NYS Senator Lea Webb presented Dean O’Gorman, Care Navigator with the Rural Health Institute of New York, with a NYS Commendation Award. The NYS Commendation Award is the highest award a NYS Senator can bestow upon an individual from their district who goes above and beyond in serving their community. 

Mr. O’Gorman serves as Director of Healing Hearts Collaborative, a Community Opioid Overdose Prevention Program committed to expanding access to overdose response education and Narcan distribution across the region. Through this initiative, he provides free overdose response trainings and distributes free Narcan kits to individuals and families, ensuring that lifesaving resources are accessible beyond traditional business hours. 

In addition to his overdose prevention efforts, Mr. O’Gorman founded and facilitates the 607 Healing Hearts Grief Group, a peer-led support network for parents who have lost a child. What began as a simple outreach following the loss of his own son has grown into a trusted and deeply impactful support community, serving more than 80 members, including families both locally and across the country. 

“Receiving this Commendation Award from Senator Webb is a profound honor, but the true reward is seeing the resilience of the people we serve every day. When I lost my son Spencer, I knew I couldn’t let that grief be the end of the story; I wanted to turn that pain into a lifeline for others,” said Dean O’Gorman. “Whether we are distributing Narcan, sitting together in grief support, or providing a warm, dry space to rest, shower or access resources at Grace Space, my goal is simple: to meet people exactly where they are with compassion and dignity, without judgment. This work isn't just a job for me—it’s a lifelong commitment to ensuring no one in our community has to walk through their darkest moments alone.”

Mr. O’Gorman’s commitment to service extends further through his current full-time leadership at Grace Space in Cortland County, the county’s first permanent day center of its kind for individuals experiencing housing instability and food insecurity. At Grace Space, he works directly with individuals who need shelter, meals, and access to essential services. His presence at the center reflects a hands-on, compassionate approach to meeting people where they are, addressing immediate needs, and connecting them to longer-term supports.

“When I first met Dean and heard his story and how he came to care so much about harm reduction, I was incredibly moved,” said Senator Lea Webb. “Dean is incredibly dedicated to providing harm reduction services, education, and compassionate care to everyone he serves. His drive to support those in Cortland County has made a tremendous impact in this community. I am proud to honor his contributions with this commendation award.” 

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