Adirondack Community Foundation (ACF) is pleased to announce the winners of the Kindling Awards, which celebrate the everyday neighbors who keep the spirit of community alive and well in our neck of the woods. Named after the essential ingredient that starts the warm fire we all gather around, in 2025, the inaugural Kindling Awards celebrated events that bring neighbors together in the winter months. This year, the focus shifted from events to people.

“We received more than 100 nominations for people — both long-time residents and newcomers — who show up for their neighbors in a variety of ways,” said Jennifer Russell, Vice President of Grants and Program for ACF. “It was inspiring to see how far simple acts of kindness go toward making the kind of welcoming communities we all want to live in.”

Each of the 30 awardees selected a local organization to receive a $1,000 grant in their honor. The full list awardees, listed alphabetically by town, appear below. You can also learn more at adkcommunityfoundation.org/kindling-awards.

Au Sable Forks

Robin Licari
Bonnie Rondeau

Champlain

Michael Lafontaine

Corinth

Connie Wood

Ellenburg Depot

Dorothy Williams Rodgers 

Indian Lake

Abigail Eichler

Jay

Elyse Roller and Joan Schulein 

Johnsburg

Denise Conti

Keeseville

LeeAnne Ruff
Adam Wilson 

Lake George

Darcy Leigh

Lake Placid

Keela Grimmette
Melissa Orzechowski

Minerva

David McNally
Minerva SnowTravelers (David LaBar, President) 

Mooers

Paula Ashline

New Russia

Marietta Brady

North Bangor

Jessica Martindale 

North River

Anita Abrams

Owls Head

Marcie Ryan

Saranac Lake

Gail Brill
Johnna Macdougall
Ben Sitts
Tori and Jeremy Thurston

Schroon Lake

Carol Van Gorp

Star Lake

Lynne Backus

Tupper Lake

Bob Fletcher

Wells

Dan and Amber Margies

Westport

Josh Kingzack

Whallonsburg

Mary-Nell Bochman and Andy Buchanan

Kindling Awardee Bios

Anita Abrams is a cornerstone of the North River community, celebrated for her tireless volunteer work. For 20 years, she has managed the food pantry at the Adirondack Community Outreach Center (ACOC) in Johnsburg, leading a loyal “hive” of volunteers who describe her as their “Queen Bee,” much to her chagrin.  Beyond the pantry, she organizes a tri-weekly walking group that fosters both physical health and vital social connection. Grant directed to ACOC.

Paula Ashline is a master of the multi-layered fundraiser that benefits multiple organizations at once. From coordinating holiday parties for seniors to hosting themed dinners for the local library, she creates thoughtful and engaging ways for the community to give back. Her nominator wrote, “Time and again, Paula brings people together around shared goals, making community support feel natural, joyful, and achievable.” Grant directed to Mooers Wesleyan Food Pantry.

A school board member and volunteer EMT, Lynne Backus brings a “Braveheart” energy to every effort. She uses her personal time off to assist students with medical needs on field trips and famously visits every child in the community as a holiday elf on the fire truck. From connecting hospital patients to resources to mentoring 16 junior firefighters, Lynne’s impact is felt across every generation. Grant directed to Clifton-Fine CSD for support of the Athletics Club.

Mary-Nell Bochman and Andy Buchanan were the visionaries behind the Whallonsburg Grange Hall’s rebirth. Through persistent advocacy and plenty of “elbow grease,” they led an army of volunteers to transform a historic space into a buzzing community hub for movies, dances, and music. They have since expanded across the street, turning an old garage into a thriving artisan gallery. Grant directed to the Whallonsburg Grange.

Marietta Brady leaps to fill any gap she spots in the community with a “cheerful, can-do” spirit. She has partnered with the Red Cross for swim lessons and Adirondacks Friends of Refugees and Immigrants for cultural festivals, but her hallmark is the free, bilingual toddler playgroup she has run for five years—a joyful haven for young families she maintains through creative partnerships and funding. Grant directed the WIC n’ Pick Families to Farm program.

If there’s a positive, community-building effort happening in Saranac Lake, you can bet Gail Brill is behind it. An entrepreneurial artist and a local powerhouse for decades, she helped launch the community-owned Village Mercantile and the Farm 2 Fork Festival, started the “Saranac Lake Neighbor Helping Neighbor” Facebook group, and splashed warmth across town with the Heart Banner Project. Grant directed to the Saranac Lake Youth Center.

For nearly three decades, Denise Conti has been filling the North Country with beautiful music. As the volunteer director of the North Country Singers, she unites residents from Johnsburg, Minerva, Chester, Schroon, and beyond through the pure joy of song. Welcoming all voices, she has cultivated a tight-knit family of 40 vocalists who share harmonies, laughter, and deep mutual encouragement. Grant directed to Tannery Pond Center. 

