L-R-Manny Homem, Keynote Speaker, Faria Ahmed HHS Youth Award recipient, and Bernadette Kingham-Bez, SVP, Executive Director St. Vincent’s.
For nearly three decades, St. Vincent’s has been honoring young people who embody its values and
promote a lifelong commitment to volunteerism through the St. Vincent’s Youth Awards. Each year,
these awards recognize and celebrate students from local high schools whose volunteer service best
reflects these values. This recognition is a testament to the importance of youth engagement in
community service.
Harrison takes great pride in announcing that Faria Ahmed, a senior at Harrison High School, has been
honored with the prestigious St. Vincent’s Youth Award. Faria’s commitment to community service and
volunteer work has left a profound impact. Her summer was dedicated to teaching English to young
children in Lahore, Pakistan, and she has been actively involved in tutoring, volunteering, and food
drives. Her dedication and service are truly inspiring.
Manny Homem, a resident of Harrison, was the keynote speaker for the event held on March 7th.
Manny’s journey of volunteerism and community engagement began at the young age of 20, when he
started coaching baseball. His work with children facing challenging situations led to strong bonds within
the community. Despite facing a personal tragedy with the sudden loss of his wife, Manny and his family
were embraced by their community. This experience inspired him to found the Hoops 4 Hope Basketball
Tournament in memory of his late wife, raising over $ 100,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
(LLS). Manny’s resilience and community spirit are truly admirable.
The event was Co-chaired by St Vincent’s Auxiliary members, and Harrison residents Liz Brown and
Catherine Tammaro.
