Chamber of Commerce Annual Award Dinner

Each year the Knox County Chamber of Commerce holds their Awards Ceremony in January. Due to COVID, this years celebration was pushed back to March 10, 2022 at the Kenyon Athletic Center. Around 500 community members came together to enjoy spending time together, eat dinner and celebrate the achievements of our community.

The “Quality of Life” award is given to a non-profit Chamber member business whose work has enriched the lives of Knox County Residents. The three finalists for the award were The Station Break, Brinkhaven and Knox DD. We were beyond humbled to even be considered for this award, but much to our surprise, we won! We are so grateful to our staff who work tirelessly every day to support the individuals and families in our programs, our community for allowing us to make connections and build an inclusive community, our dedicated providers and families, and the tax payers of Knox County whose support allows us to make positive changes here in our community. We are so thankful!

The “Volunteer of the Year” award is given to an individual whose business has been a Chamber member for at least two years, who consistently volunteers for both Chamber and community projects and has contributed to a single unique project in the county within the past two years. The three finalists were Amy Smart; Riverside Recovery Services, Laurie Gallwitz; Park National Bank and our very own board member Tonya Boucher; Huntington National Bank. We were thrilled when we heard that Tonya was chosen as the 2021 Volunteer of the Year! Congratulations!!

7 people standing, holding an award

Left to right: Jill Lahna, Steve Oster, Brittany Coon, Andrew Taylor, Brenda Coffman, Talisha Beha, Amber Lavin

Tonya Boucher with her Volunteer of the Year award

Brittany Coon
Help Me Grow Fall Festival 2021

On October 1, 2021 the grassy area near the Knox DD/Head Start Building was filled with laughter, activities and fun for the family! Our Help Me Grow and Early Intervention programs put on a family Fall Festival for the community to come together and have a wonderful time!

We had food available from Wheelin’ and Grillin’, apple cider, cotton candy, free pumpkins that were generously donated, a petting zoo, WNZR, ESC, Knox Public Health Dental Department, Mount Vernon Library, WIC, FCFC, Car Seat Safety with KPH, Main Place, Triple P, PAC, and Head Start all available to do fun activities and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Brittany Coon
"WOW!" DSP Appreciation Awards 2021

We are pleased to give out Direct Support Professional Appreciation Awards! The "WOW!" Award goes to Diane Bolen.

Her nominator said, "She is versatile and willing to do anything asked of her, including making deliveries in the box truck, and covering HPC if needed. She loves getting people out into the community and loves to challenge them by giving them new activities to try! She loves seeing how proud they are when they complete a new activity or open their paychecks."

Diane Bolen - WOW!.png
Brittany Coon
"Rockstar Rookie" DSP Appreciation Awards 2021

We are pleased to give out Direct Support Professional Appreciation Awards! The "Rockstar Rookie" award goes to Tracy Green!

Her nominator said, "Tracy has a heart to make a difference in peoples' lives! She is a friend, a teacher, an encourager, and a positive influence"

Tracy Green - Rockstar Rookie.png
Brittany Coon
"Calm in the Eye of the Storm" DSP Appreciation Awards 2021

We are pleased to give out Direct Support Professional Appreciation Awards! The "Calm in the Eye of the Storm" award for 2021 goes to Julie Wetzell!

Her nominator said, "Julie navigated the complicated and unknown COVID-19 world and she never stopped showing up for the individuals, despite the hardships the illness and restrictions brought. Julie has a motherly and calm demeanor that many individuals find comforting. She is a wonderful team player and her dedication and hard work is appreciated more than she knows!"

Julie Wetzel - Calm Eye Storm.png
Brittany Coon