Philanthropy Award Honorees
On November 20, 2025, the Community Foundation and 400 guests gathered at the Hyatt Regency Hotel to celebrate the impact of generosity and to honor our Philanthropy Award honorees. Receiving Philanthropy Awards were Laurie and Rich Riedman (Joe U. Posner Founders Award), Philip L. Burke (Community Bridge-Builder Award), and Jerry Fisher and Jonathan Rosenfeld.
Laurie and Rich Riedman
Joe U. Posner Founders Award
The Riedmans’ complimentary professional expertise — Laurie in communications and Rich in IT and logistics — once launched a public relations firm that started with a fax machine in their living room. Today, it makes them invaluable volunteers. They repeatedly ask, “How can we help advance the change that will have the greatest impact?”
Rich has held leadership roles in the ManKind Project, facilitating and empowering men’s groups and retreats, while Laurie has volunteered with the sister organization, Woman Within, serving on its international board. Together, they offer relationship coaching and lead couples’ retreats.
Laurie and Rich’s legacy is one of deep connections, strengthened organizations, and countless lives touched. They offer this advice: “Discover what you are passionate about. Find others who share that passion, and work together to make a difference.”
Laurie and Rich Riedman‘s strategic giving, volunteering, and enthusiasm for making connections in their Ontario County community exemplify our founder’s vision. Read more.
Philip L. Burke, Esq.
Community Bridge-Builder Award
Philip L. Burke is a celebrated local trusts and estates attorney with Woods Oviatt Gilman and a longtime partner to the Community Foundation. He guides families through life’s most personal conversations with warmth and ease, introducing charitable giving as one option families may consider when planning their legacy.
One fond memory is when a client set up a fund at the Foundation that upkeeps graveyards in rural communities. In other cases, his introductions have led to transformational commitments, including a multi-generational estate plan that could yield more than $10 million in charitable impact.
Phil’s generosity is rooted in personal connections and love of family. Inspired by his wife’s story of adoption, he began volunteering with Families Thrive. After his father’s cancer diagnosis, Phil played a key role in bringing the national Gilda’s Club model to Rochester.
Seeing the potential for philanthropy to bridge divides, Phil helps clients turn their values and aspirations into meaningful action. “The wealth gap keeps getting wider and causing more issues,” he reflects. “If we can limit and reverse that — so more people ‘have’ and fewer people ‘have not’ — that would be a great transformation.” Read more.
Jerry Fisher, PhD, and Jonathan Rosenfeld
Philanthropy Award
Jerry Fisher and Jonathan Rosenfeld are champions of philanthropy and of Rochester Area Community Foundation, committed to making giving more inclusive, impactful, and joyful.
Jonathan is motivated to heal race relations, volunteering with organizations like Odyssey of Humanity — founded by his parents to confront racism — and the Massey Commission. As a proud member of the LGBTQIA2+ community, Jonathan sees philanthropy’s power to build unity in a divided world.
Jerry’s passion is to help the poorest of the poor, a mantra shared by late wife Joyce DeHaan throughout their 43-year relationship. His aspiration for our region is to make big progress on poverty so more people can do the things they love.
Jerry and Jonathan have long supported collaborative giving initiatives like the LGBT+ Giving Circle, NextGen Giving Circle, African American Giving Initiative, and the Black Giving Collective — where people come together to pool resources, foster equity, and build community.
Inspiring others is their superpower, whether they are introducing their networks to a cause, hosting fundraisers at their Orleans County home, or inviting new people into the rewarding world of philanthropy. Read more.
On November 13, 2024 the Community Foundation honored three local philanthropists during its Celebration of Giving event. Receiving Philanthropy Awards were Jill M. Cicero (Joe U. Posner Founders Award), Gita Ramachandran, and C.J. Britt on behalf of Lyons National Bank (Community Partner Award). Scroll down to watch the full program.
