After 50 years of creating quality communities in the Hudson Valley, the Orange County Citizens Foundation has chosen a new name that better represents its mission and reach across the region. The new name – Vision Hudson Valley – has been announced ahead of the organization’s 50^th anniversary in April.

Over the past five decades, the Orange County Citizens Foundation has had a significant positive impact in the region, providing opportunities, information, and initiatives to improve quality of life in local communities. From seeding fellow non-profits like Leadership Orange, the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan, the Orange County Arts Council, and Hudson Valley Honor Flight; to preserving open spaces by establishing the D&H Canal Park, the Heritage Trail, the Orange County Arboretum and the Orange County Land Trust; to creating the Quality of Life Report Card, which helps define goals and determine policy directions for the Hudson Valley, its mission remains the same: to find balanced ways to improve quality of life for residents. The new name reflects a renewed commitment to engage a broad audience interested in creating great communities throughout the region.

“We’ve learned over the past 50 years that the programs we’ve organized and projects we’ve established in Orange County can be replicated in other areas to improve local communities throughout our area,” said Nancy Proyect, President of Vision Hudson Valley. “We’ve built strong partnerships in the region and will happily work with any individual, organization, or governmental entity to help them make change in their own communities. We ask only that people remain open-minded, engaged, and committed to improving quality of life for all,” she said.

“Our mission to improve quality of life through better land use and transportation planning, environmental and economic sustainability, and health and well-being has never wavered,” said Andrea Nilon, Chair of Vision Hudson Valley. “As our new tagline indicates, we’ve been creating quality communities since 1971. We intend to do that for at least another 50 years, and with hope, a lot longer.”

There are a number of ways area residents can get involved with Vision Hudson Valley. Volunteers and new members are always welcome. The organization will be holding a socially-distanced 50^th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, April 29^th at its location in Sugar Loaf and a two-day Quality Communities Conference will be held virtually on June 3^rd and June 4^th. For more information about Vision Hudson Valley’s initiatives or to participate, please visit: http://visionhudsonvalley.org.