Senate Resolution No. 2156

BY: Senator COONEY

COMMENDING Hollis S. Budd upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the
highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New
York State Senate

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those individuals within the Empire State who have made
strong contributions to their communities and who inspire others through
their model citizenry; and

WHEREAS, Hollis S. Budd has given not only of her time and energies
but also of her competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently
has been designated for special honor; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Hollis S.
Budd upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of a Liberty
Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York
State Senate; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by
Resolution and is awarded to individuals who have merited special
commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of
their fellow New Yorkers; and

WHEREAS, Hollis S. Budd served as the founding Executive Director of
the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation, one of the largest
foundations in upstate New York; here she served as both a trustee and
an executive director for 14 years, retiring after more than 30 years of
distinguished service in nonprofit and higher education leadership in
New York State on Saturday, January 1, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Established in 1988, the Max and Marian Farash Charitable
Foundation, is a private charitable foundation dedicated to the civic
and religious communities of its founders who believed in the importance
of education and know the power of entrepreneurial creativity; and

WHEREAS, Striving to make long-term and meaningful contributions in
Monroe and Ontario Counties, the Foundation serves primarily as a grant
making organization with half of its grants supporting Jewish Life, and
the other half supporting secular activities in the greater Rochester
area; and

WHEREAS, As its first Executive Director, Hollis S. Budd managed the
Foundation's operations and grant making process; under her able
leadership, this vital organization has invested a great deal of money
towards grants and program support - with a focus on educational equity
in the Rochester City School District; and

WHEREAS, This remarkable woman's positive impact on the community is
expansive, having served on an anti-poverty steering committee with the
goal to develop a comprehensive approach to Monroe County poverty; in
addition, she convened the Rochester chapter of "100 Women Who Care," an

organization to alleviate barriers in the Rochester community by
organizing charitable donations from local women; and

WHEREAS, With a steadfast and unwavering commitment to educational
opportunity, Hollis S. Budd created and funded the First in Family
Scholarship, providing resources to first generation college students at
all of Rochester's public and private higher educational institutions,
enabling them to graduate debt free; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an
individual for the benefit of others which Hollis S. Budd has displayed
throughout her life; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Hollis S. Budd upon the occasion of her designation as recipient
of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the
New York State Senate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Hollis S. Budd.