Donna Raymond

Donna Raymond was born in New York City on September 9, 1948. Her parents, Rose and William Raymond, owned and operated a mom-and-pop candy store. At the age of 12 Ms. Raymond moved to Jackson Heights and has lived there ever since.

In 1968, Ms. Raymond went to work for Pfizer, Inc., retiring in 2001 after 33 years of service. During her tenure at Pfizer, she taught developmentally disabled children on Sundays at Christ the King Elementary School in the Bronx.

Much of Ms. Raymond’s volunteer time has been dedicated to raising awareness and funding through walks for AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer. She has operated phone banks at Channel 13 during their pledge periods, participated with United Way to paint camps in upstate New York for underprivileged children, and volunteered for Special Olympics.

The residents of Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst know that Ms. Raymond is always available to help. Whether it be for emergencies, getting people to their doctors, snow removal, taking care of their gardens or making sure they fly the American flag, Ms. Raymond is just a phone call away.

In December 1993, Ms. Raymond joined the North Queens Homeowner Civic Association of Jackson Heights, Inc., serving as Board President for 10 years. She is also on the board of the Woodheights Democratic Club.

Throughout the years, Ms. Raymond has participated in back-to-school events, donated school supplies to the needy, removed graffiti from fences in the neighborhood, cleaned and painted. One of Ms. Raymond’s lasting contributions to her community was her work to name a street in honor of Emma Brant, a dedicated community activist.