We recognize more who make a difference
Be careful what you ask for is a cliche, no doubt. But sometimes it’s also sage advice.
In 2010, the Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board began asking readers to submit nominations to help us in our annual ritual of choosing a Central Floridian of the Year. You responded, that year and every year since then, making our selection process better — and making it harder.
Better, because we’re less likely to overlook someone doing extraordinary good in our community but operating outside the spotlight.
Harder, because it means we have many more worthy candidates to consider than we could come up with on our own.
Our choice for 2017, Dave Green, led an extraordinary effort last year utilizing tens of thousands of volunteers to send 4.4 million meals to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria hammered the island. Reporter Kate Santich recounts Green’s remarkable personal and professional story in today’s profile.
Our four other finalists for 2017 are also exemplary leaders and key contributors to making life in Central Florida better. But so are dozens more men and women nominated by our readers. There’s not enough space in this column to name and detail the accomplishments of all of them, but here are a few of our region’s leading lights who shined especially bright in 2017.
Coach led the University of Central Florida’s college football team to an exhilarating and historic undefeated season, topped by a stunning upset in the Peach Bowl of Auburn University. UCF linebacker shattered stereotypes about disabilities and inspired his teammates and fans everywhere by anchoring the Knights’ defense despite missing a hand.
The Orlando Magic, by contrast, are struggling through another disappointing season, but CEO
has been a role model for community service for his team and all Central Floridians, serving in voluntary leadership roles for multiple organizations. Between Martins and other team executives, the Magic are represented on more than 50 local boards.
In 2017, the critically acclaimed independent movie “The Florida Project” presented an eye-opening and heart-rending story about the plight of working poor families in Central Florida. As the executive director of United Against Poverty Orlando, leads an organization serving more than 500 of these families a day, offering them discount-priced groceries and other tools to lift themselves to self-sufficiency. directs The Mustard Seed of Central Florida, which provides clothing and donated household furnishings to help individuals and families who have suffered through disasters or tragedies get back on their feet.
Several 2017 nominees are following in the footsteps of 2010 Central Floridian of the Year Michael Dippy, 2015 winner Andrae Bailey and one of this year’s finalists, Jacqueline Dowd, in serving the poor and homeless:
who feed and care for the homeless in Pine Hills;
head of the Orlando Union Rescue Mission; and
whose 7th Day Recyclery ministry of Markham Woods Church of Seventh Day Adventists repairs bicycles for the poor.
Other nominees remind us that Mother Nature accounts for much of what makes Central Florida special. They include founder of Friends of Lake Apopka, who has worked for decades to restore one of the region’s most precious environmental assets. And
a retired Orange County agricultural extension agent and longtime Sentinel columnist, who has generously shared his knowledge about landscaping and gardening with generations of Central Floridians.
Every year our nominations include top elected or appointed officials. We’re reluctant to name anyone from this group as a winner or finalist as long as the official is still in office because our bestowing an honor might leave the false impression that we’re backing away from our responsibility as watchdogs over them and every other public official. But
the superintendent of Orange County Public Schools, is worth at least an honorable mention for 2017 for several awards she earned, including Florida Superintendent of the Year.