{"id":2547,"date":"2014-07-15T10:08:27","date_gmt":"2014-07-15T10:08:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ocfl.flywheelsites.com\/2014\/07\/orange-county-citizens-honored-at-2014-florida-neighborhoods-conference\/"},"modified":"2022-01-12T12:13:25","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T17:13:25","slug":"orange-county-citizens-honored-at-2014-florida-neighborhoods-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsroom.ocfl.net\/2014\/07\/orange-county-citizens-honored-at-2014-florida-neighborhoods-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Orange County Citizens Honored at 2014 Florida Neighborhoods Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

Several Orange County citizens were honored at the 2014 Florida Neighborhoods Conference<\/a> for their invaluable contributions in their neighborhoods and communities.<\/p>\n

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and each of the six members of the Board of County Commissioners recognized an individual in their district for their efforts in helping their neighborhoods flourish.<\/p>\n

Sharon Warner received the Mayor’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year award. Warner is the founder of Family & Friends United, Inc., a program that started locally more than 20 years ago. The program gives children the tools they need to better deal with challenging situations they may encounter at school and outside the home. Over the years, hundreds of children have participated in Warner\u2019s program and many have graduated from college or entered the military after their time with Family & Friends United.<\/p>\n

\u201cSharon has truly made Orange County her home for life and it is fitting that we honored her at a conference that values and promotes community,\u201d Mayor Jacobs said. \u201cFrom growing up right here in Orange County\u2019s City of Apopka with her three siblings, to raising both of her children and dedicating countless hours to community service, she has embraced what it is to be a good neighbor and we are grateful for all that she has done to keep our community strong.\u201d<\/p>\n

Orange County\u2019s Board of County Commissioners also recognized citizens in their own districts:<\/p>\n

District 1<\/strong> – Betsy VanderLey is the vice-chair of Orange County Planning and Zoning Commission and serves on numerous volunteer boards throughout the community including Orange County\u2019s Affordable Housing Board. She is a business developer, entrepreneur and a successful small business owner.<\/p>\n

District 2<\/strong> – Regina Melvin is the founder of Lockhart Acres Farm, a nonprofit community farm that grows fresh food. She has also played a vital role in the Green School Initiative at Lockhart Middle School. In addition to donating a greenhouse and a rabbit, she is also designing and installing a pollinator garden. In 2013, she worked with the residents of Lockhart and Orange County\u2019s Neighborhood Preservation & Revitalization Division to form the People of Lockhart Community Association (POLCA) and became its first president. As president of POLCA, she organized Lockhart\u2019s First National Night Out Event in 2013.<\/p>\n

District 3<\/strong> – The Azalea Park Little League is a youth sports organization founded in 1964 by five parents who revitalized the community and the local ball field. Recently, the mural of baseball legend Roberto Clemente was painted over by vandals. The Azalea Park Little League, along with community residents and leaders such as Orlando City Commissioner Tony Ortiz, were able to join efforts and ensure that the mural was re-painted and community spirits were restored.<\/p>\n

District 4<\/strong> – Pastor Abner Adorno has worked closely with the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and the Women and Children\u2019s Shelter by cooking meals, providing personal hygiene supplies and being a life coach. He has also served as the community\u2019s Hispanic liaison for Orange County Public Schools and assisted in establishing an elementary school in the Dominican Republic. For the past two years, along with members of his congregation, he has served District 4 through extensive volunteer work at the District\u2019s Back to School event, the Three Kings Day celebration and community clean ups. He has assisted in distributing over 3,000 gifts for children and other volunteer organizations.<\/p>\n

District 5<\/strong> – Timothy J. McKinney leads a grassroots initiative called the Bithlo Transformation Effort, which is recognized as a model in community health improvement. He has also received various community recognitions including being named one of the 50 Most Powerful People in Orlando Magazine, The Hometown Hero Award by Bank of America and has received a Hearts of Gold award by Orlando Magazine in 2011.<\/p>\n

District 6<\/strong> – As the founder and Pastor of Rising Sun Baptist Church, Pastor Michael Kimbrough continues to provide opportunities for local youth to reach their dreams and goals. He founded the Shine Performing & Creative Art Training Center in 2005 and later founded the Pine Hills Community Performing Arts Center in 2010. He also organized the first Pine Hills Cultural Arts Festival in 2014 and plans to continue coordinating this as an annual event. He has also assisted with coordination of the Stop the Killing Start Living Peace campaign. He volunteers with the Orange County School Board and received the Orange County Parent Teacher Association Volunteer of the Year Award. He is active in both the Pine Hills Council and Pine Hills Safe Neighborhood Partnership.<\/p>\n

Additional 2014 Orange County Community Award Winners include:<\/p>\n