Abigail Eichler is the unofficial MVP of youth sports in Indian Lake, driven by a mission to get kids off the couch and onto the field. While balancing a full-time career and raising two children, she serves as the primary engine for the local Little League — recruiting coaches, coordinating parents, and even securing the grants for equipment storage. Whether she’s managing the diamond in the spring or coordinating community ski trips to Oak Mountain in the winter, Abby’s volunteer hustle ensures every local child has a teammate and a place to play. Grant directed the Indian Lake Theater.

Bob Fletcher is Tupper Lake’s loudest, proudest, and most big-hearted cheerleader. Known as “everyone’s favorite grocery bagger,” he swooped in like a superhero to single-handedly save the youth girls’ softball program from folding. He poured in his own time and money, rallied sponsors, fixed up the fields, and united the whole town around getting these kids on the diamond. Grant directed to the Town of Tupper Lake Recreation Dept.

Keela Grimmette’s compassion is contagious. Drawing on her global nonprofit experience, she helped launch the North Country Immigrants Allies to educate and advocate for immigrant neighbors, with the vision of a “just and welcoming community for us all.” When a local family faced the crisis of deportation, she mobilized immediate aid and legal connections, ensuring that vulnerable community members had the support necessary to navigate complex challenges. Grant directed to Planned Parenthood of the North Country.

Josh Kingzack has made the summers in Westport more vibrant by organizing a Sunday volleyball group at Lee Park. The games have become a staple for neighbors to gather and play, creating a welcoming space for both long-time residents and newcomers to connect and build friendships. One nominator shared that after a period of deep depression, the simple act of sitting on the bench and enjoying the community atmosphere at the games lifted their spirits immensely. Grant directed to Boquet Valley Central School (BVCS) to support the PBIS program.

Michael Lafontaine is the unsung hero of the Champlain Memorial Library. Winter after winter, he arrives before dawn to hand-shovel massive snowdrifts, ensuring safe passage for the library’s older patrons. Come summer, he transforms the grounds with breathtaking zinnias grown from seeds he’s carefully harvested for decades. He even sells his photography as greeting cards to raise extra funds. Mike’s quiet, steadfast care brings immense joy and safety to the whole town. Grant directed to the Champlain Memorial Library.

Darcy Leigh built something the community of Lake George didn’t have — a third space called The Creative Jam, where people can take classes, work on projects, and just be in the company of others. It’s a place where neighbors naturally learn each other’s names, share food, and look out for one another. Darcy has built the kind of environment where community happens naturally and everyone has a seat at the table. Grant directed to The Creative Jam.

From the moment she moved to Au Sable Forks, Robin Licari  hit the ground running. She was the driving force behind a new food pantry that is already feeding local families, and she launched a Mercy Care branch to transport seniors to medical appointments. Her humble, tireless hustle is making life measurably better for her new neighbors. Grant directed to St. James Episcopal Church Ecumenical Food Bank.

Johnna Macdougall is a whirlwind of magnetic energy in Saranac Lake. From leading African dance sessions and community drumming circles to organizing senior wellness classes, she creates joyful spaces for human connection. When SNAP benefits were reduced, she didn’t miss a beat — she launched the Caring Neighbors project, gathering residents to cook and package food kits for low-income families. Johnna’s vibrant spirit makes everyone around her feel uplifted, welcomed, and alive. Grant directed to Saranac Lake Adult Center. 

Jessica Martindale is a pillar of selfless resilience in the Malone area. As an LPN and a single mother of three — including a son with complex medical needs — she balances foster parenting with tireless clinical care. She consistently steps in as a “no questions asked” lifeline for neighbors in crisis with a quiet strength that ensures no one in her community has to face their obstacles alone. Grant directed to PAWS at UVM Hospital.

David McNally has initiated many projects that have embodied the spirit of Minerva. At the height of COVID, he compiled videos with contributions from Minervans of all ages and organized a community bell ringing to recognize victims of the pandemic. He personally answers letters deposited in “Santa’s mailbox” by local children, and he and his wife, Clare, create handmade valentines for older residents. Grant directed to a fund supporting scholarships for graduating seniors of Minerva Central School District.

Since buying the Hamilton County Mercantile in 2022, Dan and Amber Margies have served up positive energy along with deli sandwiches. They are practically everywhere in their Wells community: hosting donation-based meals to fund hometown hero flags, running summer scavenger hunts, and organizing hunting contests. With Dan serving as fire commissioner and Amber active on the town and library boards, this duo has community spirit to spare. Grant directed to the Wells Central School STEAM Club.

Minerva SnowTravelers, led by President David LaBar, are dedicated to making Minerva a welcoming and active place for all. Known for putting in countless hours grooming snowmobile trails and maintaining two local sledding hills, the group ensures that families can enjoy hours of outdoor fun throughout the winter months. One nominator, a new resident, shared how the group’s members made them feel like a long-time part of the community from day one. Grant directed to the Minerva Service Organization (split between the Minerva Sleeping Giants and the backpack program).

