The Community Council's Founders Awards
The Irvington Community Council and the Historic Irvington Halloween Festival are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Founder’s Awards. Since 2011, the awards have recognized individuals, organizations and businesses making significant contributions to the overall quality of life in Irvington. The awards are presented during the Historic Irvington Halloween Festival, to be held this year from October 19-26, 2024.
John and Julie Mundell
For their generous support of our community, for their efforts to ensure Irvington and our planet becomes a sustainable place to live and for exemplifying the definition of servant leadership
Eric Wilson (Irvington Insurance)
For his quiet yet tireless and generous support of our community and for championing our local small businesses through his work with the Irvington Business Association
CJ Woods (Weekly View)
For documenting Irvington through journalism, through photography, and through verse
Melany Bellucci, Nancy Boettner, Rosemary Tudor, Pat Brown, and Marcia Doty
For their work in helping to make the Irvington Garden Club into a force of good, for stewarding the Irvington Farmer’s Market and the Irvington Garden Tour into beloved community events, and for their dedication to the greening of our community
Kyla Thompson
For being the very definition of a neighborhood super-volunteer, for her faithful service to the Irvington Community Council, including service as its president, and for her role in so many positive actions in our neighborhood over the last two decades
2018 Group photo of latest and previous Founders Award recipients from Left to Right: Jack& Dawn Nelson, Larry & Kathleen Tindall, John Mervilde, Kathleen Angelone, Stan Denski, Laura Mervilde, Sue Kennedy, Ed Myers, Carol & Bruce Gable, Dawn Briggs, Sue Beecher, William Gulde and Paula Schmidt.
2011 - Awards were presented to The Legend restaurant and to John and Laura Mervilde for their restoration of the Davidson House on Lowell.
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2012 - Awards were presented to Bruce Gable of Irvington Terrace and to Brian and Emily Mack for the restoration of their historic home on N. Hawthorne.
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2013 - Awards were presented to Ed Myers, Rosemary Spalding and to Dufours Restaurant.
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2014 - Awards were presented to The Irvington Historical Society, Dawn Briggs, and Snips Salon.
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2015 - Awards were presented to Marty Powell, The Garden Club, and Guitar Town.
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2016 - Award presented to Paula Schmidt.
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2017 - Awards presented to the Irvington Public Library, Sue Beecher, and William Gulde.
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2018 - Awards presented to the Jack & Dawn Nelson, Kathleen Angelone, Larry & Kathleen Tindall, and Stan Denski.
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2019 - Judy Crawford, Paula Nicewanger, and Ethel Winslow (owners and publishers of The Weekly View), Jan DeFerbrache (owner of The Magic Candle and director of Gaia Works Food Pantry), Kent Hankins and Bill Aughe (community activists), Mike and Mary Lee Spilbeler (community activists and owner of the Irvington Picture Frame Company).
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2020 - Scott Irons (owner of Indy Cycle Specialist), Nancy Duncan, Mick McGrath, Bob and Laura Stark (owners of Jockamo's Upper Crust Pizza), Steve and Sue Barnett (community activists), and Laura Hildreth (Irvington artist).
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Nominations for the award are accepted from any neighborhood resident at anytime. The winners are selected by the members of the Irvington Community Council at the beginning of June.
Previous Founders Awards
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