VERA CHINESE FILE PHOTO | Denise Lucas in 2011, receiving a $2,225 donation from her boss Tom Otis of Otis Ford for the Move the Animal Shelter fund.

To the Editor:

I wanted to thank you for the award of person of the year for 2012. I am really honored and humbled for the recognition.

I am not the type of person that wants the attention for myself as much as for the goal of building my Town of Riverhead a new state-of-the-art animal shelter to foster and care for the abandoned animals.

First impressions last the longest and the current shelter can sometimes be a scary place for first time visitors as it was for me just over a year ago.

I have learned throughout the year that there are a lot of good people and good organizations that help in all areas of animal issues, and also loyal friends, family and community who have helped me stay focused and energized. Without their support and positive energy I don’t know how far along I would be today.

I do plan to keep the same level of commitment in this coming year.

I thank you all for your support and the awesome title, I will cherish it and continue through the Riverhead MTAS Inc “move the animal shelter” to accomplish my goal of a new animal shelter for cats and dogs and another dog park for the community to enjoy.

This is our first year and during this past year I have created a non profit 501c3 & a website www.rmtas.org with Paypal if people would like to make tax deductible donations or you can mail donations to Riverhead MTAS Inc. P.O. Box 635 Riverhead, NY 11901.

I also have a Facebook page that I post on daily.

Thank you all.

Denise Lucas, Riverhead

founder, Riverhead MTAS Inc.

Read more Letters to the Editor in this week’s Riverhead News-Review available on newsstands or by clicking for the E-Paper.