Rotary Club of Florence Announces 2024 Citizen of the Year – Donna Wilmhoff
“Unsung citizen that has had a major impact on many people’s lives.”
The Rotary Club of Florence is pleased and proud to announce that the recipient of the 2024 Citizen of the Year Award is Donna Wilmhoff. One major consideration for a candidate for Citizen of the Year is that they should be a person or couple who has a heart to serve others. The large outpouring of support for Donna deeply reflects her dedication in serving others. One such letter of support lauded Donna as “…a pillar of our Northern Kentucky community, admired, and respected by peers for her unwavering dedication to volunteerism and selfless service.”.
Her numerous supporters used words and phrases like “heart of gold,” “mentor,” “class act” and “generous, giving, and selfless.” A longtime volunteer with the Boone County Arboretum and the Rose Garden Home Mission, she is equally at home helping neighbors and strangers who need a kind word or a meal in times of trouble. In the words of one supporter: “Donna is a beacon of selflessness, consistently motivating others with her inspirational energy and hardwork. Her ability to mobilize and motivate others is a testament to her leadership qualities and her genuine desire to effect positive change.” Yet all agree that she performs these actions with a gentle, self-effacing humility that makes her giving all that more notable.
Rotary Club of Florence President Ian Addington said, “The Rotary honors our community’s unsung heroes with our Citizen of the year program. There are folks in our community who are doing wonderful acts that are largely uncelebrated, mostly because they do the right things when no one is looking. Our club is always looking to celebrate those who make our community a better place, whether they be outstanding teachers, outstanding students or outstanding ordinary citizens.” The Citizen of the Year Award was created in 1995 and has honored over 34 inductees since its inception. Previous recipients have included teachers, pastors, doctors, coaches, neighbors, non-profit directors, postmasters, missionaries, administrators and many others.
Donna will be honored at the club’s September 30, 2024 meeting to be held at the Florence Event Center. Due to the expected larger crowd, RSVP are required to make sure there is enough room and food for this event. Please RSVP at: https://tinyurl.com/rcofky-rsvp. Lunch buffet is $13/person.
To view a slide show of past recipients, please visit www.florencerotary.org/coy.
Established in 1945, the Rotary Club of Florence consists of over 50 business and community leaders from across Boone County. The Rotary Club of Florence is a civic club that is part of Rotary International, an organization of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, and community leaders who come together to create positive, lasting change in our communities and around the world, focusing on “service above self”. The club’s meetings are streamed live to the club’s YouTube Channel. Guests are always welcome. To learn more about upcoming speakers and events, please visit the club’s website at www.florencerotary.org or follow their Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn pages.
#ServiceAboveSelf #FloRo #PeopleofAction #ServeToChangeLives #COY #CitizenoftheyYear #CelebrateOurCommunity #PeopleWhoMakeaDifference
