Submitted Photo Alona Forbes, awarded the George B. Weaver Jr. Footprints Award by the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, poses with family members present during Monday’s ceremony. Pictured from left to right are Jack Forbes, Patrick Forbes, Grace Forbes, Alona Forbes, Alex Nalepa, Brooke Vespoli (who sang the National Anthem) and Faith Nalepa.

Alona Forbes was awarded this year’s George B. Weaver Jr. Footprints Award by the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF) during Monday’s annual meeting held at the JCC Training & Conference Facility.

“This year the award is being given to a woman who clearly reflects the sentiments of this award,” announced NCCF President Gina Paradis to a packed room. “Alona Forbes has quietly supported the community for many, many years.”

The Footprints award was created by NCCF, Paradis explained.

“To recognize those people with a passion for the Northern Chautauqua County community, a passion that is expressed through local philanthropy and community service,” she said. “The award bears the name of George Weaver, who is instrumental in the formation and growth of the foundation,” Paradis added. “His commitment to the community extended well beyond the foundation. He gave his time and money generously and quietly without the expectation or the desire for recognition.”

After introducing the award, a video was played that showcased community members who have worked with Forbes over the years, giving their sincere testaments of Forbes’ good work. They included members of the Dunkirk Public Library, St. Hyacinth Church, Brooks Memorial Hospital and Camp Gross.

They told about how Forbes was an extremely generous donor of both her money and her time.

For example, Forbes was instrumental in getting a security system, furniture, a new laminator, supplies and an air conditioner for the library.

She was also responsible for helping Saint Hyacinths with getting its new church bells.

At Camp Gross, she started a fundraiser by selling bricks. At first, her goal was to sell 50 bricks.

“As of today,” Forbes announced while accepting her award, “We have (sold) 296 bricks.”

Forbes told an animated story about how she met George Weaver Jr. when she was a youth counselor being paid $5 a week in Stockton at a camp called Camp of the Woods.

One of the campers in her tent was Patty Weaver, George’s daughter.

“I did not know the Weaver family,” Forbes recalled. “I did not know (Patty’s) parents.”

When George came to pick up Patty, “As he said goodbye to me, George Weaver gave me a dollar,” Forbes said. “No one was tipped at camp. I received one dollar from Mr. Weaver. I didn’t know who he was and I was so touched by that. This is the same George Weaver (whose) footprints I’m following in now.

“I never worked in the food industry and it’s the only tip I ever received in my life,” Forbes said to enthusiastic applause.

In other NCCF news, Nancy Mosier was recognized for her 20 years of NCCF service.

“After over 20 years of service, Nancy is retiring,” announced NCCF Executive Director Diane Hannum. “I can’t say enough about Nancy; what she’s meant to the foundation and what she has meant to me personally. The Foundation turned 30 in 2016 and Nancy was with us for a big part of those 30 years. When she started, our assets were around $6.5 million and when she left they were around $26.5 million. When she started, we had 99 scholarship funds and now we have over 201. She took all of this in stride. She stepped up to the plate every time. She was a leader. We’re better as an organization and individually because of Nancy.”

Hannum gave a report of last years successes.

In 2017, the total number of NCCF funds reached 420 with 279 scholarships awarded, 418 grants and five primary initiatives.

“As of last Friday, our assets went over $28 million,” Hannum said. “Over the past four years, we provided grants of over $30,000 to the Western New York Food Bank to address (hunger). Last year we gave a grant of $10,000 so they could purchase a food delivery truck.”

For more information about NCCF, call 366-4892 or go to nccfoundation.org. Find the organization on Twitter and Facebook at nccfoundation.

OBSERVER Photo by Damian Sebouhian
Alona Forbes (right) receives the George B. Weaver Jr. Footprints Award from NCCF executive director Diane Hannum during Monday’s annual meeting.