Langendorf and Bruggeman Honored by Middletown Community Foundation
Two longtime Middletown-area volunteers will be recognized next week by the Middletown Community Foundation for their efforts in bettering the community.
Ginger Bruggeman has been selected as this year’s Mary Jane Palmer-Nunlist “I Love Middletown” Award winner, while Maria Langendorf has been chosen as the Mary Maurer Volunteer of the Year. The honors will be handed out at the Community Foundation’s Annual Meeting Thursday, Nov. 4, at the Manchester Inn.
Family and friends of the late community cheerleader Palmer-Nunlist, founder and owner of Palmer Temps, created the “I Love Middletown” Award in her memory following her death from cancer in December 2007. “Unsung heroes” who make significant contributions to Middletown’s quality of life but generally are not publicly recognized for their efforts are eligible for the honor. It was first presented in 2008 to the Grandpa Gang that maintains Light Up Middletown and last year to Betty Lou Nein.
The Volunteer of the Year Award was created by Monroe resident Maurer in 1997 to honor the greater Middletown area’s younger generation of volunteers who have led successful non-fundraising volunteer projects, had a long history of volunteer service or shown particular courage and determination in a subject area.
Both honorees were nominated by members of the public and selected by committees appointed by the Community Foundation
Bruggeman works as senior associate of development at the United Way of Greater Cincinnati – Middletown Area, but her impact on the community far exceeds that role, explained Community Foundation Executive Director T. Duane Gordon.
“Ginger’s nominator recalled when city employee Jabin Lakes tragically died on the job earlier this year and three firefighters were injured coming to his aid, she took it upon herself to gather volunteers and food to organize a relief station for the other firefighters and the families of those involved in the accident,” he noted. “The nominator pointed out, ‘Who else would have 50 pounds of spaghetti sauce in their freezer ready to go in an emergency?’”
A Fenwick High School graudate, Bruggeman is married to husband David and has two sons and seven grandchildren. She is a member of Soroptimist International of Middletown and serves on the Diabetic Wellness Advisory Board as well as the boards of the women’s health charity WHIMS and fund-raisers group Butler County Development Roundtable (BCDR). She is a past president of Middletown’s International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) and has served on the Principal Advisory Board and Alumni Board at Fenwick. In addition, she has served on the Holy Family Parish Council and boards for Room for a Change and Quality Care for Fidelity Health.
She volunteers each year at the MidFirst Ohio Challenge balloon event, serving as its chair in 2005 and its pilot coordinator for the past several years. Other volunteer work has included Fenwick Festival, Middletown Symphony Guest Conductor Auction committees, charity golf outings, winter coat drives, cell phone collection for the Butler County Sheriff’s Office to be given to domestic violence victims and gathering supplies for Dove House abused family shelter.
Langendorf is employed as community relations manager at the Middletown Public Library, but Gordon noted that she is better known to most in town through her many community activities.
“Maria’s nominator praised her volunteer ethic in recommending her for the award,” he added. “The committee particularly liked the paragraph: ‘When someone needs a hand, they know Maria will either help herself or aim them in the proper direction to find help. She is known for showing up to do the dirty work and usually brings along her husband and children – all good volunteers.’”
Since 2005, Langendorf has produced and hosted the weekly community spotlight “Eight Minutes in Middletown” on TV Middletown. In 2008 and 2009, she chaired the MidFirst Ohio Challenge balloon festival and has also chaired Middletown GreekFest. She has served on the boards of the Art Central Foundation, Middletown Miami Alumni Association, Middletown Convention and Visitors Bureau, PRIDE in Middletown and Women Living United.
Other volunteer work has included MiddFest, the Middletown City Employees Association, BCDR, Middletown Area United Way Success by 6 Committee and the Crystal Apple and Scholarship Selection Committees of the Community Foundation.
She and her husband, Jim, have two children, Carrie and Michael, in Miller Ridge Elementary School.
Last year, the award was presented to Jackie Phillips. Past winners are Larry Mulligan Jr., Debbie Ferguson, Lee Hartman, Rod Nimtz, Karl Gaston, Dave Pearce, Shawna Shouse, Debbie Grant, Saundra Pearce, Kip Moore, Sue Rogers and Suzi Rubin.
Also to be announced at the Community Foundation’s Annual Meeting will be the recipient of the Roland P. Ely Jr. President’s Award, the identity of whom remains secret – even from the honoree – until it is revealed during the ceremony. That award, recognizing the impact that individuals had on the early development of the Community Foundation, was presented in2008 to Ely and last year to Bill Schaefer.
The Annual Meeting, which begins with a cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m. followed by the program at 6:30 p.m., is a members-only event, and reservations are required. To make a reservation or inquire about becoming a member, call 513-424-7369.
