Chamber of Commerce: Citizen of the Year award winners announced

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has announced the 2012 Citizen of the Year Awardees.

•Community Service Person of the Year: Francine McMahon

•Athletic Persons of the Year: Jeff and Gregg Richard

•Organization of the Year: One Island, One Team, One Dream, To Be Drug Free

•Service to the Youth: Young Life

•Business of the Year: Dick & Jenny's Bake & Brew

•Educator of the Year: Bruce Benson

These citizens, organizations and businesses will be recognized at the Citizen of the Year awards ceremony on Thursday, April 26, at the Holiday Inn Grand Island. They have been chosen because of their contributions of time, energy and service to the community, which has made Grand Island a better place to live, work and play.

This year's master of ceremonies will be Phil Buchanan, former WBEN Channel 4 news director, writer, editor and reporter. Buchanan has lived on Grand Island for 48 years and is a partner of Buchanan-Eichel Homes Inc.

Tickets for the dinner are available at the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce office, 2257 Grand Island Blvd. Adult tickets are $45 and a child, 12 years or younger is $18.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce thanked the local businesses that have sponsored this event. Platinum sponsors to date include the Holiday Inn Grand Island and Niagara Frontier Publications (Island Dispatch/Grand Island Pennysaver, Lewiston-Porter Sentinel and Niagara-Wheatfield Tribune). Gold sponsors to date include First Niagara Bank, KeyBank and Life Technologies. The silver sponsor to date is Toshiba Business Solutions. Bronze sponsors to date include Elderwood Health Care at Riverwood, Sam Long's Landscaping and Excavation, JM Refrigeration Heating and Air Conditioning, Grand Lady Cruises, Creative Leather Concepts and Island Ship Center, Rhino-Tees Custom Apparel and Sports Complex, Tops Friendly Markets, SNAP Fitness, Aceti's Wine and Spirits, Liz Wilbert and Realty USA, and the Grand Island Rotary Club.

A program booklet is being put together by the chamber for distribution the evening of the ceremony. Those interested in placing an ad or sending congratulations to this year's recipients may call 773-3651 by April 13 for more information.