NCA awards recognize outstanding service to low-income families and are presented annually by the National Community Action Network, New York, NY. NCAN consists of more than 1,000 agencies covering 99 percent of the counties in the United States.

Michelle received the award in "recognition of her commitment to the ideals of community action, her organization of housing repair services that assist low income families, and her unwavering dedication to helping those in need."

"[She] did a beautiful job accepting the award," wrote attendee Marian Bigelow, "with lots of thanks to her family."

The award ceremony took place at the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council soup kitchen at the Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church in Saratoga Springs, and was presented by EOC director Dennis Brunelle. EOC is a federally designated community action agency established during President Lyndon B. Johnson's war on poverty in the mid-1960s. The agency, which has a $2 million operating budget, uses federal dollars, small grants and donations to assist Saratoga's poor and low-income residents.

With Michelle in the photo is Stephen Towne, Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Accounts.