Rotary, Recorder recognize residents at 27th annual Local Heroes Awards

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The Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra Beach and the Ponte Vedra Recorder recognized eight local residents for their contributions to the community last week at the 27th annual Local Heroes Awards. 

Held Thursday, Feb. 7 at Marsh Landing Country Club, this year’s event honored residents whose service to the community includes autism advocacy, volunteerism in local schools, alternative education for young people struggling with substance abuse, pancreatic cancer research and the support of children and adults living with disabilities. 

Started in 1993 by former Rotary Club member Vic DiGenti, the event recognizes “unsung heroes” who give back to the community and reflect the spirit of the Rotary Club’s motto, “Service Above Self.” 

The “Local Heroes” Class of 2019 includes:

Bobby and Leslie Weed

Nominated by Dr. Don and Kim Sears, Bobby and Leslie Weed received a Local Heroes award for their efforts supporting families dealing with autism through the HEAL, or Helping Enrich Autistic Lives, Foundation. 

Their efforts in the world of autism advocacy are personal. Their daughter is non-verbal and profoundly affected by autism. Raising her inspired the couple to start their foundation in 2004. Since 2007, the Ponte Vedra Beach-based foundation has awarded nearly $2 million in grants providing summer camps, sports leagues and support groups; educational enhancements and iPads for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) classrooms; educational seminars for parents, teachers and therapists; year-round fun recreational and social events for families and more. 

Howard and Amy Groshell

Also nominated by Dr. Don and Kim Sears, Howard and Amy Groshell were similarly recognized for their work with the autism community.

After raising a daughter with autism who is nonverbal but communicates through art and supported typing, the couple ultimately created Peace of Heart Community, which features a residential home for women with autism in Ponte Vedra Beach. The organization strives to offer a group home experience for autistic women that is person-centered, abundant in educational opportunities, providing of access to communication, community-minded and environmentally sustainable. 

Dan Renaud

Nominated by Dr. Thomas Hilton, Dan Renaud was honored for his work in the field of substance abuse and addiction.

He is the founder and current executive director of Florida Recovery Schools, which is also known as River Oak Center, the only sober high school in the Southeast United States supporting the educational needs of teens in recovery. Based in Jacksonville, River Oak was established as an independent, nonprofit 501c3 organization in 2014. The school offers a strong academic program incorporating 12-step principles to students ages 14 to 19 who are in recovery. 

Jean Langston

Nominated by Cheryl Freeman, Jean Langston received a Local Heroes award for her 17 years of volunteerism in the St. Johns County School District. 

Born in 1930, Langston is the daughter of Alice B. Landrum and a former teacher of 35 years who has lived in Ponte Vedra her entire life. Volunteering at schools in the Northeast portion of the county, most recently at PVPV/Rawlings Elementary School, she comes in every Thursday to read aloud in a kindergarten class and helps first graders with phonics. According to Freeman, Langston’s classroom support totaled 400 hours during the 2017-2018 school year. 

Isabella “Belle” Benson

Also nominated by Freeman, Isabella “Belle” Benson was, like Langston, honored for her volunteerism within the local schools. 

For three years, this Ponte Vedra High School student has been volunteering several hours a week at Ocean Palms Elementary School, despite a demanding schedule, across multiple grade levels, including kindergarten, second grade and third grade. Outside of her volunteerism, Benson is a member of the PVHS Link Crew — mentoring incoming freshman — and Best Buddies International Club — being a friend and support to students of varying intellectual levels — among many other extracurricular activities. 

Judith Zitiello

Nominated by Michele McManamon and Joni Zwick, Judith Zitiello was named a Local Hero for her efforts with the JT Townsend Foundation and the Funk-Zitiello Foundation, despite her own journey with cancer.

Via the JT Townsend Foundation, Zitiello has supported First Coast children and adults living with disabilities, as well as spinal cord injury research. Today, she serves as the managing director of the Funk-Zitiello Foundation, which benefits the JT Townsend Foundation and Mayo Clinic research specifically for pancreatic cancer research. The past two years, the Foundation has raised funds for these causes via its Champions for Hope Gala and Golf Classic.