FERNDALE, NY — Sullivan 180 hosted the third annual Empowering a Healthier Generation Celebration on September 21 at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. 

It was an evening celebrating the accomplishments of Sullivan County schools, which are part of Sullivan 180’s Empowering a Healthier Generation (EHG) program. 

It was also the culmination of EHG’s first-ever Competition Year and Judging Week. 

Taking home first place and $75,000 was Sullivan West Elementary School. Second place, with an award of $50,000, went to Benjamin Cosor Elementary in the Fallsburg School District. 

Awards were provided by the Gerry Foundation.

Turtle Awards in the amount of $500 each acknowledged schools and school leaders for guiding their students, faculty and parents toward healthier lifestyles: 

Collaborator awards—Fallsburg High School and Sullivan West Elementary School

Mental Health Award—Sullivan West Elementary School

Mother Earth Award—Livingston Manor Central School

Nutrition Awards—Fallsburg Central School and Livingston Manor Central School

Physical Activity Awards—Monticello’s George L. Cooke Elementary School and Robert J. Kaiser Middle School 

The Grant Project of the Year was awarded to Monticello’s Robert J. Kaiser Middle School for a project led by Scott Cooper. 

The Committee of the Year Award went to Livingston Manor Central School, for a group led by Calley Erlwein and René Carlson.

The HG Advisor of the Year Awards went to both Elisa Mendels from Monticello’s George L. Cooke Elementary School and to Calley Erlwein from Livingston Manor High School. 

Turtle Awards were sponsored by local businesses and organizations including Wendy Brown in loving memory of John Brown, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County, Foster Supply Hospitality, the Gerry Foundation, Jeff Bank, M&T Bank, NYSEG, the Sullivan County Democrat, Thompson Sanitation and the Zufall Family Foundation.

The event kicked off with a networking reception and a premiere of the Empowering a Healthier Generation film. Grant project presentations were made by each school district showcasing the health & wellness work being done in each of their buildings. 

These projects include the implementation of the Walking Classroom, increased physical activity opportunities, access to healthy foods, social and emotional learning initiatives and staff wellness programs.

“We’ll only be able to do this together. It’s not one person doing it, one organization doing it. It’s teamwork, and we invite you to join us,” said Sandra Gerry, founding chair of Sullivan 180.

Empowering a Healthier Generation is a school-based partnership between Sullivan 180 and Sullivan County schools. The goal is to create a grassroots movement that will change policy and environments; while demonstrating that individuals and families have an important role to play in building a culture of health for themselves and the next generation. 

To learn more, visit www.sullivan180.org or call Meaghan Mullally-Gorr at 845/295-2685 or email Meaghan@Sullivan180.org.