Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz was joined by Commissioner of Senior Services Randy Hoak, members of the Erie County Senior Services department, and enthusiastic seniors today at the Orchard Park Senior Center to honor Mr. Anthony Agnello as “Senior of the Month” for July 2016.

Mr. Agnello is an original member of the Teacher Corps/Peace Corps program, which trains dynamic, adaptable young educators in Buffalo to work as mentors and supervisors in the challenging and isolated educational system in Afghanistan. Among many other achievements, Mr. Agnello also volunteers as a football coach for Orchard Park High School, as a Senior Group Fitness Coach at the senior center, and serves as an advisor emeritus for the WNY Champion Model UN Group, a group he formed in 1999 to engage local high school students with views of the world from different cultural and national perspectives.

“Mr. Agnello is an active, dynamic individual who’s spent his life teaching and mentoring others and continues to find ways to give back to his community. His efforts to help others have literally spanned the globe, teaching new global perspectives to local students and having a direct positive impact on the health and well-being of needy students overseas,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “He also finds time to volunteer as a Fitness Coach with his peers and has served his community on the School Board. It is an honor to celebrate Mr. Agnello as July’s Senior of the Month.”

Commissioner Hoak added, “Mr. Agnello is very well known in the community for his educational endeavors as well as for his commitment to his peers at the Senior Center. He is s dedicated volunteer who is always willing to help others, and we are proud to honor him as Senior of the Month.”

In addition to his other roles, Mr. Agnello also serves as a refugee services consultant for Orchard Park Educational Outreach (“OPEO”), which is a regional leader among student service groups and has organized six construction projects, sent thousands of pounds of school supplies, and supported numerous gender equity educational projects in Afghanistan. The group also maintains a robust local outreach schedule. Additionally, Mr. Agnello is an outgoing member of the Orchard Park School Board, is co-founder of the Orchard Park Veterans Memorial Committee, and is President of the Friends of Afghanistan, which won the U.S. Peace Corps’ 2015-16 Ruppé Award for Outstanding Country of Service.

For more information:

On the Erie County Department of Senior Services, visit http://www2.erie.gov/seniorservices/