Senator Flanagan Honors Commack Resident Debbie Virga As His 2009 Woman of Distinction

               Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District) recently honored Debbie Virga, who served as the Chairperson of Community Relations for the Commack School District, as his 2009 Woman of Distinction.  As part of the honor, Senator Flanagan welcomed Ms. Virga to Albany to take part in a special Senate Women of Distinction ceremony.

               Ms. Virga served as the Chairperson of Community Relations for Commack Schools for the past ten years.  During her time at the school, she was instrumental in all volunteer efforts throughout the school district and helped create greater educational opportunities for the entire student body.  

               In her role, she also helped to coordinate the school’s role in Newsday FutureCorp, organized the Middle School Career day and played a crucial role in the school’s fundraising through Dollars for Scholars, the Commack Educational Foundation to help provide needed resources to students.  

               Ms. Virga also has helped the school raise over $200,000 in scholarship money for graduating seniors through the Dollars for Scholars program.  To build on those fundraising efforts, she also helped organize the Commack School District Golf Outing.              

               To expand the humanitarian efforts of the Commack students, Ms. Virga was active in numerous humanitarian efforts that benefitted the victims of September 11^th  by sending supplies, monetary donations, letters and cards and assisted in programs to assist the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.   

               She has also been instrumental in the school’s Support Your Troops efforts and a key organizer of the 9/11 memorial tribute that the community holds annually to recognize those lost at the World Trade Center.  

            In addition, Ms. Virga worked on a committee to build relationships with local businesses to assist students with career awareness and opportunities to develop the knowledge and experiences that they will need to be successful in their chosen profession.           

            “Helping others has been the focus of the work that Ms. Virga has delivered to the students of our community through strong leadership and dedication, and it is my privilege to honor those efforts.  Her devotion to the children of Commack is truly limitless and she is a great example of the difference that one person can make,” stated Senator Flanagan.  “This event gives all of us the perfect opportunity to say thank you to those who have done so much and who serve as a model to the young ladies who will be the future leaders of our state.”

            The Senate’s Women of Distinction program was created in 1998 to honor New York women who exemplify personal excellence, or whose professional achievements or acts of courage, selflessness, integrity or perseverance serve as an example to all New York residents. 

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