Each year Northern Columbus Kiwanis recognizes devoted community volunteers. Our club is pleased to announce that this service award is also sponsored by The Spotlight. Four outstanding individuals were selected to receive the 2024 Community Support Award by Northern Columbus Kiwanis. They are Steve Landes, Mary Rodgers, Ryan Foshee and Cindy Kilbane . These generous individuals volunteered with multiple organizations serving neighbors in our community and the Columbus area. Along with this honor Northern Kiwanis will make donations to nonprofit charitable organizations designated by these recipients.
Look for the The Nomination Form for the 2025 Community Support Award later this year.
Meet the 2024 Community Support Award winners!
Steve Landes, 2024 Community Support Award recipient
Steve Landes was nominated by previous 2023 Community Support Award recipient Heather Fitzgerald. He is the founder of “The Couch” also known as CouchPhilanthropy, a “community of dogooders providing financial assistance through crowdfunding”. Steve is a Clintonville neighbor who pours his heart and soul into those in need in our community. He has provided coats to local homeless outreachers, and works with Dude Charity to collect, organize and distribute coats directly to people in need.
Steve has helped hundreds of people going through unexpected hardships, including families who have lost everything in a fire, families facing utility shutoffs, grandparents raising grandchildren, and many more families and individuals. His nominator, Heather, says, “Steve is an amazing neighbor and friend, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award!”
His nominator, Heather, says, “Steve is an amazing neighbor and friend, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award!”
As part of the Northern Kiwanis Community Support Award, a $100 donation will made to Dude Charity in recognition of Steve’s volunteer work in the community.
Mary Rodgers, 2024 Community Support Award recipient
Mary Rodgers can be described by many words including creative, accomplished and effective. She accomplishes daunting tasks such as having East Broadway designated as an historic district on the National Register and coordinating the installation of ten historic markers in Clintonville. During Mary’s 12 years as president of the Clintonville Historical Society, she creative the Archive Reading Room at St. James Episcopal Church. The archives are accessible through the website columbusmemory.org.
Under her leadership, the society created two historic murals and four Memory Lane Monuments, in addition to the ten historic markers. She also developed historically themed artwork at three local restaurants, and she is a member of the Clintonville Art Guild. Mary is one of the researchers and presenters for WOSU’s Neighborhood Series for Clintonville.
At Clintonville Woman’s Club, Mary is involved with creating and presenting evening programs and other activities. She is a Contributing Editor to the Clintonville Spotlight. Mary is an avid promoter of all things Clintonville. She is always willing to help, offering her skills and creativity to many groups and individuals. Mary was nominated by Northern Kiwanis member Shirley Palumbo.
As part of the Northern Kiwanis Community Support Award, a $100 donation will be made to the Clintonville Historical Society in recognition of Mary’s volunteer work in the community.
Ryan Foshee, 2024 Community Support Award recipient
Ryan Foshee, a 12-year Clintonville resident, was nominated by 2023 award winner Hugh Crowell. Ryan is self-employed as an energy and environmental consultant, is an active and visionary volunteer in local organizations that promote green infrastructure, environmental sustainability, biological diversity and resource conservation. His leadership with the Clintonville Green Team resulted in the first annual Columbus Arborfest last year, improved natural landscaping at Fire Station 19, and new pollinator gardens at Brevoort Park and the Ohio School for the Deaf.
Ryan has worked on projects with the Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed, including tree nursery days, pollinator gardens, and special projects such as tree planting at the Ohio School for the Deaf. He has been involved with MORPC on the Energy & Air Quality and Central Ohio Greenways working groups.
He has worked with the City of Columbus on the GreenSpot Program Advisory Board, as well on Sustainable Columbus where he worked with two Climate Action Plan working groups: Waste Reduction and The Columbus Way.
Ryan’s nominator, Hugh, says, “Ryan’s energy, positivity, and creativity in volunteerism deserve our gratitude and respect.” As part of the Northern Kiwanis Community Support Award, a $100 donation will be made to Green Columbus in recognition of Ryan’s volunteer work in the community.
Cindy Kilbane, 2024 Community Support Award recipient
Cindy Kilbane, nominated by Hope Roberts, a past recipient of the Community Support Award, has volunteered at a number of places, including Largest Table, Wesley Glen Retirement Community, Pets without Parents, and Colerain Elementary School. She enjoys volunteering to assist people of all ages and furry friends, too. She especially has worked to feed and provide support for the unhoused.
Throughout her 40+ years as a Clintonville- Beechwold neighbor, Cindy has demonstrated the Kiwanis vision of improving the world, one child and one community at a time. Many individuals have benefitted from her positivity and humble spirit.
Retired from Grant Hospital, Cindy has spent her work life, as well as her personal life, helping others. She considers everyone she interacts with as her neighbor. Cindy remains active with a regular volunteer commitment serving meals to unhoused/marginalized folks and assisting with seasonal events sponsored by an area non-profit organization. She has organized support for new parents struggling with medical issues or ensuring that individuals new to the community have the practical support they need during cancer treatments.
Her nominator, Hope, says that “Cindy is the kind of neighbor everyone hopes for and one that is not easily forgotten.” As part of the Northern Kiwanis Community Support Award, a $100 donation will be made to The Largest Table in recognition of Cindy’s volunteer work in the community.
