LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Douglas J. Hovey upon the occasion of
his designation as recipient of the Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. Advocacy
Award on May 19, 2014

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those individuals within the great Empire State who have made
strong contributions to the disability community; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Douglas J.
Hovey of Gardiner, New York, upon the occasion of his designation as the
10th recipient of the Annual Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. Advocacy Award
presented at the 2014 Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day sponsored
by the New York State Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities
and the New York State Assembly Committee on Mental Health on May 19,
2014; and
WHEREAS, The Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. Advocacy Award was created in
2005 to honor the late Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. for his lifelong commit-
ment to advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, The tremendous efforts Douglas J. Hovey has made to improve
and enhance the lives of New Yorkers with disabilities are worthy of
this recognition; and
WHEREAS, Douglas J. Hovey has been the Executive Director of Independ-
ent Living, Inc., a values-driven disability advocacy and service organ-
ization employing 350 people and serving 8,000 annually, with offices in
Newburgh, Middletown and Monticello, New York; and
WHEREAS, Douglas J. Hovey has long championed the cause of equal
rights, access and opportunity for all persons; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, Douglas J. Hovey founded Independent Home Care,
Inc., an organization dedicated to assisting individuals with disabili-
ties and seniors to live independently in the home of their choosing in
the community; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, with the support of his board of directors, Douglas
J. Hovey founded IL Strategy Group, Inc., a strategic planning entity
whose mission is to spearhead special initiatives which address issues
of poverty, disability and the social determinants of individual well-
being, including housing, opportunities for education, employment and
social inclusion; and
WHEREAS, Douglas J. Hovey holds graduate degrees in Health Care Admin-
istration and Rehabilitation Administration from the New School for
Social Research in New York and the University at San Francisco, respec-
tively, and is professionally and personally familiar with the chal-
lenges faced by persons with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, With 26 years of leadership experience in the field of disa-
bility and rehabilitation services, Douglas J. Hovey currently serves on
the board of directors of Inspire, the CP Center, headquartered in Gosh-
en, New York, and the Resource Center for Independent Living in Utica,
New York; and
WHEREAS, Douglas J. Hovey continues to serve on the St. Luke's Corn-
wall Hospital Board of Trustees and the New York Association of Psychi-
atric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS), subsequent to ending his term as
Chairman of both boards in 2013; and
WHEREAS, Douglas J. Hovey is a member of Governor Cuomo's Medicaid
Re-design Team Workgroup on Supportive Housing, the Most Integrated
Setting Coordinating Council (MISCC) Employment Committee, and is a
former Treasurer for the New York Association on Independent Living
(NYAIL); and

WHEREAS, Douglas J. Hovey is a Co-Chairman of the Orange County Long
Term Care Council and is a member of Rotary International and the
Newburgh Rotary Club where he served as President in 1999 and 2000; and
WHEREAS, Douglas J. Hovey is also a member of the International
Medical Relief Fund (IMRF), an organization which provides medical
equipment and supplies to developing nations; and
WHEREAS, Douglas J. Hovey served on the board of directors for the
Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Center from 1995-2005, as Chairman
of the New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC) in 2004 and
2005, and on the board of directors of Meals on Wheels of Greater
Newburgh from 2004-2008; and
WHEREAS, In 1987, Douglas J. Hovey played a critical role in the
organizational development of two independent living centers in Orange
County, and served as an active member of the organizational development
team leading to the creation of the New York Association on Independent
Living, Inc. (NYAIL) and the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Asso-
ciation of New York State (CDPAANYS); and
WHEREAS, In 2012, Douglas J. Hovey was the innovative leader behind
Reach One, a regional strategic collaboration among three organizations:
Independent Living, Inc., PEOPLe, Inc. and the Mental Health Association
of Rockland County; and
WHEREAS, Douglas J. Hovey is most notably recognized for innovative
leadership and his work in shaping the disability services system
through advocacy, using legislative, policy and regulation development
processes to break down attitudinal and architectural barriers as well
as facilitate the empowerment, inclusion and independence of persons
with disabilities within his own geographic area and throughout the
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, he was honored as a Pillar of the Community by the
Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Center, and Independent Living, Inc.
was named Not-for-Profit Enterprise of the Year by the Orange County
Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, Douglas J. Hovey received the 2010 Everyday Hero Award from
the Newburgh Kiwanis Club, and the 2009-2010 Service Above Self annual
Rotary Award for Vocational Excellence from the ten Rotary Clubs of
Region 6 and District 7210, in recognition of his outstanding dedication
to community service and for encouraging the highest ethical standards
in business practices; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, Douglas J. Hovey was the recipient of the St. Luke's
Cornwall Hospital Robert J. Rizzuto Volunteer Appreciation Award, and
was also recognized by the Orange County Human Rights Commission for
outstanding advocacy accomplishments; and
.SO DOC A R1220 RESO TEXT 2013
WHEREAS, Douglas J. Hovey received the 2008 Inspire Foundation Shining
Star Award for outstanding service to people with disabilities, and in
2007, was awarded the Cornerstone of the Community Award by Safe Harbors
of the Hudson at their first Annual Gala celebration; and
WHEREAS, Douglas J. Hovey was the recipient of the 2006 Senate
Achievement Award for the 39th Senate District, and the 1995 American
Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award; and
WHEREAS, The initiatives Douglas J. Hovey strives to implement as a
passionate advocate for persons with disabilities mirror the priorities
that this Legislative Body has before us today, the New York State
Assembly Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day 2014; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved to honor Douglas J. Hovey, a
leader and an advocate, recognizing his labors and the promise of his
future endeavors; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Douglas J. Hovey upon the occasion of his designation as recipient
of the Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. Advocacy Award; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Douglas J. Hovey.