By Rose S. Prinzi
Wanted: An “Unsung hero!”… Exemplary Volunteer from Southern Chautauqua County; must have made significant contributions, while neither receiving nor expecting reward or recognition.
Your help is needed. The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation is seeking an “Unsung Hero”. Nominations for the Axel W. Carlson “Unsung Hero” Award are now being accepted. The deadline date to submit nominations is March 1. You may be associated with an organization or a project where an individual whose volunteer spirit and involvement has made an impact. Tell us about this special volunteer. This person may just be our next “Unsung Hero!”
Axel W. Carlson was a quiet man who had his humble beginnings in Sweden. He was born in the early 1890’s. As a teenager, he immigrated to this area. With his carpentry skills in hand, he made tabletops for a business located in Brooklyn Square. He worked so hard and lived so frugally that he became ill and had to return to Sweden for a time. When he came back, he met and married Emma and they settled in Sunnyside on Chautauqua Lake. They had no children. As time went on, Mr. Carlson dedicated himself to his trade and saved his money wisely. He was always there to help people in need. On November 3, 1981, Mr. Carlson passed away leaving a portion of his estate to assist the people in the community he left behind.
Mr. Carlson always sought out opportunities to help others in need. He did not do so to seek recognition for his good works, but rather because he had an unselfish spirit and simply enjoyed helping others. Today, the Foundation is seeking out an individual who emulates Mr. Carlson’s simple philosophy. His life was a model for those “Unsung Heroes” who followed him including Lucille Miller, Susan B. Carlson, Debbie Long, Josh Briggs, Albert Olmstead, Mary Avery, Nancy Gaden, Sarah Pollaro, Roxanne Miller, Kenneth Kilburn, Eleanor Esch and Hazel Porter.
If you believe there is an individual within your organization who is a resident of southern Chautauqua County, has made significant contributions to an organization or project and has neither received nor expects recognition or reward, please nominate them for the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation’s 2009 Axel W. Carlson “Unsung Hero” Award.
Nomination forms can be obtained by going to the Foundation’s website at www.crcfon-line.org. or by calling the Foundation. If you would like to talk to the CRCF staff about your nomination, call 661-3390. All nomination forms must be in by March 1. Please help us find the next Axel W. Carlson “Unsung Hero”!