Each year, there seems to be a common thread mentioned when you talk to the winners of the Town of Highlands Democratic Committee's annual Evelyn Drew Memorial Award.
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It makes sense, since that common thread is a great respect for the late Mrs. Drew, a tiny woman with a big heart who was, interestingly, a force to be reckoned with in local politics.
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This year's winner of the award is Highland Falls Ann Molina. When asked about how she feels about receiving it, she went with the standard "grateful and appreciative", but also quickly mentioned the fact that Mrs. Drew was one of her mentors as a young woman growing up in the town.
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"She and Gloria Braxton had me stuffing envelopes and going door to door when I was just a kid," Molina recalls. "I didn't know a thing about politics, but they taught me."
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Molina may have received that early introduction to politics by the two strong women, but she herself never ventured into any type of elected office. She has, however, spent her entire life helping others.​
She has degrees in psychology and elementary education from Long Island University and an MPS in Humanistic Education from SUNY New Paltz. She's also a certified alcohol and substance abuse educator.
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Molina spent the majority of her career working for New York State in the Hudson Valley Developmental Disabilities Service Office in Thiells. That was followed, after her retirement, by stints in the Rockland County Volunteer Counseling Services, as a mental health technician at Cornwall Hospital, and a court clerk here in the Town of Highlands.
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But its what she's done in the past few years that most local residents know.
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Molina, in 2014, founded The Center, a community resource for people of all ages. She serves as its executive director.
Because of her willingness to serve the community, Town of Highlands Democratic Committee Chairman Lynn Edsall said the decision to honor Molina was an easy one.
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"Ann had a vision that the children of our community should have a chance to realize their full potential," Edsall said. It’s fair to say that The Center would never of come to fruition without her. Her values, work ethic and love of this community are an inspiration to the Democratic Committee and we are honored to add her name to the list of distinguished recipients of the Evelyn Drew Award."
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Others say she deserves the honor too.
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"I first met Ann back in 2010," Fort Montgomery's Denise Gibney said, "because the Hudson Valley Women's Association and Friends (another organization founded by Molina) gave my granddaughter a scholarship. We just clicked."
Gibney now works with Molina on many projects.
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"She wants to bring Highland Falls back to the way it was ... a real community, with people not so distant and separate." Gibney said. "At The Center, she has put her time, money and energy into a place where everyone is welcome."
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Brian Aylward is the president of the Board of Directors of The Center, and also says the award is well deserved.
"Ann is the person we all admire because she always puts others first," he said. "She has created a place that is an asset to this community."
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A person who agrees that statement is Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Sheboy, who said he sees both Molina and The Center as "wonderful advocates for our community children".
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He has worked with her on several programs, and said he thanks her for regularly inviting him and other school district staff into her facility.
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"Though she doesn't work in our schools, she works with our schools," he said. "I love working with her and so appreciate how she works tirelessly to improve our community and schools."
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To be perfectly honest, Molina isn't thrilled about receiving the honor -- not out of any disrespect to the Committee. She's just not someone who looks for recognition of any sort. She's much more the sort of person who likes to recognize others.
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"I know there are many people out there like me who don't like to be in the spotlight," she said, "and I've asked many of them to stand up and be honored. I guess it's only fair I stand up when they ask me to."
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The brunch to honor Molina will be held on Sunday, April 8 at the Barnstormer Restaurant in Fort Montgomery from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 446-9211 to make reservations or for more information. Cost is $35 per person.
