Orange County names Liam Gaffney July Citizen of the Month

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus named Woodbury resident Liam Gaffney the county’s July Citizen of the Month, pointing to a local effort that grew from a simple pamphlet into a countywide network connecting residents with help. Gaffney, who coordinates the Monroe-Woodbury Community Coalition, was recognized for community collaboration and youth empowerment as the coalition expanded to work with more than 40 municipalities, nonprofits and other organizations.

The honor puts a spotlight on a problem Orange County has been trying to solve for years: many residents know they need help before they know where to find it. Gaffney said the coalition began during the COVID-19 pandemic as a single pamphlet meant to connect people with services and resources. It has since become a broader outreach effort that links families, schools and community groups to information they can use now, rather than forcing them to navigate the system alone.

Neuhaus said Gaffney has shown an uncommon ability to bring people together, build programs and motivate others to get involved. MaryAlice Kovatch, executive director of the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council of Orange County, nominated Gaffney for the award, underscoring the role prevention groups see him playing in the county’s youth and community work. Gaffney also joined the board of directors of the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council of Orange County earlier this year, adding prevention, education and recovery advocacy to his local work.

The county’s own youth development framework mirrors that approach. Orange County says local coalitions bring together youth, parents, businesses, schools, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, government and other sectors to work through education, enforcement and policy initiatives. The Monroe-Woodbury Community Coalition has followed that model for years. In 2018, it was described as a group of community officials, concerned residents, school district officials, the Town of Woodbury and Village of Monroe police departments and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Orange County.

Its recent work has stayed grounded in specific needs. In March 2025, the coalition partnered with Monroe-Woodbury High School for workshops on mental health, the justice system, résumé writing, interview preparation, 311 and text4teens hotlines, and banking and personal finance. Gaffney graduated from Iona University in May with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in finance, giving him a financial background to pair with his public-service role. Orange County introduced the Citizen of the Month award in January 2017, and nominations must come from county residents, making the recognition a local callout for work that already has a visible footprint in Woodbury, Monroe and beyond.