| They love BG...and BG loves them back |
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| Written by PETER KUEBECK, Sentinel Staff Writer | ||||||||
| Wednesday, 11 July 2012 08:50 | ||||||||
The I Love BG Award was given to Wood Lane School and Industries, while the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club received the Bowling Green Community Foundation's Ashel and Dorothy Bryan Philanthropic Award. Though its origins stretch back to the 1940s, Wood Lane, which serves those in Wood County with developmental disabilities, was founded in 1955 and provides a number of services for its clients, including employment opportunities. Dave Horger, the 2011 award recipient who introduced the award this year, said Wood Lane "goes to the heart of the community," with hundreds of volunteers contributing thousands of hours each year to help support its programming. "Wood Lane is a very special place in a lot of people's hearts," said Superintendent Melanie Stretchbery as she received the award. The organization's volunteers, staff and members "have the community at heart. We share values with our community." "Bowling Green has been welcoming the individuals we serve for many, many, many years," she continued, later noting that despite the "Not In My Backyard" sentiments expressed by other cities around the country, "we've been welcomed into many backyards." Bowling Green, she said, is about "honoring and respecting diversity." The Bowling Green Kiwanis Club has been in operation for 92 years and boasts a roster of more than 117 members, meeting each Thursday. Dedicated to assisting children, the club donates both time and money to a variety of local activities, events, and causes, including the Simpson Garden Park, Black Swamp Arts Festival, and the recent Save the Woods campaign. Giving out four $750 scholarships to graduating high school seniors annually, the club has also established a Kiwanis Kids Club House at the Community Center, and continues to raise the majority of its funds through semi-annual Pancake Day events held at Bowling Green High School. The group also operates a Builders Club at Bowling Green Middle School, two Key Clubs at Bowling Green and Otsego High Schools, and a Circle K Club at Bowling Green State University. Among the past presidents accepting the award at the event was Kathy Newlove Wenig. Women were first allowed entrance into the club in 1988. "We're just really happy to receive this award, and honored to receive this award as well," she said Brookelyn Winters, a graduate of Elmwood High School, was the recipient of the Chamber Scholarship. She plans to pursue a degree in visual communications technology at BGSU, with the goal of becoming a photographer or graphic designer. Winning the Small Business of the Year Award, sponsored by the BGSU College of Business, was Waddington Jewelers. The business opened in 2005, and has seen continual growth - indeed, sales grew more than 34 percent in 2011 over 2010. "It's been our baby for seven years and we've put our heart and soul into it," said Ben Waddington, who accepted the award with his wife, Jen. The Outstanding Customer Service Award was given to Bowling Green Lincoln Auto Sales. The award was accepted by owner John Heffernan. "I have the best employees in the world, I really do," he said. "I have the best customers, too. I love our customers." |
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| Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 July 2012 14:57 |
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