Avon Lake’s organization and club offerings are as diverse as our residents’ interests. Whether you’re interested in community service, nature or health/wellness – there’s something for you. Helping many of these organizations thrive is the Avon Lake Community Council. The Council helps with membership, fundraising and resource sharing. They also recognize the outstanding achievements of residents and organizations through our Citizen of the Year/Project of the Year Award.
Avon Lake Community Council
The Avon Lake Community Council is made up of community organizations, including local service groups, businesses, sports programs and others. These organizations meet four times a year to share knowledge and work together to help with membership, fundraising and resource sharing. In addition, the Council sponsors an event; Citizen of the Year, which honors a volunteer for outstanding achievements in the area of community service, and Project of the Year, which honors a project that merits community-wide recognition. If your organization would like to be a part of the Avon Lake Community Council, please email Marty O’Donnell.
Avon Lake Community Council Roster (Updated 10/8/2020)
Avon Lake Citizen Tree Commission
Avon Lake City Schools Foundation
Avon Lake Waterfront Corporation
Community Resource Services (CRS)
Friends of the Parks in Avon Lake Inc.
North Coast Chamber of Commerce
North Coast Decorative Artists
West Shore Lodge #804 Freemasons
Citizen of the Year/Project of the Year Awards
In 2009, the Community Council began sponsoring an event, which acknowledges and recognizes the great things members of our community are accomplishing. Citizen of the Year honors a volunteer for outstanding achievements in the area of community service, and Project of the Year honors a project that merits community-wide recognition.
Do you have a person or project that you would like to nominate? Applications for nominees can be submitted, beginning in January. In April, nominations are reviewed and award recipients are determined. As a tradition, the Avon Lake Kiwanis Club hosts a dinner and awards ceremony in May. Completed nomination forms can be dropped off at Avon Lake City Hall, emailed to modonnell@avonlake.org, or mailed to Martin O’Donnell, City of Avon Lake, 150 Avon Belden Rd., Avon Lake, OH 44012.
The deadline for 2023, nominations for a person or project of the year that was noteworthy in 2022, is mid-March. Check back closer to that time for an exact date.
Citizen of the Year Nomination Form
Project of the Year Nomination Form
Past Awardees
With continued appreciation, below is a list of the Community Council's past honorees:
Citizen of the Year Award
2009 - Kay Usher, Betty Kinsner
2010 - Erma Haverback, Mary Pease
2011 - Linda Moyse
2012 - Mary Pajak
2013 - Gerry Paine
2014 - Anita Hlava
2015 - Ray Frank, Gerry Vogel
2016 - Jean Sekulic, Sherry Spenzer
2017 - Sandra Gerhan
2018 - Thomas and Tomie Patton
2019 - Tony Tomanek
2020 - Marty Gallagher
2021 - Herman (Bucky) R. Kopf
Project of the Year Award
2009 - Avon-on-the-Lake Garden Club
2010 - Peter Miller Museum
2011 - Connor Musial, Gerry Vogel
2012 - Avon Lake Community Garden, Bruce Peepers and Dale Cracas
2013 - Concession Stand, Avon Lake Youth Baseball Federation
2014 - Storybook Trail, Avon Lake Public Library and Lorain County Metro Parks
2015 - Hay Day, The Saddle Club
2016 - Children's Garden, Avon Lake Public Library
2017 - Fish Fry, Avon Lake Boat Club and Piebald Deer, Love-A-Stray
2018 - Scholarship Program, Avon Lake Kiwanis
2019 - The Avon Lake Bicentennial Committee
2020 - T. Kekic Spirit of St. Louis Sign Replica
2021 - Music on a Mission, Project D.R.E.W.
Marty O'Donnell, President
modonnell@avonlake.org
Jinnyn Tata, Treasurer
Kathleen Azzarello, Secretary
