Orange County Opens Nominations for Senior of the Year and Contribution Award

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and the Orange County Office for the Aging announced that nominations are open for the county’s 2026 Senior of the Year and Outstanding Contribution by a Senior awards. The county posted the announcement on Feb. 4, 2026, and the eligibility requirement listed in the notice specifies nominees must be age 60 or older.

The awards program recognizes older adults whose volunteerism, caregiving, advocacy, business leadership, or community work boosts civic life and health outcomes across Orange County neighborhoods. The Office for the Aging is accepting submissions and directs nominators to its nomination forms and staff for help with questions and filings. Contact for submissions is Melanie Tanner at mtanner@orangecountygov.com.

An archived county nominations page from 2025 emphasizes the program’s community focus, saying, “It's time to give a shoutout to our amazing seniors who have made a positive impact in our community.” That page also listed a third category, Senior Friendly Business, for businesses that support older residents, and invited community members to nominate individuals or businesses: “Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized for their remarkable accomplishments? Or maybe a business that goes above and beyond for our elders? Don't hesitate to nominate them (attached forms available).”

Past materials noted that awardees were to be honored by the New York State Office for the Aging on May 27th, but the county’s 2026 announcement excerpt provided does not include a ceremony date or a submission deadline. The archived 2025 page included a Feb. 18 deadline for that year’s nominations; readers should not assume the same deadline or the same recognition date applies to the 2026 awards without confirmation from county officials.

Beyond recognition, the awards have public health and equity implications. Honoring seniors highlights contributions that reduce social isolation, sustain informal caregiving networks, and support local services that keep older adults healthy and connected. Recognizing businesses that are senior friendly signals where older residents can safely access goods and care. To make awards meaningful across Orange County’s geography and demographics, nomination outreach should include underrepresented communities, non-English speakers, and neighborhoods with limited access to outreach channels.

Orange County’s awards are an opportunity to spotlight elders whose unpaid labor and community leadership produce measurable benefits in family stability, volunteer-run programs, and neighborhood resilience. The Office for the Aging’s archived call to action put it plainly: “Let's make sure all the deserving seniors in our County are acknowledged and celebrated for their hard work and dedication. The awardees will be honored by the New York State Office for the Aging on May 27th. Let's show our seniors some love and appreciation!”

Those who want to nominate someone or confirm 2026 deadlines and ceremony details should contact Melanie Tanner at mtanner@orangecountygov.com. The county plans to post nomination forms and instructions on its Office for the Aging pages.