Athena Awards

The Nonprofit Coalition of Staten Island Women’s Organizations will present the Athena Awards.  This is scheduled at their Summer Power Lunch on Sunday, Aug. 15th at 1 p.m. at LiGreci’s Staaten, West Brighton, New York. The cost is $50 per person.
The coalition is made up of some 20 member organizations representing 2,000 members to provide a voice for women on all issues affecting the community.
The award is named after the Greek goddess of peace and wisdom Athena. The honorees are being recognized for their generosity of service and courage in pursuing their ideas for the community.

A total of four women will be honored.  Christina Chukalas has been a longtime member of the Holy Trinity St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Bulls Head. She has served as a member of the Parish Council for 30 years and is a member of the Ladies Philoptochos Society which helps raise funds for a variety of charitable causes. Ms. Chukalas has also been a Girl Scout leader for over 40 years and currently oversees five Girl Scout troops at Holy Trinity.

Lucille Raia has volunteered with the Staten Island Chapter of the American Cancer Society for over 25 years and has donated Staten Island University Hospital Hospice many hours of her services. She was recognized with the Volunteer of the Year award by both organizations.

Yolanda L. Rudich is the Chief of the Sex Crimes & Special Victims Bureau of the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office, since 1993. Ms. Rudich has also served the Staten Island community as an advisory board member of University Hospice, the Iron Hills Civic Association and as an officer of Soroptimists International of Staten Island.

Teri Russo is the founder of the Down Syndrome Foundation Inc. and established the Down Syndrome Learning Center which features a very aggressive and progressive approach to educate infants and children with down syndrome. This is also close to Ms. Russo’s heart as she has four sons with down syndrome.