Thursday, October 1, 2026
A West Hempstead woman stood out among her peers as one of Long Island’s best, as Claire Galofaro was honored as a ‘Woman of Distinction’ by New York State Assemblywoman Judy Griffin.
Galofaro has been a longtime volunteer within the West Hempstead community, having served in various roles with the West Hempstead Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), eventually earning the role of co-president.
Sparked by a desire to give back to the community as her children were growing up, Galofaro worked her way up from class parent to co-president, handling different responsibilities at every turn.
“At the time, I first had my oldest daughter going to school, and I just knew that I always wanted to be a parent that was involved somehow,” said Galofaro. “From there, I started out being a class parent when my daughter was in kindergarten, and my duties grew from there.”
During her time at the PTA, Galofaro accomplished a few projects, including the construction of a teacher’s welcome garden at the Cornwell Avenue Elementary School.
“That was one accomplishment that we were happy to be able to help fundraising and contribute towards,” said Galofaro. “We all worked very hard, and it was incredibly rewarding to see that project through from start to finish.”
In addition to her work with the PTA, Galofaro has previously worked with Girl Scout Troop 1107. She also currently serves as a treasurer, committee member, and leader for West Hempstead’s Boy Scout Troop 240.
“My oldest son is an Eagle Scout, and my younger son is a Life Scout, working on his Eagle,” said Galofaro. “I’ve been involved with the scouting community for around nine years, and it’s been incredibly rewarding.”
No matter the organization, Galofaro brings the same energy and attitude that earned her a valued honor like that of the Woman of Distinction.
“She’s incredibly dedicated,” said Laurene Baumann, who has worked alongside Galofaro at the PTA, Boys and Girls Scouts. “She’s a true team player. She was always the one that, if there was nobody raising their hand to organize something, she always volunteered, no matter what.”
This is the second time that Galofaro has been honored as a Woman of Distinction, having earned the honor from New York State Assemblyman Brian Curran in 2018.
