Rockingham County woman honored with 2026 Good Samaritan Award
April 2026
In February, Ashley Gordon-Becker was recognized with the 2026 Good Samaritan Award on behalf of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives. (photos courtesy SVEC)
by Preston Knight, Contributing Writer
If an award exists for most titles in an email signature, Ashley Gordon-Becker gets it.
The closing of one of her personal emails can read like a resume’s greatest hits, informing you of her voluntary participation in parent organizations, swim teams and community-minded causes such as the local Crime Solvers. These efforts are signs of being a selfless citizen.
For that, an award does exist. And Gordon-Becker got it.
In February, the Rockingham County resident was recognized with the 2026 Good Samaritan Award on behalf of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives. Nominated by Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, Gordon-Becker was selected for her lengthy list of personal and professional contributions, the latter of which ties her most to the co-op cause of community mindedness.
She serves as executive director of Way to Go Inc., whose stated mission is to “empower low-income, working households in Harrisonburg-Rockingham to improve their quality of life by assisting them with their transportation needs.” The organization has received charitable grant support through SVEC’s Operation Round Up program.
“Being able to give back to the community that raised me has been really important,” Gordon-Becker said after receiving the award. “This is a very special place. I just hope people continue to give back to their communities and see what a difference it can make for those around them.”
SVEC representatives surprised Gordon-Becker with the award, sparked largely through her role as executive director of the nonprofit Way to Go.
‘TRUSTED VOICE’ FOR JUSTICE
Way to Go is the only nonprofit transportation organization serving Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, and demand for transportation assistance continues to outpace its current resources, officials say. Clients must work 30 hours a week to be eligible for services, which include vehicle donation, assistance with car and insurance payments, repair help and access to ride-share offerings.
These services have a direct and measurable impact, Gordon-Becker says. Clients can attend job interviews, keep their current jobs, access healthcare and meet other critical needs that contribute to long-term stability. “If people can’t get to work,” GordonBecker says, “then they can’t provide for themselves or their family.”
The organization celebrated 20 years in 2025. When Gordon-Becker joined as its director of development and public relations in 2023, she called it a “full circle” moment. Her mother, a longtime social worker in the area, helped secure Way to Go’s first donation.
However, to be recognized as a Good Samaritan, additional positive impact gets consideration. Shannon Porter, executive director of the Central Valley Habitat for Humanity, submitted one of several letters of recommendation on Gordon-Becker’s behalf to describe her range of contributions. He referenced her previous work with the local Salvation Army and Harrisonburg’s Navigation Center, the first low-barrier facility for adults facing homelessness.
“What sets Ashley apart is her humility and her steady dedication,” Porter wrote. “She does not seek recognition for herself. Instead, she devotes her gifts to ensuring that her neighbors are supported with dignity and respect. She has become one of the most trusted voices for social and economic justice in our region.”
The award was a surprise to Gordon-Becker, who met Porter for coffee before unsuspectingly returning to her office to be met by co-op representatives, family and co-workers. Porter told the assembled group that Gordon-Becker was someone who strives “to do things the right way.”
If that line makes it into her email signature, it’s well deserved.
Gordon-Becker says, “Regardless of what a person looks like and where they come from, giving back to people [is important] because your community is only better when the people in it are better.”