Sometimes, being a leader means getting the glory. That's what it will mean today, at any rate, for James DeRusha, the board president at the local United Way chapter.

DeRusha, who has served on the board for three years and as its president for the past year, will accept an award for the United Way of Cayuga County today from the New York State United Way Board of Directors. But DeRusha isn't taking all the credit for his chapter's distinction as tops in the state.

“It says congratulations to the community as a whole,” said the former superintendent of Port Byron schools.

The award recognizes the organization's efforts to positively impact human services in Cayuga County over the last decade. As DeRusha and Executive Director Chris Buscher pointed out, the United Way of America has changed its focus from fund-raising to community involvement and activism.

To that end, the area organization started paying more attention to the Human Services Coalition, which works with populations from children and adults to the elderly and disabled who are in need of services.

Buscher said his organization worked to ensure that services were better coordinated in the area.

“We've really championed the strengthening of Human Services Coalition so it can bring the whole health and human services community together,” he said.

DeRusha is most proud of the local volunteers, who, when the United Way asked, mobilized to help low-income families get free help preparing their tax returns.

The project is ongoing and DeRusha estimated it has served 100 people so far.

“We have a good community in the greater Auburn-Cayuga County area,” he said.

And despite competition for donor dollars from natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina - and financial pressures created by high energy costs - the chapter raised a record $1.39 million during its most recent fall campaign.

Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or at olivia.goldberg@lee.net