| The Alexander Macomb Citizens of the Year Awards Dinner Executive Committee chose to honor the memory of the late Donna Greco Issa by renaming an award after her. The Family of the Year Award will now be named the Donna Greco Issa Family of the Year Award. At the kick-off for this year’s event, Tuesday, May 20 at Gowanie Golf Club, volunteers voted for the change in the name of the award. This year’s chairpeople: Angie D’Aleo Morelli of Fraser, Sam Cupp of Rochester, and Guy Rizzo of Clinton Township, joined Tony Viviano of Washington and Mitch Kehetian of Allen Park in the announcement. Viviano and Kehetian have been involved in this event for 18 and 20 years respectively.
Donna was a great supporter of the March of Dimes, the Alexander Macomb Citizens of the Year Awards Dinner, and her community. She was also incredibly dedicated to her family. This is why the committee chose to honor her in this way. Donna and her brother, Phil, had been given this award in 2000. Donna was incredibly moved. She was known to say that she would be nothing without the support of her family and that’s why she loved this award particularly.
Donna passed away suddenly on March 27, 2003. It was a shock to everyone that knew her. And there was nothing more fitting that could have been done than to name the Family of the Year award after her because she exemplified all of the qualities of a perfect recipient.
The Switalski Family will be the first recipients of the newly named award. The three sons live in the area. Mickey is a state senator. While brothers Mark and Matt are circuit court judges. They all serve their communities through civil service as well as charitable giving to many local organizations.
Ms. Greco Issa was a longtime volunteer of the March of Dimes, Board of Directors member, and incredibly active member of the Citizens of the Year Awards Dinner Executive Committee. She was also named 2002 Volunteer of the Year for the March of Dimes because she was always there to help when babies needed her – no matter what was asked of her.
Donna had worked extensively on the raffle for the Citizens of the Year Awards Dinner and her family, friends, and colleagues are carrying on this tradition of hers without her this year. Donna had spoken to many of her dear friends about her plans for doing things one step better than had been done in the past. And niece, Christina Greco, believes that her Aunt Donna is looking down at their efforts on her behalf to benefit the March of Dimes and saying, “I taught you well.”
Other honorees this year include Dana Camphous Peterson as Woman of the Year and Reverend Father Demetrios Kavadas as Man of the Year. This year’s event will take place at Fern Hill Country Club Wednesday, September 24.
The March of Dimes mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Currently, the March of Dimes has entered a new Prematurity campaign. This five-year, $75 million dollar research, awareness and education campaign is aimed to help families have healthier babies.
For tickets to the event or the raffle, please call the March of Dimes office at 248-359-1550. For more information about the March of Dimes: www.marchofdimes.com/michigan.
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