HEROES LIST IS LONGER
The News adds salutes to healers, servants & youth
THINK ABOUT it. This city is full of heroes.
From inspiring teachers who go the extra mile for their students, to fearless police officers who save lives, to dedicated subway workers who get us home on time, New Yorkers of every stripe make miracles happen each day.
That’s why this year the Daily News is opening up its Hometown Heroes program, beyond the traditional categories of education and transit, to include medical professionals, public service workers and youth.
“What makes this city so extraordinary is directly related to the many unsung heroes that live among us, therefore, we made the decision to expand our Hometown Heroes program,” said the Daily News Editor-in-Chief Jim Rich.
“We look forward to our readers’ nominations recognizing the exemplary efforts of their coworkers and neighbors in the following extended categories: education, medical, service and youth,” Rich added.
As in previous years, city educators and transit workers of all kinds will be recognized in the awards. The new medical category will include health care workers of all descriptions.
The service category includes public servants and first responders such as police officers, EMTs and firefighters.
And the youth category is a new division to honor the inspiring young people of our city who are building a better tomorrow.
Mayor de Blasio, a strong Hometown Heroes supporter who has presented awards at past ceremonies, praised the decision to broaden the program’s scope.
“Public servants work tirelessly every single day to make our city a better place,” he said. “Hometown Heroes is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the teachers, transit workers and medical staff who have dedicated their lives to helping their fellow New Yorkers.”
Daily News readers are invited to submit Hometown Heroes nominations for all categories via email or letter.
In the coming weeks, the pages of The News will highlight some of the nominees and their stories. A panel of esteemed judges will select the winners from nominees.
Winners will be recognized at a star-studded awards breakfast in the fall.
City schools Chancellor Richard Carranza praised the program for bringing attention to unheralded educators.
“We can never recognize our outstanding New York City educators enough, and I look forward to celebrating our Hometown Heroes and their incredible work,” Carranza said. “We all remember the teacher that changed our trajectory and helped us pursue our dreams, and I’m grateful to the Daily News for shining a spotlight on some of the extraordinary teachers and administrators across the city.”
Likewise, MTA Chairman Joe Lhota encouraged New Yorkers to submit nominations for transit workers who keep the city moving.
“Every day, dedicated MTA employees throughout New York City — at New York City Transit, the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North, MTA Bridges & Tunnels and Staten Island Railway — go above and beyond the call of duty, and every MTA employee who exceeds expectations deserves to be recognized,” Lhota said.
Police Commissioner James O’Neill said the program will help recognize the everyday heroics of city police.
“Each day, the men and women of the NYPD work tirelessly to fight crime and keep New Yorkers in every neighborhood safe,” O’Neill said. “I thank them for their bravery and dedicated service, and I welcome the opportunity to recognize their contributions in making the safest large city in America even safer.”