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06/13/2019 12:01 AMI have a few friends who are so active and accomplished that when I see them, I think, “How do they do it all?” You probably know someone like that, too. Maybe it’s a friend, a neighbor, or someone you know from a committee you’re on. Do you know what drives me nuts about these people? No, not that they make me wonder if I’m doing enough. It’s that they usually don’t seek the spotlight, so my colleagues and I have the increasingly difficult job of finding them. So, we need your help.
Tell us about them. We’re gearing up to host our seventh annual Beacon Awards during which we’ll recognize 15 outstanding people from across the shoreline. Our call for nominations officially asks for “the outstanding individuals who selflessly step up to help fulfill the shoreline community’s promise as a place of opportunity, wellbeing, and safety for all.” In short, we are looking for the best of the best. And I know you know them.
These individuals are creating change, are making a difference, and are making our world better. They deserve recognition. We have awarded 93 people so far with Beacon Awards (and if you’re like me and doing the math realizing that number isn’t dividable by 15, it’s because we’ve honored three couples during these awards)! We feel that it is our duty to find them.
This April, we lost 2016 Beacon Award Winner Ted Fessel, Sr. of Guilford. He was 92 years old with more than 75 of his years including volunteer service to the community. From guiding kids safely across the street as a crossing guard to leading boy scouts and little league teams, and beginning with his service in World War II, his story remains an inspiration. As soon as I heard the news of his passing, I immediately pictured his sweet, smiling face and recalled meeting him in front of our Beacon Awards audience of roughly 200 people that year, personally having the chance to thank him and hand him his award and gifts for the evening. I am so happy that we had the chance to honor him.
Many of our winners return each year to meet the new winners and to reminisce about the night that many tell us made them feel like royalty. We are excited to continue to give more of these wonderful people a beautiful night to just kick back and let us be grateful for them.
So please visit www.beaconawardsct.com and click on nominate at the top of the page. The deadline to submit your nominations is Friday, July 5, so don’t delay!