Local selection will be considered for national honor
Staff Reports
The Foliage Sertoma Club of Apopka has announced the honorees the club is recognizing for their dedication to community service in the Apopka area.
Honorees will be recognized at the annual Service to Mankind Dinner, set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. on April 29 at the Fran Carlton Center, 11 N. Forest Ave., Apopka.
“Our Service To Mankind dinner is truly a community affair,” Wes Dumey, Foliage Sertoma president, said in a statement. “In addition to honoring great people doing wonderful volunteerism, Wekiva High School Culinary class creates the delicious meal and the Apopka High School Beta Club serves the guests. Our club members present the stories about each special nominee and the mayor and I announce our annual winner. We hope a lot of folks will come join us.”
Following the footsteps of the national Sertoma, Inc., each year for five years, the Foliage Sertoma Club of Apopka has asked the public to nominate fellow citizens who have served selflessly with little recognition.
“Although each nominee is worthy in their own way for impacting our Apopka community, the national award is based on specific guidelines which include considerations about their service for the past year,” a Foliage Sertoma Club press release stated. “Additionally, the number impacted and the tenure that they have served.”
The club’s Service to Mankind Committee evaluates the nominations and chooses one to submit on behalf of Apopka to the national Sertoma organization.
In addition to the April 29 dinner, the honoree will ride in the annual Christmas parade and is given $250 for donating to the cause of choice at a Saturday Sounds concert this May.
Dinner tickets are $25 each and are available on the donate link at foliagesertoma.org. The club recommends website visitors leaving a name and number of guests in the comments.
The 51-year-old Foliage Sertoma Club organizes the annual Apopka Christmas Parade, scheduled this year for Dec. 13, and supports community programs with sponsorships and volunteer work.
The 2025 Sertoma Service to Mankind Honorees
Janice Dafeldecker – Clay Springs Elementary School crossing guard and Good News Club Youth Program
David Durre – Sheeler Oaks homeowners association leadership and community cleanup projects
Linda Lee – Farmworker who conducts ongoing pesticide safety education
Mike MacWithey — Apopka Youth high school sports for 40 years and Robotics sponsor who has impacted generations of local families
Emmanuel Sosa – Apopka police officer who established a registry of local special needs individuals
Othelius Swift – New Hope Missionary Baptist Church food and clothing pantry volunteer and PTA programs for Phillis Wheatley Elementary School
Pam Welker — An Orange County corridor chief volunteer for the Sheeler area who created the youth community garden and built benches for parks
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