samaritans presents
New York’s Nicest is awarded annually to an individual or group in recognition of their deep commitment to improving the quality of life for their fellow New Yorkers.
Recipients embody Samaritans’ befriending philosophy, practiced across the world at over 400 centers in 42 countries.
The core tenets of befriending aim to alleviate human misery, loneliness, x despair by offering non-judgmental support to those who feel they have no one else to turn to, and who yearn for understanding and acceptance.
New York’s Nicest 2023:
Meet this year’s suicide prevention champions!
NYC Council Member Linda Lee + Desmond Nation.
NYC Council Member, Chair of Mental Health,
Disabilities + Addiction
District 23
Chair Linda Lee
NYC Council Chair of Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction, Linda Lee, born and raised in Queens, is herself a social worker who has been a staunch supporter of suicide prevention in NYC and a leading advocate of the many community-based organizations working in mental health like Samaritans.
Council Member Linda Lee represents District 23 in Eastern Queens. She is the first Korean-American ever elected to the New York City Council and serves as Chair of the Mental Health Committee. Under her leadership, the city is developing a new Roadmap for Mental Health
Prior to taking office, Linda was the President/CEO of Korean Community Services (KCS) of Metropolitan New York, Inc., New York’s first community-based social service organization focused on the Korean community.
Retired NYPD officer + former
Samaritans’ hotline volunteer
Desmond Nation
Desmond’s commitment to service goes beyond the call of duty. As a retired NYPD officer with over two decades of service, he’s been consistently dedicated to helping others. After retirement, Desmond spent over 7 years as a volunteer answering calls on Samaritans’ 24-hour, crisis hotline.
Desmond credits his training and experience with Samaritans as helping to pave the way for his current role as a Project Support Officer and Help Line Coordinator at Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance (POPPA).
At POPPA, Desmond also takes on the responsibility of being a Trainer for Crisis Intervention, Stress Management, and Traumatic Response, providing support to active and retired NYPD officers across the nation.
Desmond is also the founder of the “22 Days Golf-athon for Suicide Awareness and Prevention,” an annual event aimed at raising funds for both Samaritans and POPPA. This initiative is not just a fundraiser, but a sobering reminder of the tragic reality that 22 military veterans die by suicide daily. We deeply admire Desmond’s unwavering drive to both honor their memory and raise awareness about this critical issue.
