The Lions Club in New York has honored Vincentian community advocate Ava George, bestowing on her the Alexander T. Wells Distinguished Service Award for dedicated humanitarian service.
George, a chaplain of the Brooklyn Kings County Lions Club, received the award at the club’s recent meeting at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in Brooklyn.
“I was really pleased and proud when I was called to receive the award,” said George, a Girls High School and St. Vincent Technical College alumna, in a Caribbean Life interview.
“I always wanted to help people in the community, and this award suggests that I have succeeded,” she added. “I am sincerely honored by this recognition and look forward to continually working in the community.”
The Alexander T. Wells Distinguish Service Award is named for Alexander T. Wells, the 2nd International President of Lions Clubs International from Multiple-20 New York State and Bermuda, and Long Island City, Queens, New York.
The Queens-based Lions District 20-K1 Foundation said that since the creation of the award program, it has been able to meet humanitarian needs in communities in Brooklyn and Queens in its district.
The contributions received through the awards program help the foundation provide matching funds to Lions clubs in the district for several community needs related to humanitarian, vocational assistance and emergencies.
Deborah Harrison, president of the Lions District 20-K1 Foundation, told George, in a letter accompanying the award, that her organization is able to furnish grants through “the generous support of recipients like you.”
“You should take pride in knowing you will impact so many lives, both in your immediate community, as well as across Brooklyn and Queens,” Harrison said.
“As an Alexander T. Wells recipient, your name has been added to the list of individuals who have been presented with this award,” she added. “Wear your Alexander T. Wells Medal with pride, as it represents your dedication to humanitarian service in the highest degree.”
George, who migrated to New York in 1986, began working with New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) three years later. This year represents 27 years since working with DEP.
She has been a shop steward for her union, Community Workers of America Local 1180, for many years, and serves on several committees.
Besides being very active in her Lions Club, George is also an active member of the Brooklyn District Grand Lodge #1, holding the positon of Deputy Matron.
Additionally, she is a member of the Diehard Exercise Crew of Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Community Coordinating Committee.
She worships at John Wesley United Methodist Church in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, where she sings in the choir and is chairperson of the Women’s Day Committee.
George studied office technology at New York City Technical College, graduating with honors in 1992, with an associate degree.
She enjoys traveling, dancing and meeting people and describes herself as “a social butterfly.”
