Since joining the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH) in 1996, Therese “Terry” Meyer has been actively involved in all aspects of the organization across New York State. She is a founding member of the Orange County Board and has proudly held every LAOH office at both the County and Division levels.

In 2015, Terry was elected to the office of New York State Missions and Charities, becoming the first woman from Orange County to serve on the NYS Board. Additionally, in 2017, she made history as the first woman to serve as an aide and joint representative to the Grand Marshal of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. She has since continued to serve in numerous leadership roles and was honored to coordinate the New York State LAOH 125th Anniversary Celebration. This past July, she was deeply honored to be elected New York State LAOH State President.

Throughout her service, Terry has consistently upheld the LAOH motto of Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity. She has been steadfast in her commitment to charitable fundraising that supports local children and families in need, while also helping establish the LAOH Sisters Fund to assist Orange County sisters and their families during times of hardship.

As a member of Division 6, Terry helped establish a scholarship for high school students pursuing both college and technical education. She also served as chair of donation drives for local shelters and warming centers. She co-founded the Fundraiser for Special Needs Children, an annual dinner event that raised thousands of dollars and provided critical support to families throughout Orange County.

Beyond the LAOH, Terry’s commitment to service extends far into the broader community through her involvement with numerous charitable organizations. She has served on the American Cancer Society Board of Advisers, acted as an ACS Community Chair for Development and Training, and has been involved with Relay for Life for over twenty years. Her leadership includes serving as Chair of the Goshen Relay for Life and Lead Organizer for Orange County Bark for Life, where funds are raised to support cancer research through community dog walks. She is also an active fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a past President of the Town of Wallkill Lions Club, and a past member of the Irish Heritage Festival.

For the past four-plus years, Terry has carried forward deeply personal and unwavering advocacy for the fundamental human rights of survivors of the Mother and Baby Homes, following the release of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation on January 12, 2021. It is estimated that approximately 56,000 mothers and over 58,000 babies were institutionalized in these homes, where thousands of babies died due to neglect. Additionally, more than 2,000 children were trafficked, a word Terry does not use lightly, to the United States under conditions that required a Catholic upbringing and financial “donations” to Catholic Charities.

As a survivor of one of these homes, this work is not only advocacy for Terry; it is a profoundly personal fight for truth, dignity, and justice. She has fought tirelessly for justice and accountability for all survivors. Through monthly meetings with Minister Roderic O’Gorman, then head of TUSLA (Ireland’s Child and Family Agency), and in collaboration with others, she helped secure the passage of critical legislation benefiting survivors. These homes operated from 1922 to 1998, and for decades, survivors were denied access to their own records, often receiving only redacted information or none at all. In October 2022, the Birth Information and Tracing Act was enacted, finally granting survivors full access to their documentation. While the government later established a payment scheme, it excludes individuals who spent six months or less in the homes, nearly 41% of survivors, an ongoing injustice Terry continues to challenge.

Whenever and wherever possible, Terry proudly honors her Irish heritage, her faith, her homeland, Ireland, and the United States, along with her deep commitment to the sisterhood of the LAOH. She remains steadfast in living the organization’s motto of Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity, while sharing her Irish heritage and pride with everyone she meets. Together with her husband, Kenny, she has instilled in her daughters, and now her grandchildren, a deep sense of pride and responsibility to carry forward both the work and the heritage she holds dear.

Terry is deeply honored and humbled to have been asked to serve as Grand Marshal of the Warwick St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a role she accepts with deep gratitude and pride.