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Middletown Community Foundation awards 3 community leaders

Jackie Phillips, winner of the Middletown Community Foundation's Mary Maurer Volunteer of the Award, addresses the audience during the group's Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony at the Manchester Inn on Thursday, Nov. 5. Betty Lou Nein and Bill Schaeffer also were honored.

Contributed photo by David A. Moodie Jackie Phillips, winner of the Middletown Community Foundation's Mary Maurer Volunteer of the Award, addresses the audience during the group's Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony at the Manchester Inn on Thursday, Nov. 5. Betty Lou Nein and Bill Schaeffer also were honored.

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By Ed Richter, Staff Writer 11:26 PM Thursday, November 5, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — Nearly 250 people were in attendance to see three dedicated volunteers be recognized for their ongoing and unselfish service to the Middletown community.

Bill Schaeffer, Betty Lou Nein and Jackie Phillips received top recognitions for their efforts in making a better community from the Middletown Community Foundation during its annual meeting Thursday, Nov. 5 at the Manchester Inn and Conference Center.

Phillips was the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award, which is presented to caring people between the ages of 30 to 50 who give generously of their time.

Phillips, who is the nursing director for the Middletown Health Department, continues to be involved in many organizations and events such as the Bethel AME Church and the Middletown NAACP.

She also is involved in many professional and community boards and has been involved with the United Way’s place matters initiative at Douglass Park.

“I was stunned when I was told about this,” she said. “I felt unworthy of the award and started thinking about all of the people who helped me.”

“It’s an honor to receive this,” Phillips said. “It’s so cool ... I was really surprised. I’m humbled but very honored.”

Nein said she really appreciated receiving the 2009 Mary Jane Palmer Nunlist I Love Middletown Award because the namesake was a very good friend of hers.

“She loved this community and so do I,” Nein said. “Middletown is a name. But it’s the people that make the town and make the town great ... I appreciate this so much.

Nein has been active in the community since her family moved to Middletown in 1956. She has served as the first woman president of the Middletown-Monroe Board of Education and has been active in many community organizations over the years.

Last year, Schaeffer presented the first Roland P. Ely Jr. President’s Award to the award’s namesake.

However, it was Ely’s turn to recognize Schaeffer for his work during the foundation’s early years.

Ely praised Schaeffer’s work in the community with various organizations, his service on the school board as well as his professional accomplishments as a former chairman of Clark, Schaeffer, Hackett & Co., were recognized as well as his work in helping to form the foundation as an independent organization.

“I was completely surprised,” Schaeffer said. “I’m honored to have received an award especially one named after Ron Ely.”

“I think everyone owes something back to the community where they live, work and play in,” he said. “I’ve always encouraged young people to take part in the community.”

Three people were elected to the foundation’s board of directors, Kee Edwards, Cathie Mulligan and Michael Wallner. Four others were re-elected to new terms on the board, Doug Bean, Dr. Bob Flagel, Judge Noah Powers and Mary Deas Wortley.

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