LakewoodAlive, a volunteer-driven organization, held its annual volunteer appreciation breakfast on January 23, 2015 at the Women’s Pavilion in Lakewood Park. The event, attended by 50 volunteers, board members and staff, recognized the more than 750 volunteers that help the non-profit economic/community development organization fulfill its mission to strengthen the local economy and improve Lakewood’s quality of life. The dedication and passion of the organization’s volunteers was recognized by board president Bryan de Boer when he said, “You are what makes Lakewood a better place to live and call home.”
Several volunteers were honored at the event for their exemplary service to the organization and the community.
LakewoodAlive thanks both Jay Foran and Paula Reed for their service on the LakewoodAlive Alive Board of Directors as their terms have concluded. Jay was a founding member of LakewoodAlive and served as Community Engagement Chairman and Board Secretary. Paula, “Mrs. Lakewood,” served as the Downtown Lakewood Chairwoman and is the current vice president of the Downtown Lakewood Business Alliance, a program of LakewoodAlive.
Volunteer Champion Awards were given to the following individuals:
- Mary Bond was the 2014 Light Up Lakewood Chair, an event that drew nearly 10,000 people
- Cross Point Church volunteers Josiah Sutton & Reid Phifer assisted with five housing projects in 2014
- Michael & Tina Dolatowski were volunteers for the Lakewood Wine & Craft Beer Festival
- Rob Donaldson has completed several significant LakewoodAlive Design Committee projects
- Cindy Friedmann and her crew at Dependable Painting donated a full-house exterior paint job
- Gordon Geiger served as Lakewood Wine & Craft Beer Festival Chairman
- Mosaic Leader Kevin Phipps and his volunteers completed a summer-long, full-house exterior paint job
- Dana Paul provided construction management for the Housing Volunteer Committee
- Chris Vance has recruited musicians and volunteers for the Front Porch Concert Series for four years
A special award is given out each year to a top LakewoodAlive volunteer for excellence in service. The Laskey Service Award was named for Tim Laskey, a founding member of LakewoodAlive. The 2014 Laskey Service Award recipient is Carl Orban. Carl has volunteered with LakewoodAlive since 2013 and has been an incredible champion of LakewoodAlive, the Housing Outreach Program and the Housing Outreach Volunteer Committee. Carl has helped elevate the program to new heights including project coordination during The Cleveland Orchestra Residency’s PORCHestra events. He and his wife have also volunteered for the Lakewood Wine & Craft Beer Festival. Lakewood is lucky to have the Orban family here and the organization is humbled by all that Carl does.