Jill M. Cicero
Jill M. Cicero was awarded the Joe U. Posner Founders Award for her role as an active volunteer and vital connector within the philanthropic community. She has dedicated thousands of hours to board service to community and legal organizations, showing that giving time and talents can be just as valuable as giving treasure. Her first board position came when Jill graduated from Colgate University and became their first recent graduate trustee – bringing a bold young voice to her alma matter’s board. She went on to serve on boards such as the HUGS Foundation, Monroe Community College Foundation, Al Sigl Foundation, and Genesee Land Trust, as well as a significant tenure at the Community Foundation and on its Professional Advisors Liaison Committee. Jill served as the Community Foundation’s board president in 2009, providing leadership and a long-range view through a tough financial recession.
A Cornell Law graduate and managing partner, Jill has been recognized multiple times as one of the Best Lawyers in America as well as Rochester Trusts and Estates “Lawyer of the Year.” In her practice, Jill connects clients to giving opportunities that satisfy a deep personal desire to give back, whether financially or through volunteerism.
Gita Ramachandran
Gita Ramachandran was awarded a Philanthropy Award for her practical approach to philanthropy and steadfast commitment to addressing poverty and its impacts. Gita reminds us, “Poverty is right now an ocean. Drop by drop, the ocean shall fill. People need to see the small wins along the way that show we are making progress.” Gita delivers food to seniors through Meals on Wheels and gives to local organizations like Open Door Mission and Foodlink, regional food pantries, and global disaster response organizations.
Throughout her career, Gita often encouraged her employers to support the nonprofits she volunteered with, like the Community Place of Greater Rochester, where she has been a board member since 2003. A member of the Rochester Women’s Giving Circle since 2010, Gita has served on committees that put her in contact with local nonprofits and their staff. Leveraging her financial expertise as a former CFO and public accountant, Gita became particularly invested in the CASH program, which provides financial services to income eligible families.
Today, she is the leader of a practical philosophy school in Rochester, experience that has shaped her thoughtful perspective on sharing resources. “Giving has to start with your thoughts, then transition into conversation, investigation, and finally, action,” says Gita.
Lyons National Bank
The Community Partner Award, new in 2024, was awarded to Lyons National Bank in recognition of their exceptional leadership, partnership in community initiatives, and lasting commitment to Wayne County. When the banking industry started shifting away from in-person services, Lyons doubled down on their physical presence in towns and villages. Today, they have 16 branches offering services for families, businesses, and farmers. New branches are even built with dedicated meeting space for community groups to gather and use conferencing technology, free of charge.
This regional banking staple has repeatedly shown their commitment to the Wayne County Community Endowment, a permanent fund at the Community Foundation, and the surrounding community. The bank’s leadership encourages staff to volunteer with local nonprofits, and employees can often be seen in their communities participating in fundraisers, giving blood to address critical shortages, or lifting a hand during the United Way’s Day of Caring.
Accepting the award was Executive Vice President C.J. Britt, who has served as chair of the Wayne County Community Endowment Advisory Committee for over a decade. In 2022 and 2023, C.J. and a team of volunteers from Lyons National Bank played pivotal roles in the success of the Community Endowment Golf Tournament — managing registration, running a raffle, and securing more than 80 golfers. During its two-year run, the tournament introduced new people to the Wayne County Community Endowment and brought awareness to the programs and services it supports.
Watch the full program:
On September 21, 2023, we celebrated philanthropy and the work the Community Foundation is doing on behalf of our region. Receiving Philanthropy Awards were Donald S. Hall (Joe U. Posner Founders Award), H. Todd Bullard and Drs. Krishan and Jaimala Thanik. Watch the entire program here.
H. Todd Bullard, Esq.
As a teenager, Todd was fascinated by the televised Watergate hearings and presidential impeachment process against Richard Nixon and the elected leaders intent on adhering to our democratic ideals. That helped convince him to become an attorney — and later a Monroe County legislator — to serve his community.
That service also included offering his expertise on boards. Todd joined the Community Foundation board in 1995, and looking back says that is when he learned how to be an effective board member, interpret financials, and fully appreciate the positive benefits and impact of philanthropy. He and his wife, Darnella, turned to the Foundation in 2003 to establish the Leah Lillian Louise Bullard Memorial Fund, named for a beloved daughter who passed away as an infant. Making connections is another way that Todd contributes to the community. A little more than 10 years ago, he encouraged his client — Rural Metro Ambulance — to support the African American Giving Initiative’s effort publish the State of Black Rochester book in 2013. The 10-year update of that book’s findings will be released in a multimedia format.
