Celebration of Service

We are thrilled to invite you to an unforgettable evening on Wednesday, April 29th, at City Winery in Montgomery, NY. This year, we are proud to present the Distinguished Leadership Award to Steph Raymond, CEO of Central Hudson Gas & Electric, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to our region.
The festivities kick off at 5:30 pm with a cocktail reception, followed by a 7:00 pm dinner program highlighting our community impact and recognition of top employee campaigns. The evening will also feature the performances of the “Talent United" contest winner.

We got Talent! 
The talent contest has been running from March 25 until April 22 with online fan voting. To see our contestants and cast your votes go to uwdor.org/talentunited.

About the 2026 Distinguished Leadership Award Winner, Steph Raymond:
Stephanie Raymond was named President & Chief Executive Officer of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation in 2024. In this role, Ms. Raymond is responsible for setting company-wide strategic direction, operational leadership, financial management, and regulatory oversight.

Building on Central Hudson’s 125-year history, Ms. Raymond is leading the company’s effort to create a more resilient, sustainable energy future for everyone while driving customer-centered solutions for all residents and businesses of the mid-Hudson Valley.

Prior to joining Central Hudson, Ms. Raymond served as President of PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, where she oversaw electric delivery operations for more than 1.5 million customers across 29 counties in Pennsylvania. During her 12-year tenure at PPL, she held various executive roles, covering strategic planning, operations, customer service, regulatory compliance, financial management, and business services. Before joining PPL, Ms. Raymond spent a decade in the telecommunications industry, holding several senior leadership positions.

Ms. Raymond volunteers for several business and community organizations. She serves on the boards of the SUNY New Paltz Foundation, the Business Council of New York State, the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies (AEIC), the American Gas Association (AGA), Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, and FortisBC. She is also a member of the Edison Electric Institute.

Ms. Raymond holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Finance/Strategic Management from California State University, Sacramento, and she is an alumna of the Stanford GraduateSchool of Business Executive Education Program.

Start Your Bidding Early! An online auction is back and better than ever. Visit uwdor.org/cos26 starting one week before the event to bid on exclusive items, from sought-after Yankee tickets to stunning Tiffany jewelry. The excitement continues at the dinner with a live auction designed to "wow" our guests—you won’t want to miss it!

The evening’s program will be hosted by the gracious Anne Marie 'Annie' Leamy and gifted comic illusionist Ryan Dutcher. Together, this dynamic duo is set to provide an evening that is as inspiring as it is entertaining.

United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region is proud to mark another year of 'Unity in Action.' This achievement is a testament to our entire community—from the dedicated volunteers who lent their time to service projects to the generous donors who answered our urgent crisis fund appeals. We are especially grateful to our Corporate Annual Sponsors and Media Sponsors for their steadfast commitment. Today, we celebrate the shared spirit of our supporters and the neighbors we serve, proving that we are truly stronger together.