Community Service Award nominees represent all that’s great about Mason County.

Community Service Award nominees represent all that’s great about Mason County.

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — There are six nominees for the 2017 Ludington & Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award, which will be awarded during the chamber’s annual dinner on Saturday, May 5 at Lincoln Hills Golf Club in Hamlin Township.

The nominees include Duane and Susanne Tyndall, Gary Anderson, Dr. Michelle Kuster, Phil and Becky Riggs, Sawyer Hendrickson, and Tara Autrey, Carrie Brandt and Sara Ewing. The nominations are made by community members and the recipient is chosen by the chamber board. 

Duane and Susanne Tyndall live in Hamlin Township and were nominated because of their involvement in organizing the annual Area 24 Special Olympics golf outing held at Lakeside Links. In the seven years at least $80,000 has been raised.

Gary Anderson of Amber Township is a retired teacher from Mason County Central Public Schools but is still involved with teaching students and mentoring teachers at the West Shore Educational Service District, Gateway to Success Academy and West Shore Community College. He has been involved with the MCC Education Foundation since 1994 and since 1995 has been one of the leading organizers of the annual Scottville Community Auction, which raises money for the education foundation and the chamber. The auction has raised over $500,000. Anderson has also been involved with organizing the Lakestride running event since 1981. He also serves the community as a leader of Mason County Reformed Church and the Quality Deer Management Association.

Dr. Michelle Kuster of Ludington is the founder and president of Connexion Point, a local non-profit company started in 2017 to help fight drug addiction. Connexion Point serves 48 patients. Kuster also owns All Access Care that provides medical care to the employees of several local industries.

Phil and Becky Riggs are leaders in the Lake Shore Pyrate Heads group that raises funds for a variety of local causes. The group is especially active in the effort to raise funds to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, along with Toys for Tots, Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign, and various food drives. They also donate their time, dressing as pirates, to read to local children at Sandcastle’s Chlidren’s Museum and the local libraries.

Sawyer Hendrickson of Ludington is 8-years-old, but in her short life she has done a lot to help soldiers in the military. In 2016 she and her brother, Corporal Kylar Hendrickson, US Marine Corps, started Scouts for Soldiers, a way for her to remember Kylar and all other soldiers. She, along with her mother, Heather Hendrickson, formed Kids With a Cause that sends care packages to active military members. In 2017 she shipped over 10,000 various packages during the holidays to 46 bases in seven countries. Sawyer also is involved in volunteering with Ludrock, Girls Rock, Gus Macker, Ludington Optimist and several other organizations.

Tara Autrey, Sara Ewin, and Carrie Brandt, all of Pere Marquette Township, volunteer in children’s classrooms, PTC events, book fairs, teacher appreciation events and classroom parties. The three met with principals in the Ludington Area School District and partnered with Lakeshore Food Club to form Lakeshore Food 4 Kids, which orders food for breakfast and lunch to send home with children on the weekends.

Tickets for the dinner are available by calling the Chamber at 231-845-0324.