North Area Meals on Wheels Board of Trustees President Bob Graves today was named the Today’s Options Competition Grand Champion — which means that NAMOW will receive $10,000 in prize money to spend however they choose.
“It’s exciting; it’s 6,266 meals,” Graves said after being named the winner on the Chevy Court main stage at the New York State Fair. “It’s wonderful. Special thanks to Today’s Options for the opportunity to make it a possibility.”
Graves was one of five people named as finalists for the competition, which was created by insurance provider Today’s Options to honor individuals who help seniors in the Central New York community to live happier, healthier lives. The winner was chosen by popular vote, allowed daily throughout the month of August at Today’s Options website, with the money being given to the charity with which the winner was associated.
Graves, who chose NAMOW as his charity, was one of the five finalists along with Jen Coman of Syracuse, director of Sarah’s Guest house; Mike Gasapo of Syracuse, director of operations at Honor Flight Syracuse; Hume Laidman of Cazenovia, who helped found Community Resources for Independent Seniors; and Lennie Tucker of Syracuse, a volunteer at Rescue Mission’s Crossroads Adult Home.
The month-long competition accrued more than 17,000 votes, said Today’s Options President Colleen Schmidt, who was at the Chevy Court to present the five competition finalists to the crowd and to announce the winner.
“We’re excited to see that [number of votes] for our first year [of doing the competition],” Schmidt said. “We’ll definitely be doing this again; it’s been very successful. We’re so happy we’ve gotten to know these champions and their selected charities have received so much exposure.”
Graves, who has volunteered with NAMOW since 2009, was nominated for the competition by NAMOW Executive Director Donna Barrett. NAMOW has about 250 volunteers; they served over 100,000 meals last year. They have 22 routes and 22 drivers per day.
Graves gave the credit to his popular vote victory to the “terrific support from [NAMOW] volunteers, friends and family. I bugged people to death to vote and they’re all glad it’s over,” he said. He also said social media, especially Facebook, was what helped turn out the voters for him and NAMOW.
Graves said the $10,000 prize money will go to “nutritious meals for seniors.”
“It will definitely meet a need,” he said.
Jason Emerson is an editor with Eagle Newspapers. He can be reached at [email protected].
