Good Neighbor Awards

"Goddard Riverside's Good Neighbor Awards" title on top of a graphic with illustrations of different people.

Goddard Riverside’s Good Neighbor Awards celebrate uncompensated community members’ outstanding efforts to help improve the community. The purpose of the Good Neighbor Award is to recognize people who voluntarily build a better community.


Thank you for sending in your nominations for the 2023 Good Neighbor Awards. Congratulations to this year’s winners!

  • Emma Justus
  • Melissa Elstein
  • Dorothy Reiss
  • Carolyn Breidenback
  • Wilma Lorraine Johnson
  • Margarita Curet Osorio

Learn about this year’s winners by reading their bio in the ceremony’s program.

Neighbor to Neighbor Award Winners Emma Justus, Melissa Elstein, Dorothy Reiss, Carolyn Breidenback, Wilma Lorraine Johnson and Margarita Curet Osorio standing together with their awards.

Previous Good Neighbor Awardees

2001

  • Kamilah Austin and
  • Shaytel Gustave
  • Kathryn Clark
  • Anne Cunningham
  • DOROT’s Friendly Visiting Program
  • Katherine Falk
  • David Goldstick
  • Bobbie Maniece-Harrison
  • Julio Melendez
  • Dan Rich
  • Robert Woolis

2002

  • Aledra Floyd
  • National Council of Jewish Women – N.Y. Section
  • Mary Alice Osborne
  • Maria Reyes
  • Julio Rodriguez
  • Murray Rothman
  • Nancy Stein

2003

  • Richard Barr
  • Mig Boyle and Bob Hoyt
  • Carrie Fair
  • Mercedes Gomez
  • Victor Gonzalez
  • Jay Kranis
  • Michael Paradis
  • Yusimir Ramirez
  • Temple Ansche Chesed Shelter Committee
  • Letasha Waiters

2004

  • Elena Cruz
  • Clare Dockery
  • Lauren Flanigan
  • Dorothy Holohan
  • Norma Lindo
  • REACH Returning Volunteers

2005

  • Margaret Brown
  • Maria Fabian
  • Edith Marks
  • Ethel Morgan
  • Charles Stevens
  • Trinity Middle School Community Program

2006

  • Patricia Craddick
  • Betty Dickstein
  • Esther Gross
  • Morris Levine
  • Joseph Meezan
  • Betty Sellers
  • Veteran Reach Volunteers
  • Edmundo Yearwood

2007

  • James C. Freund
  • Milagros Lopez
  • Bruce Nichols
  • Carole Singleton
  • Softball Coaches and Umpires
  • Susan Susman
  • The Guardians of the
  • Temple of the Lord

2008

  • Victoria Acosta
  • Cynthia Doty
  • Oliver Fisher
  • Rina Garst
  • Felicia Lemus

2009

  • Marina Araujo
  • Namely Holguin
  • Milagros Stanley
  • Westside Community Garden
  • Vonnie Young

2010

  • Winifred Armstrong
  • Ed Baker
  • Beacon Community Service Project
  • Book Fair Hospitality Hostesses
  • Lucille Michele Donte
  • Wade Hampton

2011

  • Zoila Estrella
  • The Orfeo Duo
  • Helen Rosenthal
  • Pura Torres
  • Evelyn Trowell
  • Jane Wisdom

2012

  • Sheldon Barasch
  • Jackie Gardner
  • Harold Jones
  • Ana Mercedes Lizardi
  • Eric Rosenfeld
  • Maria Valdes

2013

  • Hudson Warehouse
  • Latoya Mitchell
  • Lizabeth Sostre
  • Francisca Urena

2014

  • Lino Alvarez
  • Otasimbo Fowors
  • Van L. Harriman
  • Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness & Housing, Panim El Panim – Life Skills Empowerment Program
  • Lynne Sheehan
  • Nicholas Steele
  • Sharon Wilson

2015

  • Amber Batchelor
  • Anthony Cooper
  • Rosa M. Flores
  • The volunteers of the Judith Bernstein Lunch Program hosted by B’nai Jeshurun
  • Samantha Katel
  • Lenore Richter
  • Robin West

2022

  • Linda Carter Cooper
  • Mark Diller
  • LaDreamer Lark (& 8 yr. old daughter Dreamer Daisy)
  • “One Block” founded by Ann Cutbill Lenane & Jake Russell
  • LeVera Sutton
  • Alan Winson

2023

  • Emma Justus
  • Melissa Elstein
  • Dorothy Reiss
  • Carolyn Breidenback
  • Wilma Lorraine Johnson
  • Margarita Curet Osorio