Lions Honor Outstanding Members

Newtown Lions Club recently honored several members for distinguished service to Lion Club and its ideals, including the numerous projects and charities supported by the club. All of the awards had a common theme: helping the blind and other persons in need.

Lions President Tom Evagash presented the Melvin Jones Award to Bill Denlinger and Jon Christensen for humanitarian services. This award is the highest form of recognition of the Lions Club International Fellowship and is named for the founder of international Lionism. In giving this award, Mr Evagash recognized the time and effort Mr Denlinger and Mr Christensen have devoted to Lions causes as past presidents.

The Knight of the Blind Award, granted by the Connecticut Lions Eye Research Foundation, was given to Kevin Corey. Mr Corey has been actively involved in every activity of the local club and is currently serving as project treasurer.

Walt Schweikert was made an Ambassador of Sight for his leadership to the club and involvement in its numerous charitable activities. This award was presented on behalf of the Lions Low Vision Center of Fairfield and New Haven Counties.

Mike Savenelli was named Lion of the Year by the Newtown Club for his behind-the-scenes work in untangling the club’s tax returns for several years and for documentation of the finances of the Duck Race held Memorial Day weekend each year.

Former Lions president Jon Christensen presented the Loyal Shepherd Fellow Award to Kent Carpenter for his service at the international, national, and local levels. He is an active member of the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity and volunteers his time almost every Thursday on its building projects.

Mr Carpenter is also an active supporter of the World Help Organization, which provides clean water systems to impoverished areas in Africa and helped rebuild a church in New Orleans that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina. This award was granted by the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, which provides guide dogs for the blind.

Don Ferris, a member of the Lions Club for ten years, was given a Lifetime Membership Award. According to Mr Evagash, after retiring from a successful career as an engineer, Mr Ferris reached out to help those less fortunate and took on every project with the vigor of a man half his age. He remains active in all of the Lions’ fundraising activities.