'Champions' Of Phoenixville Community Honored

PHOENIXVILLE, PA - What does it take to become a Champion of the Community?

It takes a long term commitment to volunteerism for the betterment of the greater Phoenixville region, the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation said in a release.

The Phoenixville area has a great tradition of community giving. Five individuals, who exemplify such a giving spirit, were honored by the Foundation as “Champions of the Community” for 2015.

The 2015 Champions of the Community are:

• Brian Gallagher was awarded a special, posthumous, award for 40 years of service to the northern Chester County fire services. His award was granted to the Chester County Heroes Fund
• Larry Jilk for more than 10 years of service to Alianzas de Phoenixville, the Phoenixville time Bank, En Familia, and Phoenixville Communities That Care. His Champion award was granted to Alianzas de Phoenixville
• Frank Kollar was nominated for 40 years of service to the Phoenixville Area YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, the Kiwanis Club of Phoenixville and the Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area. His Champion award was granted to the Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area
• William Kronenberg was nominated for more than 25 years of service to the Phoenixville Police Athletic League, the Open Hearth Gateway Housing Project, and Chester County Futures. His Champion Award was granted to the John Lazarich Foundation
• Sandra Zimmermann was nominated for 40 years of service to St. John’s Lutheran Church, the Phoenixville Area Children’s Learning Center, the Phoenixville Breast Cancer Awareness Coalition and Dressing on a Dime Committee, the Phoenixville Hospital Healthy Woman Advisory Board, and the Boy Scouts. Her Champion award was shared by the Phoenixville Area Children’s learning Center and The Clinic.

Other Champion nominees honored were: Frank J. Cirone, Jr., the Hytha Family, the Reverend Koshy Mathews, Glenn Moses, Jeannine Norris, Gary Russell, Christopher White, and Nancy Yatsko. The 2015 Champions of the Community Selection Committee were: Chuck Benz, John Colarusso, Kelly Connors, David Gill, Josh Klotzbach, and Dolores Winston.

The Champions of the Community Award Program was created by the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation 15 years ago to honor area citizens – unsung heroes – who freely give their time, talents and resources to make our greater Phoenixville communities better places to live, to work, and to raise a family. Since that time 68 people have been recognized as community champions.

Phoenixville Patch is giving out its own “Person of the Year” award for 2015 as well. Nominations will be accepted through December 31. Please email justin.heinze@patch.com with your nomination.