Courtesy Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce recognized Cindy Schmehl with the 2022 Impact Sector Volunteer of the Year Award.
She received the award in may at the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce annual dinner.
The Impact Sector Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes and honors one community member annually who embodies a spirit of dedication, passion, innovation, and commitment to improving the community by working or volunteering for more than one non-profit organization.
“Our impact sector greatly benefits from individuals like Cindy Schmehl,” chamber president Todd Shimkus said in a press release. “Cindy’s tireless dedication to To Love a Child, as well as numerous other Saratoga County organizations, ensures our neighbors throughout the community are supported and provided with the services they need and deserve. We look forward to honoring her and her efforts to make a difference in our community.”
For more than a decade, Schmehl has dedicated her time and energy to helping people not only in Saratoga County but also in less fortunate parts of the world, including Zimbabwe and Haiti. Since founding the organization in 2009, Schmehl has acted in the volunteer position of executive director of To Love a Child, leading its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to impoverished children and their families to help create a better future and quality of life for all.
Through To Love a Child, Schmehl has spearheaded the construction of a school in Zimbabwe and worked with other team members to provide medical care, education, solar, gardens, food and other opportunities for people and families in remote villages.
Along with her work with To Love a Child, Schmehl has volunteered in a variety of capacities with local organizations, including, but not limited to, acting as past president of the Twin Bridges Rotary Club where she currently remains a charter member and originating its Pumpkin Pals for Pediatrics project; serving as an active member of the Saratoga-Wilton Kiwanis; participating as an active member of Soroptimist International of Saratoga County; and serving on the Episcopal Diocese’s Mission Committee.
Through her participation in the Livestrong Program at the Saratoga YMCA, Schmehl is now a mentor for Livestrong and Beyond where she meets with fellow cancer survivors to provide compassionate support, understanding and friendship during challenging times.