BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Be More Awards, which honor exceptional community volunteers and promote volunteerism and civic engagement in our community. The City of Bloomington Volunteer Network received wonderful, heartfelt nominations for the Be More Awards; this year’s Selection Committee did not have an easy task. Congratulations to the following recipients:
Be More Bloomington – Pete Lenzen
Honoring his excellence in response to the issues of 2022 with the Refugee Support Network.
Be More Creative – Ruth Albright
Honoring her work with the Indiana Chapter of National Society of Arts and letters supporting the arts within our community.
Be More Dedicated – Harold and Brenda Fiscus
Honoring their lifetime of dedication to the community through their work with Opportunity House.
Be More Engaged – Kiersten Thummel
Honoring her outstanding contributions and work with Bloomington Animal Shelter.
Be More Impactful – Individual- Sylvia McNair
Volunteer of the year for her work with the Monroe County Public Library VITAL program.
Be More Impactful – Group- Meals on Wheels Volunteers
Volunteer Group of the Year celebrating 50 Years of Meals on Wheels.
Be More Phenomenal – Ann Bunger
Presented for her outstanding involvement with Monroe County Public Library, Friends of Library Bookstore committee, and library advocacy.
Special Recognition – Kathleen Boggess
Honoring her lifetime commitment to serving the Monroe County community, and her exceptional work with Monroe County CASA. The Award Selection Committee added the Special Recognition category to highlight the multi-faceted and extraordinary involvement of this 2023 nominee.
The nonprofit agency represented by each of the eight Be More Award recipients will receive a $1,000 cash award provided by the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County in honor of the award recipient’s outstanding service.
“Community is built by the people in it and these awards recognize some very special people who have dedicated themselves to building and bettering our community,” said Mayor John Hamilton. “We thank them and we celebrate them.”
2023 Be More Awards Celebration Tickets Available Now
The 2023 Be More Awards will be held on April 13 at the Whikehart Auditorium, located in the newly remodeled Waldron Arts Center. The event begins with a Meet and Greet running from 5-6 p.m., and the Awards Ceremony begins promptly at 6 p.m.
There is no charge for this event, however, tickets are required. Tickets are available to the public, but space is limited. Reserve your seat today at: https://bton.in/YLPAt.
Parking for the celebration can be found at the 4th Street Parking Garage at 105 W. 4th St. (across from the Waldron Arts Center). Street parking is also available.
Guests may enter through the accessible 4th Street entrance, taking the elevator inside the door up to the 2nd-floor lobby for the Meet and Greet (5-6 p.m.), or up to the 3rd floor for the Awards Ceremony in the Whikehart Auditorium (6 p.m.). Guests may also enter through Waldron’s front entrance located at 122 S Walnut Street.
A Community Collaboration
The Be More Awards are presented in partnership with the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, IU Credit Union, United Way of Monroe County, and WTIU Public Television.
