Rye Lions Seek Nominees for 19th Annual Community Service Award
The Rye City Lions Club is seeking nominations of deserving individuals for consideration to receive its 19th annual service award – the James A. and Marian M. Shea Community Service Award. The Award was established in 2003 to recognize an individual who lives or works in the Rye Community and has contributed to enhancing the lives of its citizens by volunteering services of an outstanding nature.
Past Recipients
In 2022, the award went to Staci Ramachandran for her work with the Rye City Schools, Wainwright House, the Rye YMCA, Family Services of Westchester Junior Board and The Sharing Shelf. In 2021, Cliona Cronin received the award for her service to Rye City Schools including an initiative to raise funds for the RHS PO by selling lawn signs congratulating high school graduates – now a RHS tradition that raises over $10,000 each year.
The History of the Award
The award was originally named the James A. Shea Community Service Award in honor of James A. Shea, a past Club President and outstanding community citizen who served as President of the Board of Trustees of the Rye Free Reading Room. With unanimous approval of the Rye City Lions Club members, the name was changed after the death of Club member Marian Shea, wife of the late James Shea. Marian was a tireless volunteer in the City of Rye and a past recipient of the award. She was known for her work with the Rye Senior Advocacy Group and “SPRYE” (Staying Put in Rye and Its Environs), a group helping seniors to age in place. The award is now known as the James A. and Marian M. Shea Community Service Award.
