Volunteer and Non-Profit/Charity of the Year Named for 2021

Building A Bridge Toward Healing Volunteer of the Year: Mick Yinger

The following remarks were shared at the 2022 State of the City:

“The City of Westerville and our partners are pleased to honor Mick Yinger as the 2021 Westerville Individual Volunteer of the Year.

The Westerville community will forever remember the tragic events of February 10, 2018, when Westerville Division of Police Officers Anthony P. Morelli and Eric Joering were killed in the line of duty.

The enduring legacy of those darkest of times is the light we witnessed through the countless acts of kindness and outpouring of support for first responders. One such light is First Responders Bridge, a non-profit organization that provides free, three-day retreats for struggling frontline heroes and their significant others.

Just one month after Westerville Division of Police officers Anthony P. Morelli and Eric Joering were killed in the line of duty, Mick Yinger, a retired Columbus police officer, joined forces with retired Westerville officer Michael Pavolino to establish the organization.

First Responders Bridge hosts retreats that provide a safe, confidential environment for first responders to take important steps to learn how to cope with the effects of post-traumatic stress and connect them with resources like Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) information and on-site clinicians. To date, the organization has served about 622 first responders and continues to follow up with these men and women.

Thank you, Mick Yinger, for your selfless service to first responders.”

Mick Yinger and family

From left: Jason Bechtold, Westerville Assistant City Manager; Mick Yinger; Janet Tressler-Davis, President/CEO, Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce; Erin Francoeur, Executive Director, Westerville Public Library; John Comerford, Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce; Dr. John Kellogg, Superintendent, Westerville City Schools; Monica Ireland, Westerville City Manager.

Service Above Self: Nonprofit/Charity of the Year: The Rotary Clubs of Westerville

The following remarks were shared at the 2022 State of the City: If you’ve ever walked the streets of Uptown or attended a community event, your life has been touched by a Westerville Rotarian. Our community is fortunate to have two Rotary organizations, totaling around 200 dedicated volunteers committed to “service above self.”

“The main objective of Rotary is service in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today’s most critical issues, such as at-risk children, poverty and hunger, the environment, education and violence,” said Mayor Diane Conley, who serves with the Sunrise Rotary.

THE ROTARY CLUB OF WESTERVILLE

Founded in 1959, the Rotary Club of Westerville, or, “Noon Rotary,” is the team responsible for bringing cherished traditions to the community including the annual Independence Day festivities. From the 5K to the parade, concerts, festive activities and fireworks, these community volunteers work tirelessly to bring to life a 4th of July celebration that is the envy of other communities.

From left: Jason Bechtold, Westerville Assistant City Manager; James Meacham, Joseph Meyer, President, Rotary Club of Westerville; Janet Tressler-Davis, President/CEO, Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce; Erin Francoeur, Executive Director, Westerville Public Library; John Comerford, Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce; Dr. John Kellogg, Superintendent, Westerville City Schools; Monica Ireland, Westerville City Manager.

WESTERVILLE SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB

Chartered in 1994, the Westerville Sunrise Rotary Club transforms the Westerville Sports Complex on Memorial Day weekend into a “Field of Heroes.” This signature community event is created by Sunrise volunteers who help plant 3,000 American flags, each honoring a personal hero of a person in the community. Often duplicated, but never replicated, Westerville’s Field of Heroes draws visitors from far and wide, all wanting to take in the reverent and patriotic display made possible by the Westerville Sunrise Rotary.

From left: Jason Bechtold, Westerville Assistant City Manager; Janet Tressler-Davis, President/CEO, Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce; Erin Francoeur, Executive Director, Westerville Public Library; John Comerford, Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce; Mike Herron, Westerville Sunrise Rotary; Dr. John Kellogg, Superintendent, Westerville City Schools; Monica Ireland, Westerville City Manager.

We thank both Rotary Clubs of Westerville for their continued and dedicated service.