Compass Award Winner Announced

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Georgette Steffens, Donna Purnomo, Dominick Purnomo and Marc Paquin

ALBANY, NY (06/14/2012)(readMedia)-- The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) announced the 2012 Compass Award winners, Donna and Chef Yono Purnomo, at the BID's Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. Given by the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID), The Compass Award is an annual award given to an individual, organization or business that has exemplified the spirit of partnership with the BID in shaping the direction of downtown Albany, improving the quality of life and overall image for all those who live in, work in and visit the Capital City.

"We are proud to add Donna and Yono to the very distinguished list of Compass Award awardees," said Georgette Steffens, Executive Director of the Downtown Albany BID, "their passion for their industry, our community, and the arts is evident in all that they do. The Purnomo's are a great team and are changing the face of Downtown."

Owners of Yono's restaurant and dp An American Brasserie in downtown Albany, New York, Yono's Restaurant is a recipient of the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) award. The two are founding members of the Albany Chefs' Food and Wine Festival: Wine and Dine for the Arts. Since its inception three years ago, the event has raised more than $150,000 for local Arts organizations, many of which are located in Downtown. They are affiliated with more than 75 charitable and community service organizations with Donna serving as a Board member for Capital Repertory Theatre, SUNY Cobleskill and the FBI Citizens Academy.

Yono has been featured on the Today Show and the Food Network and is the recipient of the National Restaurant Association's American Dream Award. Donna has had several articles published in trade magazines, authored and edited cookbooks and is vocalist for the group "Hamilton Street."

Past winners of The Compass Award include:

• 2004 – Mayor Gerald D. Jennings

• 2005 – Robert Provost, Times Union

• 2006 – Robert Belber, Times Union Center

• 2007 – Michele Vennard, ACCVB

• 2008 – Kevin O'Connor, Tech Valley Communications

• 2009 – Capital Region Sports Foundation

• 2010 – Robert Kivort, Kivort Steel

• 2011 – Edward Swyer, The Swyer Companies

Incorporated in 1996, Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) is a private, not-for profit 501(c) (3) organization working to restore, promote and maintain the character and vitality of downtown Albany and improve the quality of life and overall image of downtown for those who work in, live in and visit New York's Capital City. For information about the Downtown Albany BID visit downtownalbany.org, call (518) 465-2143 or follow us @AlbanyBID.

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