Geneva Rotarian Receives Award

Geneva Rotarian Ray Ciancaglini was honored recently with a special Rotary award presented by District 7120 Governor Ralph Brandt.

Noting that it was the first such award given out in District 7120, Brandt presented Ciancaglini with the Avenues of Service Award in Community Service at the club’s Jan.18 meeting at Dana’s Time Out Restaurant.

The Avenues of Service Award recognizes individual Rotarians and Rotaractors who have received recognition in all five Avenues of Service: Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, International Service, and Youth Service.

Ciancaglini recently organized two very successful fund-raising dinners to benefit the Geneva Volunteer Fire Department and the Geneva Police Department. The events raised $10,000 for the fire department and $16,000 for the police department.

Ciancaglini is well known in Geneva as a former professional boxer who founded The Second Impact organization. He has been battling Parkinson’s Syndrome and Dementia Pugilistica for many years as a direct result of numerous untreated concussions he suffered during his boxing career. He started The Second Impact organization to tell his story of the mistakes he made by not properly addressing concussions and the lifelong consequences he suffered as a result. The organization’s goal is to raise awareness, offer support and encourage honesty about concussion symptoms.

Ciancaglini also has received the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow honor for outstanding community service. Other community service activities that Ciancaglini and his Second Impact have taken part in include the Honor Your Role Model Night last summer at McDonough Park in Geneva and fundraising for special needs children’s organizations.

In nominating Ciancaglini for the award, club President Gerald Forcier noted that his efforts “are nothing short of spectacular.” Rotarian John Oughterson assisted Forcier with the nomination.

The certificate presented to Ciancaglini notes that Rotary International recognizes him “with deep appreciation for outstanding efforts in Community Service” and is signed by District Governor Brandt.

Ciancaglini and The Second Impact plan to continue the fund-raising for the police and firemen with an annual combined event on the first Friday in November.

Rotary International is composed of 1.2 million men and women around the world who donate their expertise, time, and funds to support local and international projects that help people in need and promote understanding among cultures. If you are interested in serving your community in a new way and are interested in becoming a Geneva Rotarian, please contact [email protected] for more information or visit us on our website at www.genevarotaryclub.org. Geneva Rotary meets every Wednesday at noon at Dana’s Time Out Restaurant.