As the coordinator of the Adirondack Queer Ice Fest, Melissa Orzechowski  is celebrated for her efforts in building a safe and inclusive outdoor community. This event brings dozens of people from the LGBTQ+ community to the region each year, providing a supportive environment for them to experience the beauty of the Adirondacks. After surviving a tragic climbing accident that claimed the life of a close friend, Melissa’s return to teaching and leading in the outdoors has been an inspiration to many. Grant directed to the Adirondack Queer Ice Fest.

Dorothy Williams Rodgers transformed the Trinity Episcopal Church’s community meal program in Plattsburgh into a joyful weekly gathering. Serving over 200 meals a week, she has ably blended volunteers from the local college, the church, and the recovery community into a cohesive team. By adding informational community tables and a winter clothing drive, she turned a simple downtown kitchen into a welcoming social hub where everyone belongs. Grant directed to the Community Meal of Trinity Church.

Marcie Ryan grew up in the Owls Head community and pours her boundless energy into making it a better place to live. She is always the first in line to donate her time to local fundraising events, inspiring a new wave of volunteers to step up and boosting attendance at community activities. She was a driving force behind purchasing and caring for a former church, helping to transform it into a bustling community center. Grant directed to Owls Head Mountain View Community Center.

Elyse Roller and Joan Schulein are the quiet glue holding the civic and social life of Ausable Acres community together. By hosting “First Friday” potlucks, neighborhood clean-ups, and Q&A sessions with local officials, they have turned a geographically spread-out development into a close-knit neighborhood where residents are actively engaged. Grant directed to Jay Entertainment and Music Society (JEMS).

When Ben Sitts moved to Saranac Lake, he realized the mountains were missing one crucial thing: a pulsing electronic music scene. So, he bought a turntable, taught himself to spin, and started throwing epic backyard shows. He launched “Dewey Dubs,” bringing free, inclusive, and wildly fun afternoons of dancing, vibrant art, and complex soundscapes right into nature. Ben is proving that sharing your personal passion can inject a massive dose of joy into a community. Grant directed to Dewey Mountain Friends.

Our most-nominated awardee is Bonnie Rondeau. Born and raised in Au Sable Forks, she started organizing weekly outings for anyone interested in hiking, no matter their age or ability level. One nominator wrote, “As we age, life continues to offer us challenges. Many of us are widows, or are struggling with various health issues, or find that we are caring for declining spouses.… She is a mountain spring of love and a great asset to both individuals and the community.” Grant directed to the St. James Episcopal Church Ecumenical Food Bank in Au Sable Forks.

LeeAnne Ruff has fostered deep connections among women in the Keeseville area and the broader Adirondack region. She founded “ADK Woman” and started “Friendworking” events — gatherings that focus on relationships and mutual support rather than traditional business networking. Starting in her own living room, LeeAnne created a space where women can dine together and share their challenges and goals. A nominator shared that attending these events provided the opportunity they had been longing for to meet “smart, successful women” in their own community. Grant directed to the AuSable Forks Action Corporation.

Tori and Jeremy Thurston are a duo whose combined efforts in Saranac Lake make the community stronger and more supportive. Tori has been instrumental in the Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living, stepping in to manage renovations and ensure the space remains a welcoming resource for people with disabilities. Jeremy, a local plumber, is praised for his responsiveness and willingness to help neighbors with urgent home issues at all hours of the night. Together, they represent the “fabric of the community” through both their professional skills and their volunteer efforts. Grant directed to the Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living.

Carol Van Gorp treats her unpaid role running the Schroon Lake School District Backpack Program and local food pantry like a full-time profession — and she pours her whole heart into it. She is a master at making everyone feel welcome and respected. By partnering with the local farmers market to provide fresh produce to clients, and gently guiding a dedicated team of volunteers, Carol creates an atmosphere of genuine care and dignity for everyone who walks through the doors. Grant directed to Schroon Lake School District Backpack Program.

Adam Wilson is redefining what it means to be a good neighbor at his Sand River Community Farm in Keeseville. Embracing a philosophy of “radical neighboring,” he freely gifts beautiful, farm-grown food to anyone hungry for a meal or connection. Whether he’s hosting community harvest dinners or handing out quarts of hearty winter soup, Adam’s generosity breaks down modern isolation and brings people back to the land — and to each other. He declined the offer to direct a grant, so we designated $1,000 to the Hope Kitchen.

Connie Wood leads the charge for community support initiatives in the Corinth and Luzerne areas. Through her employer, the Hudson River Community Credit Union, she coordinates personalized donations for the American Legion’s Adopt-A-Family program and the school district’s Hoops for Holidays. She also honors local veterans by collecting, baking, and distributing baked goods for Veteran’s Day, consistently turning her care into collective action. Grant directed to Corinth Community Churches food pantry.