contributed photo
Optimist Club award recipients and sponsors (from left to right) Jackie Johnson of Big Brothers Big Sisters; Kayla Backes and Jamie Holub, both of Luther Honda; Jill Luehmann and Chief of Police Jim Hughes, both of the Sartell Police Department; and Shari Wahlin of Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Optimist Club recognizes Sartell Police Department, Luther Honda of St. Cloud
Each year the St. Cloud Optimist Club awards individuals, businesses and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the community. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota, along with other youth-serving organizations, assisted in nominating deserving candidates. Both award recipients were recognized at a ceremony hosted by the St. Cloud Optimist Club on July 29.
Officer Jill Luehmann and the Sartell Police Department received a Friend of Youth award for planning and coordinating Safe Night, an annual activity that is offered to youth in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. This educational activity provides youth with an opportunity to learn about police and fire departments, interact with officers, discuss personal safety and explore emergency vehicles.
Luther Honda of St. Cloud received a Friend of Youth award for their advocacy and support of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Luther Honda of St. Cloud and Luther Honda House Powersports donate a portion of every sale and service transaction to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Their employees, led by General Manager Carlos Garcia, are actively involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters’ fundraising events and agency committees. In addition, the Luther Honda team hosts an annual family-friendly drive-in movie night and donates the proceeds to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota was established in 1969 and provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
Neighbors from the West Meadow Court cul de sac had a fun evening participating in National Night Out on Aug. 5. Residents wish a big thank you to Officer Wayne Schreiner who stopped by and spent time going through the police car with the neighbor children.
