4th Annual Women of Grace Award

Thank you so much to everyone for making our Forth Annual Women Of Grace event such a success.  Together we raised over $49,000 for victims of domestic violence and their children.  The special energy that this event continues to generate was evident that night and we are most grateful.

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors

~Platinum~
Assogna Endodontics
Copake Country Club
Hudson Valley Office Furniture, Inc.
Thrifty Beverage

~Gold~
Rhinebeck Savings Bank

~Silver~
Dunromin Arabians

~Bronze~
Beulah Baptist Church
Central Hudson
The Hickey Family
Marist College
Montfort Brothers, Inc.
Stephen Gould Corporation
Thrivant Financial

This year's honrees were:

Kathleen C. Finn is in her 7th year as a volunteer for Grace Smith House. Kathy Finn is no ordinary volunteer. In her position as board chair, her creative energy and enthusiasm brought the board to new heights on many levels. She continues to work tirelessly on several standing committees and ad hoc committees including the Women of Grace Award Event, the annual Spring Brunch and Auction, the Strategic Plan Committee, as well as many others. We are very pleased this year to present the Women of Grace Award to Kathy for her outstanding commitment and dedication to GSH and all that it stands for.


The First Presbyterian Church of Poughkeepsie was the inspiration and founder of the first shelter for victims of domestic violence in Dutchess County. The Deacons designated, cleaned and furnished a building owned by the Church for use as the shelter and formed the first Board of Directors who worked relentlessly until the doors opened in 1981. It was named Grace Smith House to honor the decade's-long service and commitment of one of the church's most active members, Grace Ewing Smith. We are all grateful to the visionaries who gave Grace Smith House its foundation and we are very happy to honor them this year. Mary Lou Heissenbuttel, the first Executive Director of GSH and a past recipient of the Woman of Grace Award, will present the award to Roland Butts, Clerk of the Sessions and Suzanne Williams, former secretary and board member of The First Presbyterian Church of Poughkeepsie.