POUGHKEEPSIE- Family Service’s names Michael Fleischer & Michael Dupree and Alison Spear & Alex Reese as this year’s “Family of the Year” honorees.
Each year Family Services honors two families that embody the ideals and values of Family Services’ mission to bring people together to find the support they need, improving their lives and communities, and to build a stronger safer Hudson Valley. This year it is with great pride the organization honors Michael Fleischer & Michael Dupree with the Quality of Life Award and Alex Reese and Alison Spear with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Michael Fleischer & Michael Dupree, Quality of Life Award
Michael Fleischer and Michael Dupree purchased their home in Hyde Park in 1993 and have since devoted much of their time and energy to strengthening their community and preserving its wealth of historic resources. Prior to moving to the Hudson Valley, Michael Fleischer was president of Holby Valve, a manufacturing firm based in Manhattan, and the managing agent of other family-owned properties. Upon moving to the Hudson Valley, Fleischer continued his commitment to community service, serving on the boards of Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County SPCA, MidHudson Regional Hospital, Westchester Medical Foundation and Walkway Over the Hudson. Fleischer is currently a director of the William Brown Foundation and trustee of the Arthur Brown Trust, both in Manhattan, and a board member of the MTA. Upon relocating to the Hudson Valley, Michael Dupree served on many local boards including: two eight-year terms on the Board of the Hyde Park Visual Environment Committee and board chair at Dutchess Community College. Dupree is also now in his eighteenth year as chairman of the Hyde Park Planning Board and has just joined the Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital Board of Visitors. Dupree was named the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce’s Volunteer of the Year in 2004 and 2011.
Alison Spear & Alex Reese, Lifetime Achievement Award
Alison Spear and Alex Reese make their home in Wappingers, on a farm that has been in the Reese family for over 150 years. Both Alison and Alex are devoted to preserving the architectural landscape and agricultural legacy of this property. For the past ten years, Alex has owned and operated Obercreek Farm, an organic diversified vegetable farm, and Obercreek Brewery, while Alison is an award winning architect licensed in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Florida. Active in the preservation and conservation of farmland, Alex serves as the Chair of Scenic Hudson Land Trust and is on the board of the Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming. He also has interest in history and historic preservation, serving as co-Chair of Boscobel Restoration in Garrison and Chair of the Advisory Board of the Hudson River Valley Institute at Marist College. He has been an avid contributor to Family Services since 2001, and serving as a board member in different capacities for over 10 years. Currently, he serves on the board of REAL Skills, a provider of after school programming for elementary school kids in Poughkeepsie.
In 2009, Alison achieved her LEED AP certification. Her restoration and redesign for the family’s historic Hudson River Valley home was a cover story in the June 2013 issue of Architectural Digest Magazine. She is also on the Board of the Westchester & Hudson Valley Chapter of the AIA and on the Dia Council.
“Family Services is committed to having the greatest impact,” said CEO Leah Feldman. “We are strengthened by the thought that families such as Michael Dupree and Michael Fleischer and Alex Reese and Alison Spear are by our side. It is only with the help of community champions that we can make our bold vision a reality. We will honor these families by continuing to help the community in the most compassionate and effective manner, creating stronger, safer communities for generations to come. “
Join us for an elegant evening on July 13th to honor these families who have worked tirelessly to make our community a better place to live, work and raise a family. Their extraordinary contributions to the Hudson Valley cannot be measured but for one night Family Services wants to honor all that they have done and continue to do. The Grandview is the setting and the dinner will feature delectable farm to table food, an auction highlighting the best of the Hudson Valley and an opportunity to learn more about the impactful work being done each day by Family Services.
For information regarding ticket purchases or sponsorship opportunities, please visit HERE.
For more information on Family Services or ways to seek help, please visit https://familyservicesny.org/
