The gala included dinner and the celebration as we honored people and businesses who exemplify our mission of Fairfield DD. This year we will encouraged you to Think Differently as we learn more about our community. Our special guest will be, Comedian Derrick Tennant.

Award Winners
Early Literacy Center, Northwest Branch of the Fairfield County District Library
Lancaster-Fairfield County Charity Newsies
Diane Kaufman
Fairfield County Commissioners
Legacy Award: Sally Grimm
Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Edwin Payne

After a 2 year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Celebration returned to a new location at the Wigwam Event Center in Pickerington. The night included honoring the award winners as well as entertainment from Comedian Josh Blue.

Award Winners
Kiwanis Club of Lancaster
Ashley Osei
Angela Seimer
Bob and Cathy Jumper
Connexion West

Legacy award, named for John Pekar that night, winners included
John Pekar
Terry McGee

The Eleventh Annual Celebration of Possibilities entertained a sold-out crowd March 28th and focused on the fact that we are all the stars of our own stories.

Those in attendance were entertained by Comedian Zach Anner as he co-hosted the event with Superintendent John Pekar. Anner, who first performed at the Celebration in 2017, is a celebrated author, writer, YouTube personality and guest star of ABC’s sitcom Speechless.

AWARD WINNERS
TrueFit Athletics
Logan’s Roadhouse Pickerington
Adam & Christy Ward
Lancaster Parks & Recreation
Lancaster High School Freshman Football Team
Brad Hutchinson
Legacy Award Winner: John Bosser

The Tenth Annual Celebration of Possibilities was quite simply, amazing and, once again, filled the Crossroads Event Center auditorium with more than 425 guests.

In between awards, guests also were treated to  a glimpse into the past ten years, along with some comedic moments with a living statue, (Mark Abbati). Renown celebrity hypnotist Ricky Kalmon entertained the crowd while proving the power every person has to use their mind to achieve their goals.

Unique this year was the presence of dozens of youth at the event. Among the award winners were over 100 teens from Pickerington High School Key Clubs and the football team from Fairfield Christian Academy.

The evening finished with the debut of house band Bad Influence’s music video to their original song, Celebrate Your Soul.

AWARD WINNERS
John Verhovec of Steak 'n Shake Pickerington
ServiceMASTER by George
Fairfield Christian Academy Football Team
Pickerington North, Pickerington Central High School Key Clubs
Tim Derflinger
Michelle Dexter
Legacy Award Winner Gloria Oesterling,

Community members came together for the Celebration on March 20, 2017 at the Crossroads Event Center. Along with the awards, Comedian Zach Anner entertained.

AWARD WINNERS
Peggy McDevitt
Cinemark Theater in Lancaster
Janet Rankin Cooper
Amy Ball and Pam Armstrong
Richard Reveal
Mark Giesler
Legacy Award: Lancaster Rotary

This award is presented to an individual served by Fairfield DD who exemplifies the concepts of self-determination through personal, academic or developmental achievement by exceeding the goals he/she has set. The award is dedicated to the memory of Deanna Kirwin, the first person in the state of Ohio to start her own business with a microenterprise grant.

2016 Award Winner: Elizabeth Burgoon
2015 Award Winner: Ryan Barber
2014 Award Winner: Janna Wicks
2013 Award Winner: Brandon Booth 2012 Award Winner: Trent Glaze
2011 Award Winner: Bob McMaster 2010 Award Winner: Derek Upp 2009 Award Winner: Ben Walters

This award is presented to a person who regularly volunteers at Fairfield DD and goes above and beyond his or her duties to provide exemplary benefits to the individuals we serve, our staff, and our stakeholders. The award is dedicated to the memory of Goldie Fields, who was a long-time volunteer at Forest Rose School. Her unrelenting spirit and positive attitude was felt at the school until her death in 2008.

Award Winners
2016: Priscilla Fitzsimmons
2015: Jackie Marion & Trish Jones
2014: Missing Link Motorcycle Club
2013: Jim Henderly
2012: AC Equines 4-H Club
2011: Adam Nowocin
2010: Blue Shoe Arts Volunteers
2009: Judy Hug

This award is given to a person or family that has gone above and beyond the norm to help promote awareness or provide services to children or adults with developmental disabilities in Fairfield County. The award is dedicated to the memory of the Hartung family. Beginning in the mid-1950s, Art and Wilma Hartung were instrumental in organizing services for children and adults with developmental disabilities in Fairfield County. Mr. Hartung died in 1971, Mrs. Hartung died in 2008, and their son Tommy passed away in 2009.

Award Winners
2016: Julie Bruckelmeyer
2015: Anita Birk
2014: Dave Macioci
2013: John and Paula Clark
2012: Rockmill Rehabilitation Centre
2011: Pam Simmons-Bontrager
2010: Marvene Blume, June Hoy & Jean Miller-Kennedy
2009: Diane Bresler

This award is presented to a staff member from Fairfield DD, a service provider, or a school district within the county who serves individuals with developmental disabilities and embodies our vision and mission, especially when that person's support goes above and beyond the norm to promote the ideals of community acceptance.

Award Winners:
2016: Kathy Boyer
2015 : James Armstrong, III
2014: John Wagner
2013: Terri Garrett
2012: Kathy Dennison
2011: Missy McCready
2010: Matt Haban
2009: Kim and John Conrad

This award is presented to a Fairfield County business or service organization that embraces the concepts of inclusion and self-determination, and displays that commitment through innovation.

Award Winners
2016: Kroger Marketplace - Pickerington
2015: Elder-Beerman
2014: River Valley Mall, Glimcher Properties
2013: The Weeders Master Gardeners
2012: SMART Team
2011: Lancaster Kiwanis Club (Tony Fortkamp) and Southeastern Center for Independent Living (Linda McDonald)
2010: Project SEARCH Partners: Fairfield Medical Center, Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools and the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission
2009: Ohio University-Lancaster and Allen's Lancaster Greenhouse and Nursery

This award is presented to an individual who represents a business or service organization in Fairfield County who, through his/her work with that business or organization, does the most to carry out the mission of Fairfield DD through his or her commitment to the individuals we support, Fairfield DD staff, other stakeholders and the Fairfield County Community at large.

Award Winners:
2016: Jennifer Capretta, Stephanie Miller
2015: John Hammond
2014: Rob and Dawn McDonald
2013: Jeff Whitehead
2012: Art Brate and Bob Sulick
2011: Greg Russell
2010: Tammi and Joe Neighbor
2009: Brad Frakowski

This award is given to an individual, business, or organization whose actions make a significant difference in the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and enhance the quality of life in Fairfield County, and who may or may not fit within the descriptors of the other award categories. In 2010, the award was named in honor of the McGhee family, who have always held services to individuals with developmental disabilities close to their hearts, beginning with the late Clark McGhee, an early Fairfield DD Board member, and continuing with his children, Terry McGhee, president and CEO of Westerman Companies, and Sally Grimm, who retired after 31 years as an educational assistant at Forest Rose School.

Award Winners
2016: Tessie Swain
2015: Janie Heston
2014: Fairfield Medical Center, Autism Camp and Cody Sarensen 2013: Miles of Smiles
2012: Steve Rauch
2011: Gary Barstow
2010: The McGhee Family and Jimmy Cordle
2009: The Brick Family