SANDUSKY, Ohio — Five Sandusky residents have been named the city’s Volunteers of the Year for work that ranges from coaching youth sports and promoting early literacy to supporting community events and caring for local parks. Mark Fogg, Anne McGookey, Jeff Corso, Diane Corso and John Schlessman received the honors at the Sandusky City Commission meeting on Monday, Oct. 26, according to the city’s announcement, which was posted Tuesday and reported by Firelands Current.
The awards recognize years of unpaid service in the Erie County city on Lake Erie, rather than a single project. According to the city announcement cited by Firelands Current, the five honorees were chosen for sustained work with schools, churches, charities, civic groups and neighborhood efforts that residents encounter throughout the year, from ballfields and reading programs to holiday events and park projects.
Fogg was recognized for service that includes youth coaching, work with the Sandusky Lions Club, and church and school activities, the city said in its announcement, as reported by Firelands Current. McGookey was honored in part for coordinating Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Erie County, a program that puts books in the hands of young children, and for volunteering with other service and charitable organizations in the community.
Jeff and Diane Corso were recognized together for helping with the Sandusky Christmas Market and the Facer Park Adoption Project, according to the city. Their service, as described in the announcement reported by Firelands Current, also includes school, civic and community activities — the kind of behind-the-scenes help that keeps seasonal events running and public spaces cared for in Sandusky.
Schlessman’s honor carries a family story. He and his wife, Lori, co-founded Al’s Clinics in memory of their son, Alan, the city said. According to the city announcement cited by Firelands Current, the volunteer organization has supported Sandusky-area young people since 2003 by helping with lessons, camp fees, athletic equipment and scholarships, turning a family’s loss into ongoing support for other local families.
The Volunteer of the Year awards are a relatively recent Sandusky tradition. Commissioner Dave Waddington established the awards in 2021, according to the city, and the City Commission selects the recipients from nominations submitted by residents and community organizations. That nomination process means the honorees are put forward by the neighbors, coaches, parents and groups who have seen their work up close.
For residents, the recognition is a reminder of how much of Sandusky’s everyday life depends on volunteers — the coach who shows up for practice, the coordinator who keeps books reaching toddlers, the couple who helps dress a park and a Christmas market for the season, and the family that has spent more than two decades helping local children take part in activities they might otherwise miss. The city announced the five honorees this week as this year’s examples of that work.
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0