GREENFIELD — While their backgrounds, their contributions, might be different, they share something important in common, organizers said: the community wouldn’t be the same without them.
Three Greenfield-Central School Foundation awards honor individuals in the school system and community who have set a good example for others to follow in giving to their community. On Saturday, at the foundation’s Red Letter Gala, three men were recognized for their tireless commitment to causes they support.
Todd Kaminski Community Service
The service award is named for the founding member of the Set a Good Example Foundation, which involved into the Greenfield Central School Foundation. Kaminski, a Greenfield dentist, served on the foundation’s board of directors for 25 years.
Recipients of the award are honored for outstanding leadership, volunteerism and character.
This year’s winner, David Berard, has helped make Greenfield a better community by participating in many service organizations, organizers said. A member of the Greenfield Sertoma Club since 1972, Berard now serves as the organization’s president. With Berard as its leader, the Sertoma Club helped raise funds to put eight hearing devices in the Hancock County Public Library for people attending events there who have a hard time hearing.
He also helped relaunch Hello Hancock, an online community calendar.
Robert Albano Educational Service
The award is named after Robert Albano, a former principal at Greenfield-Central High School and founding member of the Set a Good Example Foundation.
It recognizes teachers who are outstanding leaders and positive role models.
This year’s winner, Jim Beaver, has worked with Greenfield-Central students for more than 30 years. He started as a middle school science teacher and athletic trainer, eventually moving on to athletic director and middle school principal. Now, Beaver serves as the district’s director of student services.
The person nominating Beaver for the award wrote, “No one has a bigger heart for children. His interaction with his students manifests genuine care and concern. He would literally give his students almost anything to make the school experience the best part of the students’ day.”
Myra Bleill Friend of the Foundation
The Friend of the Foundation Award is named in honor of the Greenfield Central School Foundation’s first executive director, who stepped down in 2015. It recognizes individuals, organizations or businesses who have made an effort to support and promote the foundation’s work.
The 2017 winner, Ty Wooten, has been instrumental in raising awareness of the foundation and its work in district schools.
During his time as president of the Set a Good Example foundation, he persuaded board members to dream bigger about the impact the foundation could make and helped guide its effort to re-brand into the Greenfield Central School Foundation.
He and his wife have given their time and talent to the foundation, and Wooten is always willing to step up when a need presents itself, organizers said.
