It's that time of year again. Leadership Sullivan, in sponsorship with the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is celebrating its 18th graduating class.

This group of emerging leaders, chosen from within Sullivan County, have spent the last nine months training to address the challenges facing their communities.

In addition to the education components of the program, each Leadership Sullivan class is required to complete a community service project.

This year, the 2017 class has been fundraising for Ride2Survive, which assists people diagnosed with cancer in covering the costs of gas, tolls and parking while attending doctor's appointments and undergoing treatment.

Their project was focused on Improving Organizational Efficiency for Ride2Survive, by addressing outreach and donation technologies. This involved:

1) Assessment and reorganization of current online tools used by the organization,

2) Providing technology tools for Ride2Survive to solicit donations, monitoring registrations, and streamlining check-in for the annual award Dinner Dance, and

3) Outreach and awareness raising.

The 2017 Leadership Sullivan class organized, sold tickets and hosted a Paint & Sip Party as a fundraiser to accomplish their goals. They utilized social media and a radio campaign to build awareness, far exceeding ticket sales. In addition, they secured sponsorships and direct donations.

Attendees at the Paint & Sip fundraiser, which was held at the Delaware Youth Center in Callicoon on Saturday, April 15, included Leadership Sullivan class members and their families, Ride to Survive Board members and community members.

The result was that the class raised enough funds to not only accomplish their goals but also to make a monetary donation as well.

Members of Leadership Sullivan Class of 2017

Jessica Taylor, Mike Preis Insurance (Class President)

Katrina Graby, Liberty Mutual (Class Vice President)

Theresa Manera Mason, Orange and Rockland Utility (Class Co-Historian)

Cory Dame, The Center for Discovery (Class Co-Historian)

Cindy Atkins, Sullivan County Public Health Services

Karen Rivers Barnes, New Hope Community

Chrissy Bunce, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Linda Marty Browne, Jeff Bank

Mark Carper, Sullivan County Division of Planning and Environmental Management

Stephanie Delaney, Sullivan Arc

Melanie Dirie Karkos, Jeff Bank

Rebecca Ellis Jerome, Sullivan County Department of Community Services

Christy Haff TerBush, Sullivan Renaissance

Suzette Morley LaCroix, Delaware Highlands Conservancy

Nelson Perez, Sullivan Arc

Beverly Sirvent, Crystal Run Healthcare