A champion for the community

Freeport resident Jacques Butler is a testament to the power of community involvement. A commissioner of the village Housing Authority, a past member of the Freeport Community Development Agency and the president of Freeport PAL Soccer, Butler has had a wide-ranging impact on the village that has grown out of his dedicated service to it.

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jacques Butler for over 10 years,” Mayor Robert Kennedy said. “He has proven to be an asset to the entire community. Jacques has volunteered his time and professional experience to several non-profit organizations in Freeport, and continues to work with the Freeport Little League every summer. I look forward to a continued relationship with him for the future.”

For his service to the village, the Herald is proud to name Butler its 2023 Person of the Year.

Butler moved to Freeport with his family in 1999. The spark that ignited his commitment to the community’s welfare came from an unexpected source — the Freeport Recreation Center Kiddie Club, a soccer program for 3 and 4 year olds.

“My daughter started to interact with other people,” Butler recalled. “We got into soccer, Freeport PAL soccer. I would bring my daughter to participate, and the main coach at that time suggested, ‘Why don’t you become a coach?’ I said, ‘Well, I don’t know about soccer, but all right for my kid. I’ll be here anyway.’ Little did I know, I ended up as the president of the U18 travel team soccer club and intramural program.”

Under Butler’s leadership, Freeport PAL Soccer has flourished for 14 years, giving hundreds of children the chance to engage in sports and recreation, irrespective of their backgrounds or skill levels.

Beyond the soccer field, Butler’s commitment to the village extended into broader community-development initiatives. A stint with the Freeport Community Development Agency exposed him to the intricacies of leveraging grants and block funds from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and Nassau County to address issues like blighted housing.

“I like to serve people, and try to help people who would have no other avenue to turn to,” Butler said. “That’s always a great feeling for me.”

As a Housing Authority commissioner, he is committed to enhancing residents’ quality of life. He played a pivotal role in the unveiling of a new administration building, contributing insights on running internet wires underground for a more efficient setup.

“Butler is a valuable member of the team, and he brings a sense of community leadership to the Housing Authority,” its executive director, John Hrvatin, said. “His business acumen is phenomenal. Jacques Butler certainly has a big heart for the Freeport community.”

Butler’s multifaceted experience makes him something of a linchpin when it comes to addressing community needs, blending professional acumen with a genuine passion for service. He balances his civic activities with a career at Verizon, where he has spent over three decades overseeing communication installations and repairs.

Butler has found unique opportunities to bridge his career and his volunteerism. During the coronavirus pandemic, when service technicians were prevented from entering homes, Butler, as a Verizon liaison, facilitated essential connectivity for seniors in need of medical treatment.

“My public service for work and my civil service all tie in because I’m hands-on,” he said. “It all kind of makes sense when you sit back and look at all the things that I do. It’s just being involved. I love being involved. It keeps me going.”

Despite the demands on his time, Butler manages his responsibilities with grace and efficiency, by all accounts, acknowledging the collaborative spirit of the Freeport community.

“I just take the extra stuff as an addition to what I do for a living,” he said.

Butler’s advice to his fellow Freeport residents? “If you want to add value, you have to ask the question, who needs help?” he said. “Because help’s not going to come to you. You need to make yourself available. Reach out, and there’s always stuff that can be done.”

In the village’s tapestry, Butler is a thread connecting diverse elements of service, sports and connectivity — a community champion whose impact ripples through the lives of those he interacts with.

“He gives 100 percent to any job or task he takes on,” Kennedy said. “If he sees a need, he jumps right in to do whatever he can to find a solution. I wish we had 10 more like him.”