Corning Enterprises retired president Chris Sharkey to be honored at United Way dinner

Jeff Smith, Corning Leader
·4 min read

Chris Sharkey, recently retired president of Corning Enterprises, will be honored Wednesday by the United Way of the Southern Tier for her volunteering contributions to give back to the community.

Stephen M. Hughes, president and CEO of the United Way of the Southern Tier, said Sharkey will be honored Wednesday at the United Way of the Southern Tier annual award dinner with the James B. Flaws Lasting Legacy Award.

The award is presented for demonstration of the full embodiment of United Way’s call to action through giving, advocating and volunteerism, and further recognizes a person who demonstrates vision, courage and commitment to leading community-level change.

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Sharkey’s contributions and thoughts

“Obviously I was shocked and really honored to get this award,” Sharkey said. “It’s the highest award the United Way gives and quite frankly Jim Flaws, who the award is named after, has been a real model for me about what giving back to the community should look like. So, getting an award named after him is quite an honor.”

Chris Sharkey
Chris Sharkey

Hughes said Sharkey’s accomplishments aiding the community include most notably being the catalyst and organizing force that brought together United Way and other agencies in response to the flooding event in August of 2021, that ravaged many sections of the Southern Tier.

“As a result of Chris’ outreach, the total amount funds raised and provided to the local communities exceeded $600,000,” Hughes said. “That’s just one example of the things Chris has done. The Wineglass Marathon is another staple of her commitment to the community. She’s just been a fabulous person connected to a fabulous company that has done a tremendous amount to improve the quality of life in the Southern Tier.”

History of the event

Hughes said the United Way of the Southern Tier has held the annual dinner for the past 31 years, since its inception in 1993.

“The annual dinner has been really a part of our annual way of thanking the community for giving, for advocating, and for volunteering,” Hughes said. “It’s the living embodiment of our brand mobilization strategy for people that have the means to give, to give what they can, and for people that want to lift their voice to advocate on their priorities that are important to United Way of the Southern Tier.”

Hughes said the awards go to people who are willing to roll up their sleeves to improve the community.

The United Way of the Southern Tier focuses on human service areas of greatest need within the service area of Chemung and Steuben counties.

Joe Whelan of Webster set a record in winning the Guthrie Wineglass Marathon on Oct. 1, 2023 in Steuben County, with runners finishing on Market Street in Corning. Whelan finished the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 16 minutes, 58 seconds.
Joe Whelan of Webster set a record in winning the Guthrie Wineglass Marathon on Oct. 1, 2023 in Steuben County, with runners finishing on Market Street in Corning. Whelan finished the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 16 minutes, 58 seconds.

United Way to also present Give, Advocate, and volunteer awards

Marty Curran will be honored with the Give award, having been a supporter of United Way of the Southern Tier. As Corning Incorporated’s Executive Vice President & Innovation Officer, he has championed United Way’s annual workplace giving campaign. Curran is immediate past chair of United Way of the Southern Tier’s board of directors and currently serves on the executive committee.

Eaton Corporation’s Horseheads facility will be honored with the Advocate award for lifting up United Way of the Southern Tier priorities and, in doing so, improving the lives of children, senior citizens, and people in need in Chemung and Steuben counties.

Tour de Keuka Planning Committee John Anthony, Gina Behil, Josh Bezio, Katie Cervoni, Kristine Dale, Anis Fadul, Paul Huber, Blaine Mays, Doug Mugglin, Randy Rhoads and Robert Stanton will receive the Volunteer award for their work year-round to ensure the success of the Tour de Keuka bike ride in support of United Way of the Southern Tier.

Sharkey the last president of Corning Enterprises

The community connections and investments currently supported by the Corning Foundation, Corning Enterprises, and the Office of Racial Equality and Social Unity now exist as a new consolidated function and center of excellence called Community Impact & Investment, according to a Corning Inc. spokesperson. Community Impact & Investment aims to continue Corning’s commitment to build vibrant communities and leverage existing strengths and skillsets from all three organizations.

Sharkey said Corning Inc.’s commitment to the community will continue.

“I think it's just going to take a different shape going forward,” said Sharkey. “I think the company remains committed to the community it's called home for, you know, for more than 160 years.”

Sharkey has worked for Corning Inc., for the past 43 years, the last 23 at Corning Enterprises.

“It was really sort of two different careers,” Sharkey said. “I was in finance for the first half of my career, working for a number of Corning Inc., different businesses. Then I moved over to Corning Enterprises in 2001. That really was such a wonderful way to connect with causes I was passionate about in the community and really made such a difference not only for Corning Inc., employees but for the community as a whole.”

This article originally appeared on The Leader: United Way to honor Corning Enterprises' Chris Sharkey: What to know