The Joseph H. Mason Award

Honoring Union Members Who Serve Their Community

Each year, United Way of Chautauqua County partners with organized labor to present the Joseph H. Mason Award, recognizing an active or retired union member who demonstrates exceptional commitment to community service.

Now in its 45th year, the award celebrates individuals who embody the spirit of volunteerism and service — people who strengthen Chautauqua County through their dedication to helping others both on and off the job.

Nominations are open to any active or retired union member residing in Chautauqua County who has made a meaningful impact through volunteer service. Nominees may support United Way initiatives and Community Partner agencies or contribute to the community through other forms of civic engagement.

Nominations Now Open

United Way is currently accepting nominations for the 2026 Joseph H. Mason Award.

📅 Nomination Deadline: September 1, 2026
👉 Download a Nomination Form
👉 Fill out a nomination form online

Completed nomination forms may be submitted to:

United Way of Chautauqua County
208 Pine Street
Jamestown, NY 14701

Salute to Labor Dinner

The award recipient will be honored at United Way's annual Salute to Labor Dinner, a celebration of organized labor's longstanding contributions to our community.

📅 Wednesday, October 21, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Athenaeum Hotel, Chautauqua Institution

Additional event and ticket information will be posted as it becomes available.

👉 Learn More About the Salute to Labor Dinner

Sponsor the Event

Support this longstanding tradition by becoming a sponsor of the Salute to Labor Dinner.

Sponsorship opportunities provide businesses and organizations with the opportunity to recognize the important role organized labor plays in strengthening our community while receiving recognition through event materials, media coverage, and promotional outreach.

👉 Become a Sponsor

The Joseph H. Mason Award: History and Background

The Joseph H. Mason Award was established by United Way following the passing of Joe Mason, a respected labor leader and longtime United Way Board member whose commitment to both organized labor and community service left a lasting impact throughout the region.

Mason served as the Directing Business Representative of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District 65, representing workers throughout southwestern New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. He was widely respected for his advocacy on behalf of working men and women and for his dedication to improving the communities where they lived and worked.

His deep commitment to United Way helped strengthen the longstanding partnership between organized labor and community impact efforts across Chautauqua County.

For more than four decades, the Joseph H. Mason Award has recognized union members whose service extends beyond the workplace and into the community. Recipients have come from a wide range of professions and trades, but all share a common commitment to helping others and strengthening the place they call home.

The award stands as a lasting tribute to Joe Mason's legacy and to the vital role organized labor continues to play in building stronger communities throughout Chautauqua County.