The Chamber announces the 2010 recipients of its prestigious Van Rensselaer Awards, to be presented at the Van Rensselaer Dinner on Thursday, September 23 at the Hilton Garden Inn on Hoosick Street in Troy. The honors include the Van Rensselaer Corporate and Small Business Awards and the Edward H. Pattison Citizenship Award.

“The Chamber’s annual awards give us the opportunity to publicly distinguish people who are making a difference by their initiatives and by their example,” said Anthony Lanzillo, 2010 Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. “This year’s recipients exemplify the meaning and purpose of these awards in extraordinary ways that benefit the entire community.”  

The Van Rensselaer Corporate Award will be presented to Stewart’s Shops in recognition of the company’s longstanding role in supporting the region’s quality of life, civic and community organizations.

“Stewart’s Shops is honored to receive such a prestigious honor as the Van Rensselaer Award,” said President Gary Dake. “Good corporate citizenship is a tradition at Stewart’s, and it is assisted by the enthusiastic role of our employees and our customers. Together, we’re doing our part in making a difference.”

Founded in 1945 by the Dake family, Stewart’s Shops is a convenience store chain that operates 328 locations in more than 30 counties in upstate New York and southern Vermont. Stewart’s is a privately-held company, one-third of which is employee-owned. All of Stewart’s brand products, including ice cream, chili, soups, milk, juices, and more are manufactured, distributed, or processed at its 226,000-square-foot plant in Greenfield Center. The company also develops rental property adjacent to its shops, an increasing part of its overall business interests.

Stewart’s is committed to contributing approximately 5% of the company’s profits each year. In 2010, the firm will donate more than $2.25 million to charitable organizations including monetary funding, products, and gift certificates. In addition, the Dake family contributes an equivalent amount to charity. Stewart’s “Holiday Match” customers have helped the company donate more than $13 million during the past 24 years.

Past recipients of the Van Rensselaer Corporate Award are Pioneer Bank, Hannaford Supermarkets, Bell Atlantic, W.J. Cowee, Rose and Kiernan, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, The Sage Colleges, The Phoenix Companies, Capital District YMCA, The Franklin Hospitality Group, Pitney Bowes MapInfo, KeyBank, and Hudson Valley Community College.

The 2010 Van Rensselaer Small Business Award (50 employees or less) will be presented to Old Daley Inn Catering in recognition of the firm’s outstanding contributions to the quality of life within our communities. One of the largest caterers in the Capital District, the award-winning Old Daley has built its reputation on quality food and services, a diverse business model, and generous community service.

“We really try to live the brand,” said Vice President Gene Coletti, co-owner with James Pettit and Martin Keary. “We don’t see the business as just a job, but as our life, and we love doing it. Our charitable work gives us great satisfaction. Receiving this Chamber award is an honor shared by the whole Old Daley team.”

Founded 35 years ago as a restaurant, The Old Daley has focused exclusively on catering since 2001. Today, the company operates three retail lunch cafes, three outdoor vending locations, and a food service management division that supplies two cafeterias as well as Saratoga Chicken at the race track.

As the company has grown, so has its commitment to the community. The Old Daley is a partner in “Feed a Kid,” a program that feeds 100 children on a weekly basis. The company is now establishing a charitable foundation, funded in part by a line of home-baked products.

This year’s Edward H. Pattison Citizenship Award, also known as “The Ebbie,” will be presented to Christopher Burke, CEO of Unity House, for his exemplary commitment to improving the lives of individuals through community involvement. Mr. Burke has dedicated 30 years to serving and empowering people in need, including the past decade at Unity House. 

The human service agency provides services to 14,000 individuals a year who face barriers to safe and independent living. Unity House works with victims of domestic violence, adults with mental illness, people living in poverty, and children with developmental disabilities.

Mr. Burke is a member of the Rensselaer County Unified Services Mental Health Management Team, the Community AIDS Partnership of the Capital Region Steering Committee, and the Supportive Housing Network of New York. He has been honored for his outstanding advocacy and active community leadership by the Association for Community Living Agencies in Mental Health, a statewide advocacy group for programs serving adults with mental illness.

“My work at Unity House – helping the most vulnerable people in our community to live better lives – has been personally gratifying, so I am very honored to receive the Chamber’s Ebbie Award for doing what I love,” said Mr. Burke. “I share this award with all the staff at Unity House who work tirelessly every day to help improve the lives of others.”

The “Ebbie” award, established in honor of Edward H. Pattison, encourages “good citizenship, community involvement, and humanitarian advancement.” Past recipients are Mary Jane Smith, Dr. Hugh Foley, James Millea, Jr., Esq., Joseph Fama, Morris Massry, Jack McNulty, Jr., Daniel Hogarty, Jr., Raona Roy, Richard Wallace, John Scarchilli, Dr. Jeanne Neff, and Steven Lobel.

The Van Rensselaer Dinner begins at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by the awards ceremony and dinner at 7 p.m. Reservations are $90 per person, with Chairman’s Circle tables of 10 available for $1,050. Register online at www.renscochamber.com or by contacting Kate Ollier, Programs and Communications Manager, at 274.7474 or kollier@renscochamber.com. The Van Rensselaer Dinner is underwritten by Capital Bank & Trust, CDPHP, and The Phoenix Companies.