Community Support Award Recipients 2024
Each year Northern Columbus Kiwanis recognizes devoted community volunteers. Our club is pleased to announce that this service award is also sponsored by The Spotlight. Four outstanding individuals were selected to receive the 2024 Community Support Award by Northern Columbus Kiwanis. They are Steve Landes, Mary Rodgers, Ryan Foshee and Cindy Kilbane . These generous individuals volunteered with multiple organizations serving neighbors in our community and the Columbus area. Along with this honor Northern Kiwanis will make donations to nonprofit charitable organizations designated by these recipients.
Look for the The Nomination Form for the 2025 Community Support Award later this year.
Meet the 2024 Community Support Award winners!
Steve Landes was nominated by previous 2023 Community Support Award recipient Heather Fitzgerald. He is the founder of “The Couch” also known as CouchPhilanthropy, a “community of dogooders providing financial assistance through crowdfunding”. Steve is a Clintonville neighbor who pours his heart and soul into those in need in our community. He has provided coats to local homeless outreachers, and works with Dude Charity to collect, organize and distribute coats directly to people in need.
Steve has helped hundreds of people going through unexpected hardships, including families who have lost everything in a fire, families facing utility shutoffs, grandparents raising grandchildren, and many more families and individuals. His nominator, Heather, says, “Steve is an amazing neighbor and friend, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award!”
His nominator, Heather, says, “Steve is an amazing neighbor and friend, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award!”
As part of the Northern Kiwanis Community Support Award, a $100 donation will made to Dude Charity in recognition of Steve’s volunteer work in the community.
***********************************************************************************************
Mary Rodgers can be described by many words including creative, accomplished and effective. She accomplishes daunting tasks such as having East Broadway designated as an historic district on the National Register and coordinating the installation of ten historic markers in Clintonville. During Mary’s 12 years as president of the Clintonville Historical Society, she creative the Archive Reading Room at St. James Episcopal Church. The archives are accessible through the website columbusmemory.org.
Under her leadership, the society created two historic murals and four Memory Lane Monuments, in addition to the ten historic markers. She also developed historically themed artwork at three local restaurants, and she is a member of the Clintonville Art Guild. Mary is one of the researchers and presenters for WOSU’s Neighborhood Series for Clintonville.
At Clintonville Woman’s Club, Mary is involved with creating and presenting evening programs and other activities. She is a Contributing Editor to the Clintonville Spotlight. Mary is an avid promoter of all things Clintonville. She is always willing to help, offering her skills and creativity to many groups and individuals. Mary was nominated by Northern Kiwanis member Shirley Palumbo.
As part of the Northern Kiwanis Community Support Award, a $100 donation will be made to the Clintonville Historical Society in recognition of Mary’s volunteer work in the community.
**********************************************************************************************
Ryan Foshee, a 12-year Clintonville resident, was nominated by 2023 award winner Hugh Crowell. Ryan is self-employed as an energy and environmental consultant, is an active and visionary volunteer in local organizations that promote green infrastructure, environmental sustainability, biological diversity and resource conservation. His leadership with the Clintonville Green Team resulted in the first annual Columbus Arborfest last year, improved natural landscaping at Fire Station 19, and new pollinator gardens at Brevoort Park and the Ohio School for the Deaf.
Ryan has worked on projects with the Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed, including tree nursery days, pollinator gardens, and special projects such as tree planting at the Ohio School for the Deaf. He has been involved with MORPC on the Energy & Air Quality and Central Ohio Greenways working groups.
He has worked with the City of Columbus on the GreenSpot Program Advisory Board, as well on Sustainable Columbus where he worked with two Climate Action Plan working groups: Waste Reduction and The Columbus Way.
Ryan’s nominator, Hugh, says, “Ryan’s energy, positivity, and creativity in volunteerism deserve our gratitude and respect.” As part of the Northern Kiwanis Community Support Award, a $100 donation will be made to Green Columbus in recognition of Ryan’s volunteer work in the community.
**********************************************************************************************
Cindy Kilbane, nominated by Hope Roberts, a past recipient of the Community Support Award, has volunteered at a number of places, including Largest Table, Wesley Glen Retirement Community, Pets without Parents, and Colerain Elementary School. She enjoys volunteering to assist people of all ages and furry friends, too. She especially has worked to feed and provide support for the unhoused.
Throughout her 40+ years as a Clintonville- Beechwold neighbor, Cindy has demonstrated the Kiwanis vision of improving the world, one child and one community at a time. Many individuals have benefitted from her positivity and humble spirit.
Retired from Grant Hospital, Cindy has spent her work life, as well as her personal life, helping others. She considers everyone she interacts with as her neighbor. Cindy remains active with a regular volunteer commitment serving meals to unhoused/marginalized folks and assisting with seasonal events sponsored by an area non-profit organization. She has organized support for new parents struggling with medical issues or ensuring that individuals new to the community have the practical support they need during cancer treatments.
Her nominator, Hope, says that “Cindy is the kind of neighbor everyone hopes for and one that is not easily forgotten.” As part of the Northern Kiwanis Community Support Award, a $100 donation will be made to The Largest Table in recognition of Cindy’s volunteer work in the community.
**********************************************************************************************
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