Longtime East Hills resident Jodi Golden has been honored with the village’s first Role Model of the Year in East Hills. The presentation was made on Aug. 31 during Labor Day weekend festivities in at The Park At East Hills.
In making the presentation, Mayor Michael R. Koblenz praised Golden for her courage in the face of adversities.
“This award involves a profile in courage, what you might describe as valor under fire,” the mayor said. “The hero in lone survivor comes to mind, and Jodi Golden is our own, real life Marcus Luttrell. She is a truly extraordinary human being who is challenging health and adversity head-on, and smiles as she continues to face these obstacles.
“We commend Jodi for her resolute determination, and present her with our first ‘Role Model of the Year in East Hills’ Award,” the mayor continued. “You see, Jodi is bigger than life. She teaches us how to overcome hurdles. She is a wonderful person and sets the finest example for all of us to follow.”
In East Hills, Golden is active as a member of The Kids in the Park Committee. She is also co-president, along with Sandi Greenfield of the Roslyn Special Education PTA (SEPTA). Last year, SEPTA sponsored the first annual Go Long For Luke fundraiser at The Park At East Hills, an event that enjoyed a successful second year this past weekend.
Last fall, Golden and Greenfield, along with another Roslyn resident, Amy Greenberg, were honored at a Community Mainstream Associates (CMA) Working On A Dream luncheon. CMA is a Garden City-based organization that helps people with developmental disabilities in learning job skills that prepare them for future employment. Golden was cited as “a tireless fundraiser for causes improving the lives of people with developmental disabilities.”
