Fatimah Carmen Luisa Martinez Santiago Receives Prestigious 2024 Greg Farrell Award

Fatimah Carmen Luisa Martinez Santiago is a dedicated community leader, passionate youth advocate, and tireless champion for equity. Her lifelong dedication to service and justice continues to make a profound impact on countless lives.

We are thrilled to announce that Habitat Dutchess County’s very own Martinez Santiago has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Greg Farrell Award. This prestigious award was created to honor the memory and legacy of Greg Farrell, a trailblazing nonprofit leader who passed away in 2020. Greg’s visionary work included serving as the longtime Executive Director of the Fund for the City of New York, co-founding NYC Outward Bound Schools, and becoming the first President of EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning). With a $5,000 cash prize, the award recognizes individuals who embody the spirit of Greg’s legacy—captured in its motto: “lighting sparks, living boldly, and leaving the world a better place.”

Martinez Santiago joins the distinguished ranks of past honorees, including Pascale Florestal (2020), Moses Ssenyonjo (2021), Tonya Dreher (2022), and David Adams (2023)—all of whom have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to transformative, life-affirming work that serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration.

Fatimah’s journey as a changemaker and advocate for her community began early—while she was still a student at South Bronx High School. She was enrolled in Project Discovery, an Outward Bound-inspired course, where her leadership qualities quickly became apparent.

Her leadership took shape almost immediately as she helped spearhead a “Unity Project” aimed at reducing violence in her neighborhood. She later founded and led “Rebels with a Cause,” an innovative youth mentoring initiative designed to empower young people to drive meaningful change in the South Bronx. Fatimah’s passion for service eventually led her to join the staff at NYC Outward Bound Schools, where she took on multiple roles, always going above and beyond to support students and families.

After relocating to Poughkeepsie with her three sons, she continued her mission of community service, working first with Astor Services and later with Habitat for Humanity. Most recently, she was elected President of the Poughkeepsie School Board, where she collaborates with her colleagues to ensure that every student in the district—regardless of background—has access to a high-quality, equitable education.

After learning that she had been chosen as this year’s Greg Farrell Award recipient, Fatimah shared: “Receiving this award is an incredible honor, as it represents Greg Farrell’s legacy of curiosity, service, and adventure. Like Greg, I believe in uplifting others, dismantling systemic barriers, and creating spaces where people can realize their full potential—both individually and collectively. This award is not just recognition; it’s a call to continue the work of strengthening communities, fostering belonging, and building a more just and compassionate world.”

Thank you, Fatimah!