Don Rankin was awarded the Madison Jaycees Club’s Distinguished Service Award (DSA) for his outstanding service to the community during the year 2014, in which his plant, shrub, flower, and Christmas tree sales netted $107,000 for Friends of Hammonassett to assist the State of Connecticut in constructing the new Meigs Point Nature Center to house new exhibits.

In addition, in 2014, he organized the Bauer and Schumann educational series attended by more than 1,000 as well as the Meigs Point Festival attended by 2,400.

He has, in the past, presented the Connecticut Archeology Road Show at museums and libraries across the state to promote appreciation for Connecticut archeology. All of these listed contributions have been ongoing.