Drs. Jaimala and Krishan Thanik
For Krishan and Jaimala, giving back was what they did every day in their medical practices — he as a gastroenterologist and she as an anesthesiologist. They worked long days — 12 to 14 hours — to ensure that their patients got the best possible care.
But Jaimala observed how often patients who experienced pain were told there was nothing else that could be done. She decided to learn more about the country’s four pain management clinics by spending several months away from home to see for herself how those sites operated and understand best practices. Once back in Rochester, Jaimala began offering pain evaluation and treatment to patients and later helped establish the area’s first pain management clinic and convince health insurance companies to cover the related procedures.
Throughout their careers, the Thaniks were committed to supporting the hospitals where they worked and helping the greater community through donations. They also were instrumental in the creation of the India Community Center in Macedon, Wayne County, and financially backing the effort to open this gathering space for local individuals and families from India.
Their relationship with the Community Foundation began in 1996, beginning with contributions to the annual campaign. They later created three different funds to support their personal charitable giving and the community and its residents in the future. Krishan joined the Foundation’s board of directors in 2015 and served on several committees through 2021.
Donald S. Hall, Joe U. Posner Founders Award Recipent
Don can certainly say he had a stellar career under the stars — but indoors and at planetariums. He even had the unique opportunity to train NASA astronauts to recognize 54 specific stars that could be guides to keep the spacecraft oriented in case navigation equipment failed.
Don has many quirky things he’s passionate about — from hamburgers, zinc grave markers and architecture to Tiffany glass, the mansions along East Avenue, and organs to name a few.
Through extensive research, this Ohio native transformed his fascination with these topics into 19 talks that he’s given hundreds of times locally and across the country. He deposited speaking fees from each presentation, along with contributions from investments and sales of his various collections, into the Donald S. Hall Fund at the Community Foundation. One day, proceeds from his estate will be the final gift to the fund, which will carry on his legacy and love for history, historic buildings and artifacts. Don has been asked many times what he would have been if he hadn’t been in the planetarium field. A philanthropist, he always replied. “That was a joke at the time, but now I am one,” he said.
Join us in congratulating the recipients of our Philanthropy Awards! Year in and year out, each recipient contributes to the promise of the greater Rochester region. The Community Foundation recognizes the many hours and consistent financial support these generous individuals and families share with countless nonprofit organizations dedicated to the improvement of our villages, towns, cities, and counties.
If not for this award, many of our honorees would remain behind the scenes, invisibly savoring the good works they have started, built on, or completed. We thank them for going public with their generosity in order to inspire others.
Here are the people and organizations that have been recognized with Philanthropy Awards by the Community Foundation since 1991. Those who have received the Joe U. Posner Founders Award, named for our founding chair, are marked with a plus symbol (+). Before 2001, this honor was simply the Founders Award.
2024: Jill M. Cicero+; Gita Ramachandran; and C.J. Britt on behalf of Lyons National Bank.
2023: H. Todd Bullard; Donald S. Hall+; and Drs. Krishan and Jaimala Thanik
2022: Jonathan Foster; Emerson Fullwood; Dr. Dawn Lipson; and Judy von Bucher+
2021: Hanif Abdul-Wahid; Mary Anne Palermo; and Tom Riley and Barbara Kelley+
2020: José Coronas+; Nancy Robbins*; and Mary-Frances Winters
2019: Laura “Jinny” Loomis and Norman Loomis, MD; Harold Samloff; and Clayton H. Osborne+
2018: Bud* and Peggy* Frame family; Randy and Marion Henderson; and Kathy Nixon+
2017: Mike Buckley+; Anne Morris Farnham and Sherman Farnham Jr.; Mimi Hwang; and Chuck Lundeen* and John Williams
Special Recognition: Irene Weinberg, one of the Foundations’ first donors, and Rochester Women’s Giving Circle for its 10th year and surpassing $1 million in grantmaking
2016: Mary F. Fisher* and Deborah Lattime+; Dr. Sidney and Barbara Sobel; and Dilip Vellodi
2015: Leo and Charlotte Landhuis; Pin-Seng and Shirley Tschang; and Nathan “Nick” Robfogel+
Special Recognition: Bob Silver* and 20 years of leading Community Sponsors annual campaign
2014: Tom Argust+; Dr. Matthew Augustine; Linda Wells Davey*; and Robert Sykes* and family
Special Recognition: Feinbloom Supporting Foundation 25-year partnership.
