FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Darren Easton darreneaston@me.com
Mavis Lewis receives community service honor and donates $3,500 to
Claudia Mayer/Tina Broccolino Cancer Resource Center.
The Rotary Club of Columbia/Patuxent has selected Mavis Lewis as the recipient of its fifth annual Community Service Above Self Award. The award recognizes a non-Rotarian who gives back to the community in a way that reflects the Club’s spirit of having fun through community service.
Mavis Lewis, a person of exemplary character and the ability to work with diverse populations has made a tremendous impact upon the community around her. Mavis has given unselfishly of her time, talent and financial resources in a myriad of ways, expecting nothing in return except the satisfaction of serving wherever she is needed.
A model of compassion, Mavis has provided food and transportation to the sick, given spending money to students attending her alma mater (Hampton University), helped an individual of another culture with his writing skills, and made provisions, on two occasion, to bring a student from Darfur, currently attending Hampton University, to Howard County to share his story. Through contact with the above mentioned student, Mavis was introduced to the Lost Boys Foundation, Outreach Africa. Through this organization, she and her late husband, William, sponsored a young boy in Darfur by providing tuition, meals and uniforms, enabling him to attend school in a safe environment. Mavis has continued this sponsorship since her husband’s demise.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Mavis has served for twenty-one years as Campaign Chairperson for the Howard County Foundation for Black Educational and Cultural Achievement, Inc. where she has served as Program Chair and as Secretary for a number of years.
Served twelve consecutive years as President of the Columbia Alumni Chapter, Hampton University. Under her leadership, the chapter participated in the “Adopt-a-Road program in which members were involved in community clean-up efforts.
Currently volunteers at the Food Bank whose mission is to feed the hungry. This activity is sponsored by St John Baptist Church of which she is a member.
Appointed by the County Executive, served as Chairperson of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission. Led the Commission in two successful MLK observances, and a day of service by the members at the local Food Bank.
Co-authored a book entitled “Are Your Affairs in Order?” As a function of their mission to educate the public, Mavis and her co-author give free workshops for community groups, churches, conferences, family reunions, etc. She also edited and published a book in 2012, entitled, OUR STORY, which is a Collection of Inspirational Messages from Past Scholarship Recipients from the Howard County Foundation for Black Educational and Cultural Achievement, Inc.
Established the William H. Lewis Memorial Endowment Fund at The Community Foundation of Howard County and Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia This annual book scholarship award will benefit deserving, full-time students who are residents of Howard County, Maryland while attending Hampton University.
Inducted into the Howard County Women’s Hall of Fame for her involvement in a multitude of county, state and national programs to feed the hungry, helping to ensure a brighter future for Howard County youth by providing funding for higher education, helping older adults plan their last Will and Testament, and helping to bring justice and economic empowerment to people all over the world.
The Community Service Above Self Award includes recognition at the Club’s Annual Grant Day Event on Friday, June 17, 2016 and $3,500 to be donated to a local non-profit in Mavis’s name.
The Rotary Club of Columbia/Patuxent
Chartered in 1986, the Rotary members of Columbia/Patuxent are a diverse group of business and professional leaders from the Columbia and Howard County area who take an active role in their communities while enriching their personal and professional lives. They volunteer in communities at home and abroad to help those in need, support education and job training, provide clean water, combat hunger and improve the health and lives of so many. They are the county’s largest club and each year are active in the most service projects and raise and give more money than any other club in the county.
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