Lewiston Kiwanis recognizes club leaders

Submitted by the Kiwanis Club of Lewiston

The Lewiston Kiwanis recently held its annual awards dinner and named the Kiwanian of the Year for 2023.

The KOY award is one of the most prestigious honors the club can bestow upon one of its own. Brian Majerski was this year’s recipient, due to his commitment to the Kiwanis and our community. Majerski has chaired the annual John Coulter Memorial Easter Egg Hunt at Kiwanis Park, organizes the yearly Peach Festival clothing sales for club members, and co-chaired the Peach Festival hospitality tent. Majerski regularly attends club meeting and is available to assist in Kiwanis events throughout the year.

The Lewiston Kiwanis awarded the Brittany Fellowship Award to Jan Matthews. This award recognizes a member who continuously supports the Kiwanis mission to “strive to improve the world, one child and one community at a time.” Matthews co-chaired an event that supported UNICEF’s efforts to globally administer vaccines and promote clean delivery methods and best practices for umbilical cord care. She also raised money to benefit Oishei Children’s Hospital. Matthews has been the board of director liaison to the Lew-Port Key Club and has been very active with the Lewiston-Porter and St. Peter’s communities.

The Sebastian “Buster” Lombardi Award is presented to an individual who is an outstanding partner to the Lewiston Community. Robert Burns is this year’s recipient. Burns, who is the owner of many local Tim Hortons restaurants, has been a Kiwanis member and Peach Festival partner for many years. All money raised from Tim Hortons coffee and doughnut sales at the Peach Festival are donated back by Burns to the Lewiston Kiwanis. He also makes regular donations to Community Missions of Niagara, and Heart, Love & Soul, local police and fire departments, Niagara Falls Firefighters Christmas Toy Fund and the Variety Club Telethon.

Ricardo Flores was the winner of the Kaiser Award, which recognizes donations to the Kiwanis Foundation. The foundation supports Kamp Kiwanis, a sleep-over camp for underprivileged children and adults living with disabilities. The foundation also supports scholarships and disaster relief. Two anonymous $1,000 donations were made in the name of Rick and, in return, he was presented with a Kaiser Award, as well as a Level 1 Diamond Kaiser award.

The Lewiston Kiwanis thanks and congratulates, Brian, Jan, Bob and Rick for all they do for our wonderful Lewiston community.

Brittany Fellowship Award winner Jan Matthews.

The Sebastian “Buster” Lombardi Award winner, Robert Burns.

Presenter Dean Beltrano, left, with Kaiser Award recipient Ricardo Flores.