Foliage Sertoma Club, in partnership with the city of Apopka, is opening up the process of selecting a Sertoma Club winner nominee by letting the community pick worthy honorees.

In the past, the 50-year-old Apopka organization entered one person from the area into Sertoma’s national search for the Service to Mankind winner, which is an award given to a non-Sertoman.

This year will be different. The Foliage Sertoma Club is inviting civic groups, churches, youth organizations, schools, and non-profits to submit names in the Apopka Proud Search for Service to Mankind Winner. One doesn’t have to be an organization member to choose honorees or to be named one.

Sertoma Club members are not eligible, but they can nominate people for the award. The club already gives another award exclusive to its members.

All honorees will be announced in The Apopka Chief on March 27 and receive a certificate acknowledging their service.

The top 20 entrants will be honored at a public dinner on Thursday, April 2, at the Fran Carlton Recreation Center, 11 N. Forest Avenue, Apopka. Family members and friends are encouraged to attend. The cost for the meal is $15 per person.

One local Service to Mankind winner will be chosen from all eligible entries. The individual will be announced at the dinner as well as by Mayor Bryan Nelson at the Apopka Proud Concert on Saturday, April 4.

The winner will also receive $250 to donate to the cause of choice and be entered into the National Sertoma Service to Mankind Winner search.

For more information and nomination forms, go to www.foliagesertoma.org. Entries can be submitted by mail with a $20 entry fee to Foliage Sertoma, P.O. Box 718, Apopka, 32704.

Community sponsorships for the dinner, awards and recognition are available by contacting Winesburgh at bwine@earthlink.net or 407-257-1396.

The extended story appears on page 1A in the February 28 issue of The Apopka Chief. Subscribe today!