The Charles and Adele Heeter Outstanding
Community Leadership Award is bestowed on Rotarians or individuals of the
Appleton/Fox Cities community who exemplify the Rotary Motto of “Service Above
Self” by providing significant Rotary and/or community leadership and/or
service through the use of his/her time, talent or treasury. Such leadership and/or service should reflect
the standards described in the Rotary Four Way Test. These individuals should also demonstrate a
strong commitment to volunteerism in one of the four Rotary Avenues of Service
outside the scope of his/her normal job responsibilities. The Rotary Club of
Appleton has a tradition of giving out this award which is accompanied with a
Paul Harris Fellowship. It originated
when Charles Heeter made a donation in the amount of $25,000 to the Appleton
Rotary Foundation. The Charles Heeter
Fund was then started to recognize outstanding community leaders. Today, this endowment fund is over $100,000
because of the generous donations from Rotarians and investment results.
Today, the Rotary Club of Appleton presented
Chad Hershner with and Adele Heeter Outstanding Community Leadership Award for
his community involvement. Chad has a
long resume of community involvement. He
is part of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Fox Valley
Development Professionals Group, Sexual Assault crisis Center, ThedaCare
Community Health Action Team, United Way Fox Cities, Voices of Men, YMCA of Fox
Cities, and co-chair of Include, an organization that seeks to engage the Fox
Valley in deepening understanding, changing behaviors and embracing the LGBT
community. Chad also welcomed the
opportunity to work with the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in bringing the
It Gets Better Project to Appleton earlier this year. Chad also has been recognized as Appleton
Downtown Volunteer of the year in 2011 and as a Senn Delaney Certified
Corporate Culture Facilitator in 2012.
Chad’s efforts and involvement have enriched our community and made life
in the Fox Cities a special and warming place.
For those of you familiar with the movie “It’s
a Wonderful Life”, our recipient of the Charles & Adele Heeter Outstanding
Community Leadership Award has been referred to as the “George Bailey” of Appleton. Our second recipient was Dave Willems, from
Willems Marketing and Events. He
exemplifies Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self” through contributing his time,
talent and money and dedicating both himself and his company to making the Fox
Cities a better place to live. Some of
programs Dave is involved with are: Appleton Compassion Project, helping with
the Universal Playground at Appleton Memorial Park, The Voices of Men program,
co-founder of Mile of Music, Fox Cities Book Festival and he serves on other
board and community organizations. Dave
has done many wonderful things for our community and is making the Fox Cities a
better place to live.
Chad Hershner
Dave Willems