founder and chair of the Youth Recognition program for 37 years. Each of them praised the young people and the agencies for their resiliency and resourcefulness during the height of the COVID pandemic.

Rotary District Governor Bruce Connelee spoke to the award recipients, saying: “We are humbled by your stories. We are proud of you.” 

Brian Barr

Susan Morse

Albany Rotarians