County to Honor Buchanan Man for Youth Service

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County Executive Robert P. Astorino will join the Westchester County Youth Bureau and Youth Board as they present the 2012 Rosemarie Siragusa Memorial Youth Service Award on Wednesday, Dec. 19 to John P. Hunt Jr. of Buchanan.

Hunt, who coaches Little League baseball, has been a Cub Scout leader for the past three years and is president of the Hendrick Hudson (Hen Hud) Lions. The presentation will take place at 5:15 p.m. on the 9th floor of the Michaelian Office Building, 148 Martine Ave., White Plains.

The award is named after the founder of the county Youth Board, who also served as its first chair from 1975-1989. The award honors an outstanding individual who has demonstrated a commitment to serving youth and families.

“John Hunt is an outstanding choice for this award,” said Astorino. “His devotion to the youth of his community is well-known and inspiring. He has spearheaded food and clothes drives for needy children and families, including some who have been victims of fire. And his dedication to his Little League team is extraordinary.”

Hunt’s activities with youth are many and varied. His “signature” event is a dinner dance to raise funds for the local community and its youth program, a dinner so successful that the annual event has now been changed to twice a year. In addition, Hunt has been a volunteer with the Hendrick Hudson Lions club for the past four years and its special club for kids known as Leos.

Hunt was nominated for this award by Deb Costello of Verplanck, a member of the county’s Youth Board.

Said Costello:  “John is always willing to lend a hand. He is one of the most dedicated volunteers that our community has. He has been the driving force for so many projects, and helped so many, that he has already left a lasting impression even though he has been involved for only the past four years. I don’t think I can adequately describe how much our community has benefited from his volunteer service and how many people he has helped.”