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On May 26, 2020, The Piqua Community Foundation presented two local volunteers with the Margaret W. Hinsch and Scott J. Hinsch Community Service Awards. Jim Robinson, a volunteer for the Piqua Area Chamber Foundation, and Catherine “Cathy” Large, a volunteer for the Bethany Center, received the awards in surprise presentations at their respective volunteer locations.

The recipients received an engraved glass plaque to commemorate the occasion, and each nominating nonprofit agency received a $1,000 unrestricted grant from the Hinsch Family Fund of The Piqua Community Foundation, in recognition of that outstanding volunteer.

John Hinsch, son of the late Margaret and Scott Hinsch, joined the presentations in honor of his parents, and their legacy of service to the Piqua community. He also represented his wife, Marsha, and his sister, Dr. Linda Hinsch Campbell, who were unable to attend the presentations.

The Hinsch awards are offered annually to one male and one female volunteer. The awards are unique because the honorees are selected based on activities done on behalf of one organization during one specific calendar year, in this case 2019. The presentations are typically held during a regularly scheduled event but were organized as surprise drop-ins due to public gathering regulations currently in place.

Cathy Large of The Bethany Center (pictured above) was awarded the Margaret W. Hinsch Award. With Cathy are Piqua Community Foundation incoming executive director, Michelle Perry, retiring executive director, Karen Wendeln, John Hinsch, Cathy Large, Wilma Earls and Jim Stammen of The Bethany Center. Thanks to Mike Ullery for sharing the photograph.

Wilma Earls, director of the Bethany Center, nominated Large for the award as she offered leadership to the organization during Earls’ medical leave last year. The Bethany Center serves the community by offering free lunches, food and clothing banks and other services.

“In an organization like this one, it is so important to have someone who can take over the reins if something happens to the director, and the Bethany Center is now sure that Cathy could do that because she has,” Earls wrote in her nomination form. “She gives stability to the organization moving forward, which is a comfort to donors and those served.”

Kathy Sherman, president of the Piqua Area Chamber Foundation, nominated Jim Robinson for the Scott J. Hinsch Award for his tireless effort to keep the grounds of Veterans’ Memorial Park, at the intersection of Washington Avenue and State Route 66, adjacent to Forest Hill Cemetery.

Sherman wrote in her nomination form that Robinson “painstakingly goes around the entire monument” weeding, pruning and cleaning.

“The monument is one of the most beautiful sites to behold in the City of Piqua and is a wonderful entrance into our fine city,” Sherman wrote. “It truly is a testament to Jim’s desire to have this site remain a place of honor due to his hard work and back-breaking volunteer hours that we can say that we, as citizens of our community, have a wonderful memorial to pay tribute to our veterans all because of this amazing individual and wonderful volunteer.”

To watch livestream videos from the awards presentations, visit the Piqua Community Foundation-Cakes for a Cause Facebook page or click HERE for Jim’s or HERE for Cathy’s. For more information about the Piqua Community Foundation and the Margaret W. Hinsch and Scott J. Hinsch Community Service Awards, click HERE.

Jim Robinson received the Scott J. Hinsch Community Service Award at the city’s Veterans’ Memorial. Pictured, left to right, are The Foundation’s incoming executive director, Michelle Perry, retiring executive director, Karen Wendeln, Jim Robinson, John Hinsch, and Piqua Area Chamber Foundation executive Kathy Sherman. Thanks to Mike Ullery for sharing the photograph.