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HERALD 1262517
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DECEMBER 26, 2024 - JANUARY 1, 2025
VOL. 33 NO. 53
HERALD PERSON OF THE YEAR ALISON CAMARDELLA
Leadership that inspires a village What’s INSIDE
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Alison Camardella has made an indelible impression on Sea Cliff By BRIAN NORMAN
Since moving to Sea Cliff 23 years ago, Alison Camardella has become an indispensable member of the community. Through her dedicated service in a number of organizations and committees, she has made a lasting impact on the village. In recognition of her contributions, the Herald is proud to name Camardella its 2024 Person of the Year. Camardella has served as president of the North Shore Coalition Against Substance Abuse, the Senior Action Committee, the Good of the Village Association and the steering committee for the 325 Prospect Avenue Sea Cliff come from Pump House property. Wall Street After working in the hedge fund industry for almost 20 years, Caand I’ve seen mardella retired when the second of a lot of great her three sons was born and devoted her time to serving her community. leaders, and Now 52, she says her volunteerism she’s right up began in the village’s elementary school when her sons were there, there with them. because she thought it was important I can’t think of to serve both her community and her enough adjectives children. “I did that for five years,” she said. to describe how “I did event planning and ran two great a leader auctions for the PCA (Parent Community Association). The elementary she is. school is a great place to start doing service for your community, your KEVIN MCGILLOWAY school and your children.” Former vice president, In 2017, Camardella was asked to North Shore Coalition be a part of the North Shore CoaliAgainst Substance tion Against Substance Abuse, a Abuse nonprofit that works with the North Shore School District to educate children about substance abuse and offers special after-school events. Former Mayor Bruce Kennedy, who created the coalition, recalled that it got off to a rough start, but Camardella’s leadership made it what it is today. “In 2010, when I was mayor, I actually founded the coalition, and after it was founded, it lost steam and fizzled out,” Kennedy
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said, “but the school district then wanted to revive it a few years later. “They were also having trouble (getting) traction with the organization, and then they brought in Alison to be the president, and in her typical form, she put her heart, energy and all of her leadership into it, and now it has become a staple of the North Shore.” Despite her involvement in numerous organizations, Camardella has managed to balance her commitments with her family life. She emphasizes that community service doesn’t have to be all-encompassing, and encourages others to contribute whatever time they can, because every effort makes a difference. “I’ve always been careful not to over-commit myself to something at one time,” she said. “Now that I’ve stepped down as president,” she added, referring to her role in CASA, “I’ve been doing what I can to help out on other committees and boards that I serve on. My point is that service doesn’t have to be a full-time job. There’s a lot to contribute, even if you only have a free evening or an hour or two to give a week.” Camardella served as president of the coalition for six years before stepping down in October. During that time, the organi-
Continued on page 2 Brian Norman/Herald
Alison Camardella has been a Sea Cliff resident for 23 years, and has contributed to various organizations and committees in the village.