Organizations & Clubs

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.

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.

  • Marty O'Donnell, President 
  • Jinnyn Tata, Treasurer 
  • Kathleen Azzarello, Secretary

If your organization would like to be a part of the Avon Lake Community Council, please email Marty O’Donnell.

Community Council Roster

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 are submitted by the end of March, and 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 sent to Martin O'Donnel by mail to 560 Brennans Court, Avon Lake, OH 4012, or email mofenway@gmail.com

Nominations for a person or project that was noteworthy in 2024, is March 31, 2025.

Citizen of the Year Award Honorees

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
2022 - Judy Kaminski and Mark Summers
2023 - Carol Chatlos

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.
2022 - Bleser Park Basketball Courts and Avon-on-the-Lake Garden Club Ozone Garden