2013: Dr. Walter Cooper+; the family of Robert* and Jane* Stevens; and Eric Zeller
Special Recognition: Muriel H. Marshall Fund 15-year partnership
2012: Ronald Fielding; Janet Buchanan Smith*; and Margaret Sánchez+
Special Recognition: Community Foundation Founders and Longest-Serving Volunteers for An Evening Out At Home, Diana Lauria and Esel Rasor*
2011: Edward P. “Ted” Curtis Jr.*; the family of Lou and Betty* Iacona; Ruth I. Morton; and Ruth H. Scott+
2010: Mark and Kathy Cleary; Mark* and Bobbie* (Barbara) Hargrave Jr.; TC Lewis+*; and Nannette Nocon
2009: Bruce B. Bates+*; Suzanne Gouvernet*; Adrienne* and Bertha Simpkins; and Justin L. Vigdor
2008: Joe Brown*; Dr. Marvin and Nancy* Yanes Hoffman; Robert D. “Bob” Hursh+*; and Frank* and Norma* Riedman
2007: Vee* and George* Angle; Tom and Barbara Clark; Paul Rubery, Esq.+; and V.J. Stanley*
2006: Catherine Carlson*/Dorris and Chester Carlson Foundation; Ray and Erika Hutch; and Harris “Bud” Rusitzky+
2005: Harry* and Nancy Beilfuss; Robert W. “Bob” Kessler, Esq.+; and John M. “Dutch” Summers*
2004: George and Mary* Bauer; Marjorie Brenneman*; Jerome L. Huff*; and Richard A. Schwartz+
2003: Armored Motor Service of Rochester; Jacqueline P. Cady*; Alfred L. Davis*; C. Benn* and Sally Forsyth+; and Halcyon Hill Foundation
2002: Joanna Card*; ESL Federal Credit Union; James and Janis Gleason and the Gleason Foundation; Elliott H. Press*; and Janet Welch+
2001: Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust; Ione “Grandma” Collins*; B. Thomas Golisano; and Robert C. Silver+*
Special Recognition: Horses on Parade Project of High Falls Brewing Company
2000: Davenport-Hatch Foundation;Lance Drummond; Greece Rotary Club; Cricket Luellen*; and Linda Weinstein+
1999: Joseph* and Nancy Briggs+; Caldwell Manufacturing; Princeton Club of Rochester; and Robert Schmidhammer
1998: Arunas Chesonis; Ronald Fielding; James Littwitz+*; Richard Palermo*; and The Rochester Garden Club
1997: The Brush Family+;Hattie Harris*; Rosa Wims; Louis S. & Molly Wolk Foundation; and Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church
1996: Frontier Corporation; Junior League of Rochester; Joe U. Posner+*; and Robert Strasenburgh*
1995: Brighton Twelve Corners Middle School 8th Grade Community Service Program; Diane Doniger; Ruby Lockhart; Merrill Lynch and Co., Bruce Taub – Resident Vice President; and I.C. Shah+*
1994: Dr. Donald Eldredge*; Harold* and Joan Feinbloom+; Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation; and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
1993: Nicholas Ferreri; Philip* and Dolores* Neivert; Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.; and Wyman-Potter Foundation
1992: Borders Book Shop; Eastman Kodak Company; Elliot Landsman*; and the Marie C. and Joseph C. Wilson Foundation
1991: Richard F. Brush*
*Deceased