4th Annual Service Above Self Awards Huge Success
Posted by John Betrus
SERVICE ABOVE SELF WINNERS HONORED -
INVITED TO STATE CAPITAL
(Category Winners Pictured L-R: Donna Bruck of the Monroe Cancer Connection - Not-for-Profit, Brian Merkle of Merkle Funeral Services - For-Profit, Center Foreground Josephine Perna-Stahl - SAS Chairperson, Center Rear Bill LaVoy - Monroe Rotary President, Alexa Allor - Individual Youth, Doug Redding - Individual Adult)
See Photo Journal at Right for All Nominees
MONROE, MICHIGAN -- 25 individuals and 11 organizations were nominated and honored by the Rotary Club of Monroe at the 4th annual "Service Above Self" awards banquet held recently on the campus of Monroe County Community College. The award is given in four categories for service to others or recognizing and responding to a community need. The categories are Individual Youth, Individual Adult, Not-for-Profit Organization and For-Profit Business.
All nominees were honored and received commendation certificates for their community service. Four category award winners were selected for special recognition by a panel of independent judges, from among all nominations submitted to Rotary in each category. This year's selection panel included The Hon. Mary Patricia Costello, Ret., Hon. Mark S. Braunlich, Hon. Terrence P. Bronson, Hon. Jack Vitale and Dr. Irving Hwang, M.D. To be considered for the award, youth and adult nominees must have given freely to benefit others beyond the normal scope of their respective school expectations or occupation. Businesses and organizations must have contributed to the betterment of the community beyond their routine business operation or mission statement.
Over 200 people attended the banquet and ceremony to support and honor the nominees. The selected winner in the Youth Category was Monroe St. Mary's High School student Alexa Brooke Allor, who is an officer of the school's Interact community service club. Ms. Allor consistently volunteers throughout the year to support numerous community agencies including God Works Kitchens, Special Olympics, and Intermediate School District programs for special needs students. She has also authored a children's coloring book to help youngsters face childhood challenges. Other Youth Nominees honored were Clara Bruck, Nicole Guyor, Jessica Hoffman, Dariun Hudson and Mackenzie Tomasic.
The Individual Adult award was presented to Doug Redding. Mr. Redding is Early On Coordinator for the Monroe Intermediate School District, but spends literally hundreds of hours of his own time helping dozens of Monroe County agencies and non-profits achieve their missions by guiding them through often grueling and complex grant writing projects. His efforts and talents have directly contributed to benefiting thousands of county residents, by helping area non-profits obtain the federal, state and private foundation funding they desperately need to operate. Adult Individual Nominees honored also included Melodie Brooks, R.N., April Corey, Julie Fuzinski, Denise Gray, Dr. Laurel Heyman, Kari L. Hughes, Pricilla L. Hutra, Bonnie Kregel, Floreine Mentel, Darcy Merritt, Len Rose, Mary Russ, Thomas Shankie, Judy Smith, Dr. Donald Spencer, Ed.D., William Sunderland, Rebecca Roof and Vivian Walczesky.
The Monroe Cancer Connection took top honors in the Not-For-Profit Category, in recognition of the agencies around-the-clock support of area cancer patients, from driving patients to treatments, to helping them with their shopping, to providing or referring patients to needed counseling and medical supplies. Other nominees in this category were Mercy Memorial Hospital System, St. Patrick School, Monroe Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monroe County, St. Michael's "We Care" and Caring Alternatives.
Nominees in the For Profit category included Monroe Bank & Trust, Professional Village Pharmacy, Merkel Funeral Services and the Monroe Meijer. Merkel Funeral Services was selected as the category winner for their innovative grief counseling programs, including long-term support groups, in addition to their sponsorship of numerous community organizations.
According to event Master of Ceremonies Dr. David Nixon, Ed.D., Rotarian and President of Monroe County Community College, "This event is a shining example of why Monroe County is such a wonderful place to live, learn and work. The people and organizations nominated for the Rotary Service Above Self Award represent what is best in this community. They live the values of caring, sharing and providing service to others."
