Copyright Staten Island Advance
Hi Neighbor, My buddy Grasmere Steve, he who keeps me in the loop on what’s happening in national publications around America while I keep an eye on the comings and goings in our 59 square miles of God’s Country, shared a feature published every Sunday in The Washington Post. It’s called “The Optimist,” a compilation of “good news” stories. Not a negative tale in the bunch. It reminds me of a feature my predecessor began in the 1980s. We just called it “Good News,” and still do it from time to time. So today, I thought I’d share a good news story the Advance has been doing since the 1960s – honoring women who go above and beyond to make Staten Island a better place. We call it Women of Achievement, and today we are calling for nominations of women we might honor in May. The prestigious 2026 Women of Achievement program is brought to you by the Advance and Richmond University Medical Center, with support from the Staten Island Foundation, under the auspices of a non-profit organization called Staten Island Women Inc. The program’s mission is broad and has changed, but will always adhere to its founding principle: To recognize women who go above and beyond in their volunteer work, while encouraging others to do the same. Five-hundred-plus have ascended to the Women of Achievement pedestal since the Advance established the program in 1962. Dan Messina, president and CEO of Richmond University Medical Center, recognized the impact the women who are honored have in the community, and the value to promote the program, committing the hospital as a multi-year lead sponsor. A Staten Island Woman of Achievement is one who goes above and beyond. She might go above and beyond making life better for the developmentally disabled. Or those in long-term hospital or nursing home care. She might go above and beyond in working with those hungry or homeless. Or above and beyond in working to better our environment, or with our stray animal population. The cause is really wide open. It’s the work the woman does with little or no additional compensation, beyond doing good. Email nominations are preferable. Send them to woa@siadvance.com. Or if you prefer mail: Staten Island Advance Women of Achievement 1441 South Avenue Staten Island, NY 10314 Just a few musts: 1. Make your nomination as detailed as possible. What has your candidate done to make our hometown better? Why should our judges name her a Staten Island Woman of Achievement? 2. Include her name, address and telephone number. 3. Include your name, address and telephone number so we can follow up, if needed. That’s all there is to it. Look forward to hearing from you. Brian
