Messerschmidt named Volunteer of Year by Keep Sarasota County Beautiful

Individuals and organizations honored during Nov. 4 event

Candace Messerschmidt and Bird. Photo courtesy Sarasota County
Candace Messerschmidt and Bird. Photo courtesy Sarasota County

Candace Messerschmidt was named Volunteer of the Year on Nov. 4 during the 27th annual Keep Sarasota County Beautiful (KSCB) awards and dinner, the county has announced.

Messerschmidt was among 19 individuals and organizations honored at Robarts Arena for dedicating “time and energy to making Sarasota County a better place,” a news release says.

The event, which featured elected officials and other leaders from across the county, also recognized the more than 2,500 volunteers who donated more than 6,000 hours of service to the community during the 2015 fiscal year, the release adds. “Keep Sarasota County Beautiful volunteers collected nearly 10 tons of trash and recyclables from beaches, parks and roadways” during efforts such as the Great American Cleanup, the Liberty Litter Cleanup, the International Coastal Cleanup and the road adoption program, the release continues.

The theme of this year’s awards was Our Volunteers Pitch In, the release notes.

Along with Messerschmidt, the honorees were Bert Adams, Bruce Weaver, Carol Holmes, Community Youth Development, Donna McGinn, Englewood Elementary School, Faith Early Learning Center, Friends of Potter Park, Holly Bucciarelli, Jonard Solie, PAWS for the Planet of Cardinal Mooney High School, Riverview High School, Scott Simon, Southgate Community, Stu Chapman, Tom and Carol Parker, Tom Grundy and the Venice Police Department, the release says.

“The longevity and success of the program is directly attributed to all the hard work and effort put forth by our volunteers each year,” said Wendi Crisp, program coordinator, in the release. She added, “We couldn’t do it without them.”

The Baltimore Orioles’ mascot, Bird, handed out the awards, and the ceremony was hosted by Tampa Bay Rays in-game emcee Bobby Millikin, the release notes.

To learn more about the Keep Sarasota County Beautiful program and volunteer opportunities, visit www.scgov.net/kscb, or call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 861-5000.