Remarkable Women of Central New York

Lorie is a Gold Star mother dedicated to honoring her son’s service and sacrifice. She lost her son, Marine Corporal Kyle Schneider in 2011 when he was killed in Afghanistan at just 23 years old. Since then, she has embraced his spirit of excellence by creating the Corporal Kyle Schneider Foundation, a volunteer non-profit. The creating hands program also created to take in gently used items an give them to military and veteran families. She has also opened “The Mission of Thanks,” which gives free meals to military families as well as the Freedom Food pantry in Baldwinsville. While you’re in that area, the Baldwinsville post office bears Kyle’s name in honor of the hometown hero. It is not lost on others the time, and dedication Lorie has given to help others in Kyle’s memory. 

She was nominated for the Remarkable Women special after someone close to her described her energy and efforts to perpetuate Kyle’s legacy and generosity as “a legion to all within the CNY  and National Veteran’s community”. 

When you hear the words, “Your child has cancer” it changes your life. It did for Erin Engle when her young son lost his battle with brain cancer in 2014. The Engle family decided to form“Griffin’s Guardians,” a childhood cancer non-profit charity that donates money to support other families with a child with cancer. Griffin’s Guardians has raised more than 2.3 million dollars.

Now the charity has its own storefront in Cicero, featuring T-shirts, sweatshirts, gloves, and more. To this day, Erin stays close to her hockey community in Cicero, where she believes Griffin would have played, every year the C-NS hockey team holds an annual hockey tournament in Griffin’s memory. Erin is described by those who knew her as a “remarkable, strong, giving, successful woman who has helped support families in her community and the Central NY area who have children with cancer.” 

Colleen Bennett is the founder and executive director of The KEYS Program in Sherrill, a children’s charity. In 1993, Colleen brought comfort and rest to her dad who was in the hospital suffering from cancer and in excruciating pain, by playing a recording of her playing piano music that he so loved. The day her dad passed away, Colleen vowed to bring that same joy to children battling cancer and other serious illnesses and The KEYS Program was born. In her nomination it says “it isn’t only the services provided that has made KEYS so successful. It’s the way Colleen runs her organization: with kindness, compassion, grace, and love.”

Frieda founded Hope for Heather in honor of her daughter, Heather who passed away from an aggressive form of colon cancer in June 2008. Heather worked at the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) as assistant to the CEO throughout her battle with cancer. Heather was committed to spreading the word about ovarian cancer because there are often few symptoms before the cancer has progressed to stage III or IV. Hope for Heather is dedicated to raising money and awareness for ovarian cancer and has had a profound impact on our community. Frieda has elevated awareness about ovarian cancer, a disease often overlooked. By shedding light on its challenges and advocating for early detection and improved treatments, she has empowered individuals to take charge of their health. 

Hope for Heather has created a network of resources, support groups, and educational initiatives that directly contribute to the well-being of those impacted by ovarian cancer, making a lasting difference in the community’s fight against this formidable disease. In her nomination, it said “Frieda’s journey exemplifies the transformative power of love and resilience, showcasing how one person’s determination can turn tragedy into a catalyst for meaningful change.”