ABC Award to Sam Harding

Sam Harding was offered with the 2022 Above and Past the Name Award, the ABC Award, at a Neighborhood Appreciation Evening hosted by Jefferson Issues: A Foremost Road and Chamber Neighborhood March 28 at Greene County Excessive College.

Sid Jones, 2021 ABC Award recipient, made the presentation.

Harding was instrumental within the design and development of the Webb Home youth heart in 2002. At the moment he was nicely right into a 26-year tenure on the Jefferson-Scranton after which Greene County Faculties board.

After retiring from the varsity board he served as proprietor’s consultant for the development of the brand new $35 million highschool and the renovation of the center college. He was on the development web site each day by means of all phases of development and end, from the primary web site preparation till the ultimate punch listing was accomplished. Harding volunteered for the place, saving the varsity district an estimated $100,000.

Quickly after that venture was accomplished, he was recruited to be a board member of the Greene County Early Studying Middle, now referred to as The Kids’s Middle. He served as proprietor’s rep throughout development of the brand new constructing on S. Vine St, once more volunteering his time.

Jacque Andrew, co-chair of The Kids’s Middle board, famous that “whereas Sam’s involvement locally has been wide-ranglng, his service has at all times been true to his core values – concern and help for youth, schooling and religion.”

She mentioned that in Harding’s lengthy tenure as a faculty board member, he at all times had “the most effective curiosity of youngsters in thoughts….His management supplied a gradual hand to the board and an all-encompassing concern for offering a superb schooling in an surroundings targeted on the well-being of scholars.”

Andrew mentioned that as proprietor’s rep for the $2.2 million childcare heart, “his expertise was invaluable as an asset to the board.” He approached the particular necessities for buildings designed for younger kids “with sensitivity, concern, and a sort and caring coronary heart,” Andrew mentioned.

Harding has been a Jefferson Rotarian since 1994. Andrew, additionally a Rotarian, referred to as him “a pillar of the membership.” He has served as chair of the Rotary Bell Tower Competition parade for a few years, and has additionally crammed vital roles within the annual charity public sale, which has raised a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} for neighborhood and Rotary initiatives.

“Sam’s is the sort of dedication that’s actually on the coronary heart of giving service above and past the decision. We’re so grateful for his beneficiant spirit which has touched our lives and the great he has completed for therefore many,” Andrew mentioned.

Jim North spoke of Harding’s contributions to the Webb Home. He praised Harding’s foresight in designing the constructing with further energy drywall and flooring, vast doorways and a ramp and even an elevator for accessibility, loads of storage within the kitchen space, an abundance {of electrical} shops, and sufficient water spigots to make out of doors water play potential.

“I can’t say sufficient about all the great Sam has completed for the Webb Home and all of the individuals who have benefitted from his experience and logic,” North mentioned. “We’re grateful for all these years he has cared a lot for the youth of Greene County in so many alternative methods.”

Harding was shocked and really touched to obtain the award. He mentioned he had many position fashions of service as he grew up, together with his scout grasp (he’s an Eagle Scout) and his Sunday college instructor. “They taught me to have a coronary heart to serve, and that’s what I do. I’ve at all times completed that, and I don’t want an award for it. It’s simply a part of who I wish to be.

“I’m very honored by this award. That listing of names (of earlier recipients) is spectacular, and I do know most of them. I like what they do. To be on a listing with them is an honor,” he mentioned.

He mentioned that serving as proprietor’s rep for the varsity development was “the most effective factor I’ve ever gotten to do, to construct this constructing. They’re not joking. I used to be in each minute of this factor…. I wished to ensure it was constructed accurately, that we wouldn’t have any issues with it, and so the youngsters might be taught. Every thing we designed and put into this constructing was thought by means of to be so the youngsters might be taught. I used to be fortunate sufficient to be within the place to assist that occur.”

The ABC Award has been offered yearly since 1977 to a person or a pair who by means of their private involvement and management qualities and their unselfish time and expertise have positively affected actions and accomplishments helpful to the neighborhood at massive.