Inspire Foundation to Honor ‘Shining Stars’ of Orange County

Goshen. Jan Brunkhorst will be awarded the Mary Lee Berry Shining Stars Award for Outstanding Service to People with Disabilities. Eric Maldonado, co-owner of multiple Verizon Wireless Zone stores, will be awarded the Bill Devitt Shining Stars Award for Exemplary Service to Orange County.

Goshen /
| 28 Aug 2019 | 11:44

At its upcoming Shining Stars Celebration, Inspire will honor Eric Maldonado and Jan Brunkhorst for their outstanding service to people with developmental disabilities.

The celebration will be held on Friday, Sept. 20, at Anthony’s Pier 9 in New Windsor. It will begin with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m,. followed by dinner. Entertainment will be provided by Bill’s Toupee Band. The evening will also feature a silent auction with items donated by local businesses.

Proceeds will support Inspire’s programs and services that support people with developmental disabilities. This year’s event is being sponsored by Helen Richards, Orange Regional Medical Center, CMIT Solutions of Orange County, CPL: Architecture, Engineering & Planning, Mobile Life Support, Empire State Bank, and SUNY Orange.

Eric Maldonado

Eric Maldonado, co-owner of multiple Verizon Wireless Zone stores, will be awarded the Bill Devitt Shining Stars Award for Exemplary Service to Orange County. Maldonado is a long-time supporter of Inspire, serving as chair of the board of directors for the Inspire Foundation. He also serves on the board of directors of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Orange County Young Professionals, and the Hudson Valley Cancer Resource Center, and is a graduate of Leadership Orange.

Jan Brunkhorst

Jan Brunkhorst will be awarded the Mary Lee Berry Shining Stars Award for Outstanding Service to People with Disabilities. Brunkhorst recently retired as executive director of Beautiful People, a non-profit organization that provides adaptive sports in the community. For the past ten years she was involved in expanding programming and worked to organize team sports for children and young adults with developmental challenges and physical disabilities.

Sponsorships and journal opportunities are available. Reservations will be accepted until Sept. 9.

For more information or reservations, call Mindy Circelli at 845-614-5975 ext. 101 or email mcircelli@inspirecp.org.

About Inspire:
Inspire is a not-for-profit charitable organization, officially known as Orange County Cerebral Palsy Association.
It provides a wide array of outpatient, educational, and support services for individuals of all ages and abilities.
Inspire Kids is a special education preschool for children from 2 1/2 to 5 years of age with developmental delays.
Inspire also provides community habilitation, respite, social programs, and more through its many programs for children and adults, primarily in Orange County.