MONTICELLO - The SYDA Foundation presented the 2025 SYDA Foundation Community Service Award to Martin (Marty) Colavito, a community organizer from Liberty, at a public event held at the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello on November 19.

This year marked the 40th anniversary of the SYDA Foundation Community Service Award, an annual award which recognizes and honors local citizens for outstanding and enduring service to the Sullivan County community.

SYDA Foundation representative, Dr. Vivek Panchapakesan, shared about Marty’s decades of service and presented to him a framed certificate of merit for outstanding service to the Sullivan County community.

Dr. Panchapakesan praised him for being an “exemplary leader whose compassion uplifts and inspires others. Marty is always on the lookout for those in need of assistance–whether they’re fighting addiction, in need of housing or food, facing discrimination, or just need someone to talk to. When he finds them, he listens and works to get them the resources they need–not just to survive, but to thrive.”

Dr. Panchapakesan also presented Marty with a check from the SYDA Foundation for $7,500 to be distributed to charities of his choice.

Marty has chosen to donate the funds to two charities: Sullivan Fresh Community Cupboard, a food pantry and emergency food delivery service, and Trans + Support Initiative (TSI), an organization committed to addressing the need for support services for the trans + community in Sullivan and Wayne counties.

In accepting the award, Marty said that he was personally inspired by people “who fight the good fight” and “do the hard work every day to overcome the challenges they face in life.” Marty also honored his wife, Lynn, by saying “If I never met her, I would not be standing here today.”

In addition to the SYDA Foundation Community Service Award, Marty received formal commendations from elected officials including Eric Ball, representing U.S. Congressman Josh Riley; New York Assemblymember Paula Kay; Camille O’Brien representing New York State Senator Peter Oberacker; and Sullivan County Legislator Catherine Scott, who was joined by fellow legislators, Brian McPhillips, Luis Alvarez, and Nicholas Salomone.

The event was attended by over 60 people, including Marty’s wife Lynn, Marty’s colleagues, SYDA Foundation Trustees and Management, previous Community Service Award recipients, local officials, and representatives from local organizations including Sullivan Fresh Community Cupboard, Sullivan Allies Leading Together (SALT), Trans+ Support Initiative (TSI), Cornell Cooperative Extension, Liberty Rotary Club, Boys and Girls Clubs of Sullivan and Orange County, Sullivan 180, and New Hope Community.