the foundation’s board president greg luntz said, “we’re
TRANSCRIPT
The foundation’s board president Greg Luntz said, “We’re like a conduit that helps them serve theirphilanthropic goals.”
Samolczyk said, “We simply help them give back to the community.”
He also discussed the foundation’s role in getting the area’s numerous food banks to coordinate with eachother to more efficiently transport and distribute food from the Akron-Canton Food Bank. In the videoplayed at the gala, he talked about how the foundation has realized that working to develop the area’seconomy helps the foundation fulfill its mission of meeting its community’s residents’ needs.
Person of the year
Repository Publisher and CEO Jim Porter announced that the Repository had named Massillon MayorKathy Catazaro-Perry the 2019 About Magazine Person of the Year. He cited her role in helping facilitatedevelopment of the former Affinity hospital in Massillon into the new Aultman Massillon facility thatopened on Nov. 1. Porter also highlighted her administration’s role in rebuilding its downtownstreetscape, reopening a shuttered fire station, upgrading the city’s infrastructure and improving the city’sfinances.
“I was astounded when (Porter) said that I was selected, because there’s so many of you that are sodeserving of this award,” said Catazaro-Perry. “I just couldn’t believe it. I said, ‘Are you sure?’ ”
Top executives of several Repository departments nominated and selected the award recipients. Thatincluded the six Clayton G. Horn Award honorees, whom Porter said best exemplified the spirit ofClayton G. Horn, the former Repository executive and editor credited with playing a significant role inpersuading the National Football League to place the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, persuadingtransportation officials to route Interstate 77 through Stark County and persuading Kent State Universityto establish a branch campus in Stark County. Like at last year’s gala at Brookside Country Club in JacksonTownship, the event featured a video tribute to his legacy.
The six Clayton G. Horn Award of Excellence recipients were:
Barbara H. Bennett, a longtime civil engineer who is the director of education initiatives for theCanton Regional Chamber of Commerce. She was lauded for her work connecting employers withstudents and working with the Strengthening Stark economic development effort to create aninternship program. Her husband is Stark County Engineer Keith Bennett. Friday was her birthday,and Onesto staff and the audience sang “Happy Birthday” to her. “I’m very humbled and verysurprised that they selected me,” she said. “This is a fabulous celebration not only of me but ourcommunity. ... This evening is all about that ... people sharing their time, talents and treasures.Being recognized for it. Of course we don’t do it because we want awards and being recognized. Wedo it because we love our community. We love Canton. We love Stark County. We just want tomake our communities better.”Bob DeHoff, CEO of DeHoff Development and his wife, Linda DeHoff, president of DeHoffRealtors. The DeHoffs have developed or co-developed several local notable neighborhoods, such asWashington Square, Nobles Pond, St. James Place, The Sanctuary and numerous other allotmentsas well as senior living centers, commercial properties and retail properties. Linda DeHoff also wasrecognized for leading fundraising campaigns for the United Way of Greater Stark County. “We’rehonored. What a wonderful group of people that we’ve been selected to participate with,” said BobDeHoff. Linda DeHoff, who expressed gratitude with their names being associated with Horn, said,“I think the most exciting thing is to see families love the land and appreciate the amenities as muchas we do. And their children grow up there. And even their grandchildren, so the thrill of all of it inbeing able to see that the effect of these developments affect them for life. We don’t really sell brickand mortar. We convey lifestyle.”
Bob Gessner, who retired in April as president of MCTV in Massillon after a 40-year career. He wasrecognized for serving as chair of the Stark Economic Development Board and co-chair of theMassillon Museum. He discussed his role advising the Strengthening Stark initiative andencouraging patience in improving the local economy. “I’m sort of torn. When I think about thingslike this, the first thing I think is, ’being recognized for doing good work sort of cheapens the gift.You should do it because you want to do it. ... But at the same time, I’ve come to realize that inrecent years that recognition may inspire other people to do similar good work.”Lisa Warburton-Gregory, the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Board member who helpedopen a 12-bed Compassionate Care Center at Aultman’s Woodlawn Hospice Center. She also is theformer Aultman Women’s Board president who’s co-chairing the Aultman Health Foundation’sfundraising campaign for the Timken Family Cancer Center, which has raised $24 million of its $28million goal. She said, “I wish I could help everybody. You just can’t help everybody but I try my bestto do as much as I can.”State Sen. Kirk Schuring, for getting legislation passed into law that created economic developmentzones such as the Tourism Development District to support Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village.Even though the longtime legislator is a Republican, Jackson Township Fiscal Officer RandyGonzalez, the former Stark County Democratic chairman, appeared in his tribute video to praisehim for his efforts to help the township. “The biggest thing about this event tonight is ClaytonHorn,” Schuring said. “I watched Clayton Horn from afar and saw how effective he was in movingour community forward. ... I think this event and these awards actually continue the legacy ofClayton Horn. ... So I’m proud to be part of it.”
The two People’s Champion Award recipients are:
Canton Police Officer LaMar Sharpe, who founded Be a Better Me Foundation in 2016 to providementoring and tutoring to at-risk children. “I always tell people I don’t do this for the awards, but itis nice to be recognized but I have a great team with me,” he said. “What we do is try to push ourcommunity forward. And to get an award like this, I’m very honored.”Cyndi Morrow, who co-founded Wishes Can Happen in 1982 in North Canton to fulfill wishes bychildren with serious illnesses. She also is the owner of local shuttle service business Koala Kruizers.She estimated that her organization has granted more than 1,300 wishes to area children. “I am justso thrilled and honored and humbled by the whole thing,” she said. “But it’s very rewarding. We’vebrought so much happiness to so many families.”
The awards ceremony ended with a video featuring Canton Mayor Thomas Bernabei, with his socked feeton his desk at City Hall, jokingly claiming that Porter had a quid pro quo arrangement to name therecipients.
“So I created a task force to investigate,” the mayor said. “And today I have the evidence. Let’s take a closerlook at these people. Let’s take a look at the first award winner Barb Bennett. She seems solid. I know her.I like her. She’s talented. Lots of official qualifications. Intelligent. Married to County Engineer KeithBennett. He’s a pretty decent guy.”
A police officer standing behind Bernabei handed him a piece of paper.
“Oh woah! Wait a minute! You’re telling me that the potholes in front of Jim Porter’s house are scheduled(for) repair by the County Engineer? I’m sure that’s a coincidence” Bernabei said with joking incredulity asthe audience laughed.
Reach Robert at 330-580-8327
On Twitter: @rwangREP.