Teacher Donates Award, Launches $12,500 Lake George Challenge

Seth Harris could have pocketed the $2,500 cash prize that came with his Susan C. Siegel Community Service Leader Award, but the lifelong Lake George resident had bigger plans.

Instead, Harris donated the entire amount from Sunmark Credit Union's annual award to the Lake George Land Conservancy. Then he surprised everyone at the Friday ceremony with an announcement: he'll match all donations up to $5,000, potentially turning the original gift into $12,500 for conservation education.

"I look at it this way: the donation from Sunmark is a seed," Harris said at the ceremony surrounded by 30 community members. "Given the right ingredients and cultivation, it will grow so much larger."

The funds will support two projects close to Harris' heart as an educator. First, interpretive signage will guide visitors along hiking trails at the Wiawaka Center for Women, where the conservancy recently protected 52 forested acres. Second, a lake-wide outdoor education backpack program will launch in partnership with local libraries throughout the Lake George watershed.

The backpacks will include supplies teaching "Leave No Trace" principles, outdoor skills, and responsible recreation. Families of all ages can check them out from libraries like Bolton Free Library to explore nature in Lake George parks and preserves.

The Ripple Effect

Harris' matching challenge exemplifies how one person's generosity can multiply across a community. Sunmark Credit Union's Charitable Community Foundation has supported local nonprofits for a decade, but this marks the first time an award recipient has leveraged their prize to create additional community impact.

"Sunmark Credit Union is all about people helping people," said John Prividera, chief experience officer. The foundation's community development pillar aligns perfectly with Harris' campaign to benefit Lake George's environment.

Lake George Land Conservancy Executive Director Mike Horn praised Harris' vision. "Seth recognizes the incredible power that a positive experience with the natural world can have on people of all ages," Horn said. The conservancy's collaboration with Wiawaka and local libraries will ensure trails remain "open, welcoming, and cared for" while providing educational resources.

Wiawaka Executive Director Doreen Kelly celebrated the partnership: "Each step forward is stronger when walked together." The improved trails at the women's center will open to the public in 2026, complete with educational signage funded partly by this campaign.

Bolton Free Library Director Christiann Gibeau noted the timing couldn't be better. "Now, more than ever, it is imperative that organizations work together to leverage their resources in support of community interests and initiatives," she said.

Together, these organizations are creating a new generation who love, enjoy, and respect the outdoors.