Hannaford Supermarkets and B95.5 are partnering to identify and celebrate women in the Capital Region its the

20 Outstanding Women!

We found the women who go above and beyond to make their communities a better place to live. Those unsung heroes in our neighborhoods – the ones who are already busy, yet find the time to give back in big ways to help others.

 Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Today's Outstanding Woman is,

Karen Casey of Schodack

Karen Casey believes in the power of a quilt not merely as fabric and thread, but as a tangible expression of love, comfort, and human connection. Since founding the Albany Chapter of Quilts for Kids in 2013, Karen has overseen the distribution of over 12,000 handcrafted patchwork quilts to children facing serious illness, trauma, abuse, and natural disasters across the Capital Region.

A chapter of the Pennsylvania-headquartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit which operates 70 chapters nationwide, Karen's Albany chapter donates quilts to Albany Medical Center, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region, and law enforcement agencies throughout the area. The impact of each quilt extends far beyond warmth. Chief Elaine M. Rudzinski of the East Greenbush Police Department notes that the quilts' bright colors and cheerful themes have served as invaluable tools for officers seeking to comfort and communicate with frightened or traumatized children. Chief Daniel Bunney of the Village of Nassau Police Department recalls a particularly poignant moment in which one of Karen's quilts was used to wrap a three-year-old girl found alone and distressed on Route 20, a quilt the child continued to carry with her long after that difficult night.

Karen does not work alone. She has built and organized a dedicated volunteer community that meets monthly at Emanuel Reformed Church in Castleton to sew, and her influence has reached corporate partners as well. Over the past decade, she has inspired hundreds of employees at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to donate their time and talents to her mission.

Karen Casey is living proof that small acts of kindness, multiplied by compassion and community, can change lives one quilt at a time.

Nominated by  Patricia Cunningham

Listen to her interview below!

See all of this year's 20 Outstanding Women announced so far!

Congratulations to all of the 20 Outstanding Women with Hannaford Supermarkets and B95.5!

Check out the Outstanding Women from years past!

Class of 2025!

Class of 2024!