Deer Park Woman Named District 17 "Woman of Distinction" For 2022

DEER PARK, NY — A Deer Park woman is being recognized for her generous contributions to her community.

Valerie St. Bernard, founder and president of the Deer Park Drug Prevention Coalition (DPDPC) was recently named as the District 17 Woman of Distinction for 2022 on Tuesday.

Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park) presented the award with a special proclamation at the William H. Rogers Legislature Building in Hauppauge. Her husband Eddie, daughter Joyreiss and First Baptist Church of Deer Park Pastor Da’Shun Burrell, also attended to observe her honor.

According to a press release, St. Bernard "has seen the impact of addiction and the devastation to families, especially children placed in foster care."

Her personal experiences compelled her to create DPDPC, an organization with the objective to educate, empower and advocate for families in Deer Park and the surrounding communities affected by drug and alcohol dependency.

St. Bernard is also currently a credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor Trainee
and also interns at the Suffolk County Drug and Family Treatment Court. A graduate of Suffolk County Community College with an associate’s degree in Chemical Dependence Counseling, she is expected to graduate from Long Island University’s Social Work program with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work this May.

In addition to her work in drug prevention, St. Bernard is also an executive board member of the Concerned Citizens of Deer Park, vice president of the Deer Park Community Association, vice president of the Lions Club of Wyandanch/Wheatley Heights, board member of the Mother’s Club of Wheatley Heights, and an usher and president of the Missionary Auxiliary at the First Baptist Church of Deer Park.

“Ms. St. Bernard has demonstrated a fierce and inspiring commitment to ensuring that the most vulnerable families in our community are given the help they so desperately need,” said Donnelly.

The Suffolk County Woman of Distinction Recognition Program was established in 2002 to give
each County Legislator the opportunity to honor an outstanding woman who resides in his or her
legislative district. The recipient must show that they have demonstrated leadership, involvement and commitment to community.

In conjunction with Women’s History Month, Ms. St. Bernard and the names of the other legislative district honorees were read into the record at Tuesday's Legislature General
Meeting and honored at the annual Suffolk County Woman of Distinction Luncheon later that
day.

“It is a privilege to honor her as my Woman of Distinction for 2022," said Donnelly. "On behalf of the entire community, I thank her for all that she has done.”