The Newburgh Armory Unity Center Board of Trustees will dedicate its state-of-the-art indoor athletic field to Chris Hawkins, a Newburgh native who oversaw the construction of the field as a volunteer for the Armory Unity Center.

The dedication of the Chris Hawkins Field will take place on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 10 a.m. at the Unity Center.

After retiring in 2005, Chris began volunteering  with Habitat for Humanity, developing the plans for and overseeing the building of many of the Habitat homes in Newburgh.   He has volunteered with the Newburgh Armory Unity Center for three years.

“It’s nice to be able to give back to your community through volunteering,” Mr. Hawkins said.  “Habitat for Humanity is working to supply one of our most basic needs – housing. The Newburgh Armory Unity Center’s focus on education for Newburgh’s children will have an enormous impact on our community.”

William Kaplan, Newburgh Armory Unity Center’s founder and chairman of the board of directors, said Hawkins  has “transformed a dingy, dirty, poorly lit, cold cavern into a brilliant, functional, fun and practical space that will support the mission of education.”

“The Armory as we see it today would never had been created without Chris Hawkins’ skill and dedication,” said Kaplan. “He has created a space that gets an ‘oh my God’ reaction from every first time viewer.”

Deidre Glenn, the NAUC’s Executive Director, said that the work done by Mr. Hawkins and three local unions represent more than 50 percent of the cost of the restoration.

“We will be forever indebted to the IBEW Local 363, Laborers Local 17, and Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 373, as well as to Chris, for their dedication to the Unity Center and to the people of Newburgh,” Glenn said.
For more information about the Newburgh Armory Unity Center or the dedication, please contact Deidre Glenn at 845-245-4035.