Organization of the Year - FACT Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries

Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries (FACT) received the 2023 Organization of the Year award in honor of its longstanding contributions to the community. Organization members have collectively volunteered more than 20,000 hours, working to protect Alum Creek and tributaries, the primary source of water supply in Westerville, for the past 26 years. The group has organized more than 6,000 individual, civic group and corporate volunteers in service projects that directly impact daily water quality.

Organization volunteers recently secured grant funding for the implementation of a rain garden at Otterbein University and a water quality study to assess the impact of the Westerville Road/270 Industrial site on Alum Creek and water supply. The group previously worked with Westerville Parks and Recreation and 60 corporate volunteers to plant 1,675 trees along Alum Creek in less than two hours.

FACT also supports student service projects at all three of the Westerville high schools and Genoa Middle School. Additionally, the group promotes education through displays, exhibits and activities throughout the Westerville community, including Party at the Creek, Arborfest and Community Backyards.

Front row from left: Kristy Meyer, School Board President; Janet Tressler-Davis, President/CEO, Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce; Jerry Hollaway, FACT; Erin Bender, Otterbein University; Luanne Hendricks and Dave Roseman, FACT; Richard Lorenz; Monica Dupee, Westerville City Manager. Back row from left: Hannah Brown, FACT; Erin Francoeur, Executive Director, Westerville Public Library; Jason Bechtold, Westerville Assistant City Manager.