Portions reprinted with permission from FLORIDA TODAY. See the original article here.
Volunteers in Brevard dedicate their time, money and skills to serve those in need across the Space Coast. It’s often a thankless effort, with little recognition.
But on Thursday evening, at Eastern Florida State College’s Cocoa Campus, the efforts of several individuals and groups were recognized during FLORIDA TODAY’S 29th annual Volunteer Recognition Awards.
Dorothy “Ms. Dot” Linson was named Volunteer of the Year; Robert “Bob” Barnes, Citizen of the Year; L3Harris, Business of the Year; and Aging Matters, Organization of the Year.
“We … want to recognize and highlight the good in our community, we want to celebrate when things go right,” said Mara Bellaby, executive editor, FLORIDA TODAY. “When people make a difference and they change Brevard for the better.”
L3Harris, winner of Business of the Year, donated more than 23,000 volunteer hours in the first nine months of 2022. The third largest employer on the Space Coast, they donated more than $1.5 million to the United Way in 2021, and made contributions to the Brevard Schools Foundation, the Brevard Zoo, Candlelighters of Brevard, Club Esteem, The Dock, Junior Achievement, the King Center for the Performing Art, Space Coast Discovery and weVenture, as well as other organizations.
"Our employees tell us all the time that the way that they feel most engaged is when they can give back, when they can participate in causes that they care most about," said Erica Lemp, Director, community affairs, L3Harris.
