David Haas

David Haas, is the Executive Director of Sarah's Guest House, a healthcare hospitality home in Syracuse, New York that provides lodging, meals, transportation and comfort to patients and families of patients receiving medical care in the community.

A person who stutters, David has received nearly 15 years of speech therapy, beginning at the age of 5 and concluding in his mid-20s. David uses his voice to spread awareness and advocate for individuals with fluency disorders. His presentations often focus on his journey through speech therapy while highlighting the importance of self-acceptance. David speaks to local schools, universities, organizations and agencies. This includes keynote speaking at both Syracuse University and SUNY Oswego. David has even given a TEDx Talk on the topic.

Since 2012, David has been the leader of the Syracuse chapter of the National Stuttering Association. A notable figure in Syracuse, David is also a writer and staunch supporter of grassroots efforts to better the community in which he lives. For his efforts, he was been recognized by CNY Business Journal as one of the 40 people under 40 who have excelled in the workplace and in the community. The Post-Standard named him one of Syracuse's leading innovators. In 2018, the Syracuse Press Club awarded him first place in the category of "Best Use of Social Media." In 2019, the New York State Press Association awarded David first place in the Better Newspaper contest for his feature story, entitled, Highway Robbery. Most recently, David was the recipient of the Merit Award from the Preservation Association of Central New York for his efforts with The Stand Newspaper.

David also volunteers his time with several organizations including working with the Democratic Committee of Onondaga County and Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today. David is a board member for the Historic Oakwood Cemetery Preservation Association. He is looking forward to speaking at Camp Words Unspoken!