Event Chairperson Josephine Perna-Stahl noted the importance of the actions of every person nominated. "It must have been extremely difficult for the judges to select the category winners. Every nominee represented a deep and unshakable commitment to serving others and enriching our communities. And it's especially gratifying that so many young people have adopted a philosophy of service early in their lives. We are so blessed to have people and organizations like these in Monroe County."
Category winners will be further recognized at a luncheon in Lansing with State Senator Randy Richardville on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. A tour of the Capital and photographs on the Senate Floor will complete the event.
All nominees were honored and received commendation certificates for their community service. Four category award winners were selected for special recognition by a panel of independent judges, from among all nominations submitted to Rotary in each category. This year's selection panel included The Hon. Mary Patricia Costello, Ret., Hon. Mark S. Braunlich, Hon. Terrence P. Bronson, Hon. Jack Vitale and Dr. Irving Hwang, M.D. To be considered for the award, youth and adult nominees must have given freely to benefit others beyond the normal scope of their respective school expectations or occupation. Businesses and organizations must have contributed to the betterment of the community beyond their routine business operation or mission statement.
Over 200 people attended the banquet and ceremony to support and honor the nominees. The selected winner in the Youth Category was Monroe St. Mary's High School student Alexa Brooke Allor, who is an officer of the school's Interact community service club. Ms. Allor consistently volunteers throughout the year to support numerous community agencies including God Works Kitchens, Special Olympics, and Intermediate School District programs for special needs students. She has also authored a children's coloring book to help youngsters face childhood challenges. Other Youth Nominees honored were Clara Bruck, Nicole Guyor, Jessica Hoffman, Dariun Hudson and Mackenzie Tomasic.
The Individual Adult award was presented to Doug Redding. Mr. Redding is Early On Coordinator for the Monroe Intermediate School District, but spends literally hundreds of hours of his own time helping dozens of Monroe County agencies and non-profits achieve their missions by guiding them through often grueling and complex grant writing projects. His efforts and talents have directly contributed to benefiting thousands of county residents, by helping area non-profits obtain the federal, state and private foundation funding they desperately need to operate. Adult Individual Nominees honored also included Melodie Brooks, R.N., April Corey, Julie Fuzinski, Denise Gray, Dr. Laurel Heyman, Kari L. Hughes, Pricilla L. Hutra, Bonnie Kregel, Floreine Mentel, Darcy Merritt, Len Rose, Mary Russ, Thomas Shankie, Judy Smith, Dr. Donald Spencer, Ed.D., William Sunderland, Rebecca Roof and Vivian Walczesky.
The Monroe Cancer Connection took top honors in the Not-For-Profit Category, in recognition of the agencies around-the-clock support of area cancer patients, from driving patients to treatments, to helping them with their shopping, to providing or referring patients to needed counseling and medical supplies. Other nominees in this category were Mercy Memorial Hospital System, St. Patrick School, Monroe Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monroe County, St. Michael's "We Care" and Caring Alternatives.
Nominees in the For Profit category included Monroe Bank & Trust, Professional Village Pharmacy, Merkel Funeral Services and the Monroe Meijer. Merkel Funeral Services was selected as the category winner for their innovative grief counseling programs, including long-term support groups, in addition to their sponsorship of numerous community organizations.
According to event Master of Ceremonies Dr. David Nixon, Ed.D., Rotarian and President of Monroe County Community College, "This event is a shining example of why Monroe County is such a wonderful place to live, learn and work. The people and organizations nominated for the Rotary Service Above Self Award represent what is best in this community. They live the values of caring, sharing and providing service to others."
Event Chairperson Josephine Perna-Stahl noted the importance of the actions of every person nominated. "It must have been extremely difficult for the judges to select the category winners. Every nominee represented a deep and unshakable commitment to serving others and enriching our communities. And it's especially gratifying that so many young people have adopted a philosophy of service early in their lives. We are so blessed to have people and organizations like these in Monroe County."
Category winners will be further recognized at a luncheon in Lansing with State Senator Randy Richardville on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. A tour of the Capital and photographs on the Senate Floor will complete the event.