The Sidney Alumni Association was awarded the third annual "Community Matters Award" at the annual meeting of the Sidney United Way on January 23, 2007. This award is given to an individual or organization that has helped the Sidney United Way make an impact in the Sidney Community the past year.

SCSAA President, Terry Dermody, acknowledged the role of Sidney Alumni in these efforts by commenting that "the overwhelming response and generosity of Sidney Alumni is the reason the Association is here tonight receiving this recognition. The most gratifying aspect of the response is that it validated our founding purposes of Alumni & Community. So, in fact this award truly belongs to all those alumni who answered the appeal and in that spirit I proudly accept it on their behalf."

During the flood of 2006, the Board of Directors of the Sidney Alumni Association designated the Disaster Relief Fund of the Sidney United Way as the organization to distribute donations from alumni to help Sidney residents recover from the flood. As a result of their efforts, over $19,000 was donated to this fund by local alumni and alumni from all over the United States.

The Village of Sidney and the local Habitat for Humanity worked with local residents to establish criteria to help flood victims with unmet needs. Over fifty Sidney families received vouchers to purchase appliances and building supplies from local merchants. These purchases were paid through the Disaster Relief Fund to Habitat for Humanity who helped coordinate the distribution of these items. This collaboration helped many individuals return to their homes before the cold weather set in.

Janet Wright, President of the Sidney United Way, commented, that without the generosity of the Alumni Association and other local business and individuals many residents would still have unmet needs.

In accepting this award, Terry Dermody said that the Alumni Association is very proud of the role they were able to play in the flood relief efforts in support of the community during these difficult times. He stated that that the mission of getting disaster relief funds to local people in need was certainly accomplished by the Sidney United Way Disaster Relief Fund and met the criteria established by the Alumni Association.

Reprint from The Tri-Town News