CHARLES AND ADELE HEETER OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARDS

 

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