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Alice and Kevin Puddington – Community Builder Award
There have been many dynamic duos over the years – Batman and Robin, Tom and Jerry, bacon and eggs. We can add Alice and Kevin Puddington to that list; a couple who have embodied the spirit of community volunteerism for more than 40 years.
Their impact has been felt most with the Almonte Civitan Club, through their leadership, vision and commitment to positive change. Kevin joined Almonte Civitan in 1978 and has served as Secretary and Treasurer over the years, as well as president in 1982-1983. He was instrumental in the decision to build a community hall that could be used by the Civitan for meetings, activities and events. Kevin’s fresh thinking and leadership can also be seen in the popular Pie Days and Lobsterfest Steak fundraisers, as well as the charity bingo and catering projects, as well as bringing the Civitan into the 21st century with its digital sign.
Alice became a Civitan member in 2011 and was just the fourth woman to be named Civitan president in 2015-2016. She’s assisted with everything from monthly auctions, bingos, fundraising auctions, etc. Alice is the person to call if anyone needs community support and is the first to show up at the door of a friend, family or community member to help.
The efforts of Alice and Kevin on the Civitan Executive and assisting with major fundraising initiatives led them to both receive the Civitan of the Year and Club Honour Key Awards.
A former elementary teacher, Alice has championed education and workers’ rights with the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario and is also involved in “What Now, Lanark County?”, an activist group working to raise awareness about intimate partner violence.
The Puddingtons were nominated as a couple in collaboration with other Civitans. Here are a few things their nominators had to say about them:
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“Alice and Kevin are lots of fun to work with on projects and have a great sense of humour. They’re always finding ways to make the hall, events and activities more attractive to the community. They work hard to consistently find ways to improve our service to the municipality and have fun in the process. They are wonderful team players.”
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“Alice and Kevin are practical people who focus on completing the many jobs involved in big projects with common sense and good will. They are not judgmental and are both diplomatic people. They lead others in a caring way and model by their hard work that is done cheerfully. It’s always great to work with them and see their smiling faces around the community.”
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“Their ongoing leadership and mentoring of new Civitan and other community members have created lasting, positive ripple effects for the well-being of residents of all backgrounds and ages throughout Mississippi Mills…Everywhere I go in Mississippi Mills, people agree that Alice and Kevin embody the spirit of compassion and service required to create a more vital, caring and supportive community.”
Alice and Kevin, thank you for leading by example and fostering a spirit of giving in our community.
