Congratulations to these local volunteers recognized by ESL Federal Credit Union and News 10 NBC WHEC as our 2025 ESL Heart of Service Award Winners.
This year’s honorees are:
Arthur Alvut
As president and co-founder of Roc E6, “Coach Art” spends more than 40 hours a week coaching, tutoring, and mentoring Rochester City athletes. Launched in 2025, Roc E6 provides free lacrosse opportunities for inner-city young athletes. Art’s leadership has also helped secure more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants to help these students go on to attend college.
Additionally, Art has supported our community by volunteering for many other organizations, including the Fairport High School Alumni Association, Fairport High School Wall of Fame election committee, Rochester Big Brother/Big Sister program, and Penfield and Fairport Youth Lacrosse.
David Beck
Upon retiring, Dave felt drawn to giving back to the community by volunteering and sponsoring programs that support elementary students within the Rochester City Schools. As a volunteer, Dave spends 30-40 hours a week, developing and overseeing an accelerated math program for elementary students, giving them the support and resources they need to excel at their own pace.
As the founder of “The SMILE Program,” Dave works with the Rochester Education Foundation, providing two kinds of “fun” experiences to students. The “Just for Fun” program supports efforts that help make schools a fun, smile-generating place to be, while “Learning is Fun” provides funds for creative, fun, hands-on STEM learning experiences.
Barbara Densmore
Now a retired former Rochester City School District teach, Barbara continues to support those students in a variety of ways, mentoring and advocating with each opportunity. As chaperon and organizer for the Outdoor Clubs at Wilson Magnet, World of Inquiry, and Padilla High Schools, Barbara helps students experience nature in new and “up-close” ways, whether it’s taking them on Canadian canoe trips or hiking, camping or on ski trips closer to home.
Barbara’s work as a Board Member of the Rochester Children’s Scholarship Fund helps provide financial resources and support for disadvantaged students to help them be more successful in school.
Martin Parzynski
When Martin’s great niece was born with spina bifida, he and his wife, Rebecca were inspired to find a way to help her become more independently mobile and set out to design a wheelchair just her size. From there, Martin began designing additional designs for wheelchairs that help children with over 70 mobility challenging disabilities and enlisting a team of volunteers to construct them, sending them to kids across the globe, free of charge (recipients only pay for shipping).
Today, there are over 3000 Bella’s Bumbas helping to provide mobility for children in over 68 countries.
Cynthia Strasburg
For more than 20 years, “Mama Cindy” has made it her mission to grant wishes from requests she receives from military units stationed all over the world. When Cindy receives a request, she makes sure to send something to each service member, along with a personal note, for everyone in the entire unit. These items run the gamut from personal hygiene items to snacks and treats, to small articles of clothing to things like books and puzzles that help pass the time; anything that might help make life a little easier for these service men and women.
In addition to sending packages to thousands of people across the globe, Cindy’s impact can be felt closer to home because she often purchases things from local small businesses to send in her care packages.
