Oldsmar names its Citizen of the Year | Community Spirit

The Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce named it's Citizen of the Year at an awards luncheon on May 11 at the Tampa Bay Downs.  Chamber Board member Sandie Grimes, Stahl and Assocaites presented in part using these comments to keep the winner in suspense.

In reviewing the resume of the Oldsmar Citizen of the Year recipient we took the time to look at the definition of community.  The primary definition is “a unified body of individuals”. 

Some of the additional clarifying definitions include the phrases “people with common interests living in a particular area”, “an interacting population of various kinds of people”, and “a group linked by a common purpose”.  You can hear the thread – unified, interacting, common purpose. 

Our award winner this year and the group he leads year could hardly better exemplify these traits.  These are the traits that are the cornerstone of every unit of a functioning society from the family level, through our neighborhoods and extending even to national cultures.  The human response to the recent spate of natural disasters in Japan and in our own backyard give witness to the this.  To help may be in our DNA but to organize and focus that assistance takes leadership.

We try and build some mystery into our awards but this particular resume has a history worthy of recounting that will give away the recipient.  However, knowing the recipient he will humbly and modestly refuse to take personal credit for these accomplishments and will cite the example of unity of purpose and the efforts of many through the years to make the organization he leads what it is has become.  And of course he is absolutely correct.  But this history of community building is worthy of reflection.

In 1997 Dr. Sharon Patch, then pastor of Oldsmar Community United Methodist Church, started an organization she called “Oldsmar Cares”.  She did so after prayerful reflection on the needs of Oldsmar families and consultation with other Oldsmar pastors.  The mission was simple and direct – assist Oldsmar residents in need.  That included food, clothing, rent and financial assistance as required.

That mission grew and in 2002 based on a challenge from one of the Adult Sunday School Teachers to do something for the community and our recipient was part of a group of people that began a free children's clothes closet.  The closet grew in size and scope to encompass household linens, clothing for all ages and toys and books for kids.  In 2008 with the economy in a tailspin the food pantry was growing bare and Oldsmar Cares got back in gear to have the closet fully stocked by the holidays.

In 2009 a decision was made to formalize Oldsmar Cares as a separate non-profit charitable organization.  Our recipient was elected Chairman of that organization and remains in that position today.  Now you will often can see our recipient around town helping to organize food drives with the schools, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Neighborhood Organizations; presenting to organizations and businesses requesting information about Oldsmar Cares making it a real force within our community.

It is my honor and pleasure to present the 2011 Oldsmar Citizen of the Year Award to Mike McKnight Chairman Oldsmar Cares, Inc.