Lorraine Donlon, known as the founding mother of Residents for a More Beautiful Syosset, was recently named a finalist in the Martha Stewart Living Dreamers into Doers Contest.

More than 1,000 dreamers entered the competition celebrating women who have turned their passions into businesses and philanthropic programs, hobbies into careers, and aspirations into realities, just as Martha did 25 years ago with her first book, Entertaining. Martha Stewart Living will also present the first Living Legend Award to best-selling, award-winning, singer-songwriter Carole King.

In 1998, Lorraine was determined to turn an ugly, trash-filled utility strip along busy Jackson Avenue into a community flower garden. By sheer force of will, unpaid and unbidden, Donlon founded and grew Residents for a More Beautiful Syosset into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of over 400 Syosset families.

In 2007, the organization continues to plant and maintain three community gardens, to advocate for pedestrian and vehicular safety, and to encourage downtown redevelopment.

Whether tending the gardens, picking up trash, raising money for American flags, or lobbying elected officials, Donlon is known as a tireless community advocate. From that first seed that she planted in 1998, Donlon's dream of community pride and spirit has continued to bloom and spread among the inhabitants of our hamlet.

The 10 honorees represent a wide range of talents and efforts, from sending cookies to the troops overseas, to creating community gardens and establishing an arts center for at-risk teens and special needs children. Each will receive a $1,000 award from MSL, a matching contribution of $1,000 from Bank of America and a $250 Talbots shopping spree. A complete overview of all 11 winners and their stories are included below. Additionally, the Dreamers into Doers winners are featured in the November issue of Martha Stewart Living.

Donlon and the other winners participated in a live taping of the Martha Stewart Show in New York City in October. They were also honored at the Martha Stewart Dreamers into Doers Awards Gala Event that took place at the Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.