Nominee Finalists

I am nominating a dear friend of mine. Jared Finch. Jared is a proud firefighter for the olean fire house. He is always putting his community, family and friends first. Jared was recently in a severe motorcycle accident due to no fault of his own traveling from work. Jared suffered multiple fractures, lung collapse and multiple other injuries. He was transported to ecmc where he is currently on the mend. Jared is the main provider for his family. His wife kaela and their two year old son, whom celebrated his 2nd birthday the day of the accident. Jared is a huge pivotal asset to not only his community, his fellow first responders, and his family and friends. I know many are so well deserving of such a great thing you guys are doing, but if one person can recieve such a gift. It is Jared Finch. Thankyou for your consideration! Jolene Irish.

For 20 years, my wife has walked into the Emergency Department at Strong Memorial Hospital and taken on some of the hardest moments people will ever face. She works in emergency and trauma care, giving compassion, strength, and everything she has to patients and families on their worst days. She is the person people call when they need help — but rarely the person who asks for it herself. Every day, she makes a long commute to and from work in a car that has over 200,000 miles on it and is well past its prime. She never complains. She simply gets up, drives in, and continues doing what she has done for two decades: caring for others with incredible dedication and tireless effort. Beyond being an amazing healthcare hero, she is an incredible wife, stepmom, and dog mom. She gives our family the same love and devotion she gives her patients. Her kindness, strength, and commitment are felt by everyone lucky enough to know her.

I would like to nominate my mother retired SFC Barbara Tompkins. She retired from the military in 2013. She has still been helping veterans and the community since her military retirement. My mom helped establish the Freedom Lounge at the Buffalo Airport. She is a founding member of the WNY Maritime Charter School and still serves on the board. She volunteers for Operation HomeFront and is a Peer Leader for Wounded Warrior Project’s Buffalo Peer Support Group. At her current job she also volunteers with the Veteran Support Program helping veterans in Buffalo who work for the Department of State. My mom has always advocated for veterans and will continue to help them in anyway she can. She has over 110,000 miles on her 2017 vehicle which she uses to help veterans. This is why I feel she deserves to be recognized by your organization.

Eddie is the kind of veteran who continues to serve long after taking off the uniform. His commitment to service didn't end with the military, it evolved into a mission to help others heal. He has dedicated himself to building a nonprofit, Practicing Peace Project, focused on helping veterans and their families find and sustain inner peace, strengthening communities, and creating spaces where veterans can find connection, hope, and peace. He leads with humility, compassion, and a genuine desire to make a difference. Whether he's giving his time, encouraging fellow veterans, or working tirelessly to grow a mission that serves others, Edward consistently puts people before himself. A reliable vehicle would not only recognize his service and sacrifice but would also help him continue reaching veterans and families who need support. Eddie represents what it means to continue serving with purpose, and I can't think of someone more deserving of this opportunity.

I would like to nominate my girlfriend, Alexis, because she is the definition of selfless service. For more than 9½ years, she proudly served on active duty as a Military Police officer in the U.S. Air Force, spending much of her career overseas, including a deployment to the Middle East. She dedicated nearly a decade of her life to protecting our country with courage, strength, and unwavering commitment. After transitioning from active duty, Alexis continued serving by joining the Air Force Reserve while pursuing her calling as a Registered Nurse. Every day, she puts others before herself, caring for patients with compassion and dedicating her life to making a difference. Despite everything she has given to others, Alexis still drives a 150,000-mile car with no air conditioning that frequently needs repairs. Every time she makes the long drive from New York to Ohio for Air Force Reserve training, I worry whether her car will make it there safely. A reliable new vehicle would provide

I saw this nomination and immediately stopped what I was doing because I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving than Josh. As both a veteran and a first responder, Josh has dedicated so much of his life to serving and protecting others. He puts people before himself every single day and never hesitates to answer the call when someone needs help.What makes his dedication even more meaningful is that he does this knowing he has two young children at home who adore him, look up to him, and proudly tell everyone about what their dad does. Every day, Josh puts his life on the line to protect the people of Buffalo, while also being the kind of father his children can be proud of. He takes tremendous pride in his work and constantly goes above and beyond—not because he has to, but because he genuinely cares about the people and community he serves. Josh represents what it means to be a true first responder, a dedicated veteran, and a selfless person.