LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Wally & Irene Bronner, Bronner's
CHRISTmas Wonderland, Frankenmuth, MI
Irene and Wally Bronner, Bronner's CHRISTmas
Wonderland, proclaiming to their millions of visitors:
"Enjoy CHRISTmas, It's His Birthday; Enjoy Life, It's His
way!"
By means of this very exclusive Lifetime Achievement
Award, the St. Nicholas Institute is pleased to recognize two
wonderful individuals whose personal lives have dramatically personified
the Christmas Spirit to an extraordinary degree over the span of many
decades; thereby inspiring others to share in the same peace, joy and hope
that the angels proclaimed on that very first Christmas.
This
year's Lifetime Achievement recipients are Wally & Irene
Bronner, co-founders of the world's largest Christmas store, Bronner's
CHRISTmas Wonderland - http://www.bronners.com/.
Over the years, they have also been tirelessly dedicated to a wide variety
of civic and charitable organizations, including the Wallace and Irene
Bronner Family Charitable Foundation. Awards and recognitions include:
Hall of Fame (NOEL Association), First-ever Golden Santa Award
(International Toy Fair in Nurnberg, West Germany).
In
November of 1992, Wally & Irene dedicated the "Silent Night Chapel"
that welcomes the millions of visitors who come to their CHRISTmas
Wonderland. The landmark is a faithful replica of the original chapel that
today marks the very spot where the beloved carol, Silent Night, was first
sung during midnight mass in St. Nicholas Church, Oberndorf, Austria on
Christmas Eve. 1818.
Wally (who entered eternal
life April 1, 2008), and his loving wife, Irene, have created a
lasting legacy that continues to bless the millions of visitors who pass
through the doors of their store with the greeting: "Enjoy
CHRISTmas, It's His Birthday; Enjoy Life, It's His way!"
Video Courtesy: Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland, Frankenmuth, MI
2012 Lifetime
Achievement Award Acceptance: Irene Bronner
SPIRIT OF ST. NICHOLAS AWARD
WINNERS Carol Myers - Phillip L.
Wenz - Ted Lindsay - Bill Heaton (in order of Core Value
category)
Carol Myers, St.
Nicholas Center, pictured with "Sinterklaas" (Dutch St.
Nicholas).
Nicholas as our Model - Carol
Myers, founder/creator, St. Nicholas Center. Myers'
comprehensive web-based resource educates people of faith, and the
wider public, about St. Nicholas. She's also
developed the Center's traveling exhibit and the display and
activity kits available for use by churches, schools and
organizations. Carol recalls that she first became interested in
St. Nicholas when her children were small. She wanted them to
understand that "Santa Claus had been a real person
- a real person who served God and gave gifts to help others. We
hoped that understanding who Santa really was would help them
connect faith and giving." Her web site features over 1100
pages, www.stnicholascenter.org and receives over one
million visits annually from 154 countries. A leading St. Nicholas
expert, has traveled numerous times to his basilica in Bari, Italy,
and to Myra where the beloved saint lived and died. Ms. Myers was
featured in the Oprah Winfrey Network's documentary,
"Becoming Santa". We are most grateful that she is also a member
of the St. Nicholas Institute's distinguished 2012 team of
instructors.
2012 Spirit of
St. Nicholas Award Acceptance: Carol Myers
Openness to the Christmas Spirit -
Phillip L. Wenz, founder, Santa Claus Oath Foundation /
Santa Claus Productions. A charter member of the International Santa
Claus Hall of Fame (Santa Claus, Indiana), Wenz created the Santa
Claus Oath http://www.santaclausoath.webs.com/, which
outlines eight principles that any portrayer of Santa Claus should
follow. His Santa Claus Productions client list includes: the City
of Chicago, Santa's Village, "Nicholas of Myra" -Movie, "They Wore
The Red Suit" (documentary). A veteran of
numerous locally and nationally broadcast parades, he has been Santa
Claus at the iconic Santa's Village theme park in Dundee, IL for 25
years. He is considered a leading authority on the Santa Claus
legend, history, and folklore. He has also authored
"Santa’s Village", Arcadia's Image of America Series. We
sincerely thank Phillip Wenz, for sharing his professional expertise
as member of the St. Nicholas Institute's 2012 team of extraordinary
instructors.
Phillip L. Wenz, Santa Claus Oath Foundation, in a
rarely seen double portrait.
2012 Spirit of
St. Nicholas Award Acceptance: Phillip L. Wenz
Ted Lindsay, Ted Lindsay
Foundation, employs the same indomitable spirit and tenacity
he had as an NHL All Star in his battle against
Autism.
Exercising Compassion – Ted Lindsay,
founder, Ted Lindsay Foundation - http://www.tedlindsay.com/. A legendary NHL Hall
of Fame left-winger for the Detroit Red Wings,
Lindsay helped win four Stanley Cups, eight league titles,
was voted to the First All Star Team a record
eight consecutive times, awarded the Art Ross
Trophy, a member of the famed "Production Line" with
Gordie Howe and Sid Abel, member
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, honored by Canada Post
with his own stamp. In 1991 his #7 was retired. In 2010 he was one
of a handful of former players to have an NHL individual achievement
trophy, the Ted Lindsay Award, named in his
honor.
In 2001, he founded the Ted Lindsay
Foundation in order to combat Autism and several neurological
disorders that afflict children. Thus far, his foundation has raised
more than $2 million. He has also been active in raising
funds for: The Michigan Special Olympics, Canadian
Special Olympics, Canadian Alzheimer's Association,
wheelchair hockey and a host of other worthy charities. Known for
combining superlative hockey skills with a gritty style of play
during his years as an NHL All Star, we are pleased to honor
"Terrible Ted" who now employs that same indomitable spirit and
tenacity in his fight against Autism through the Ted Lindsay
Foundation.
2012 Spirit of
St. Nicholas Award Acceptance: Ted Lindsay
Love for
Children – Bill Heaton, president, Livonia
Goodfellows - http://www.livoniagoodfellows.org/,
gives concrete
witness to the organization's motto: "No child
without a Christmas." Through his selfless leadership and
teamwork, the Livonia Goodfellows have provided hope and Christmas
cheer for Livonia's needy children by means of gifts of food, toys,
personal care items, shoes and clothing. Heaton has also devoted
much of the past 50 years to obtaining proper housing for persons
challenged with developmental disabilities. Characteristically, he
is heavily involved with foster care programs and work with disabled
children. Bill's many service awards attest to his generosity of
heart: President's Award (Community Opportunity
Center), First Citizen (Livonia, MI),
Livonia Human Relations Honor Roll, Heart of Gold Award nominee,
Governor's Service Awards (George Romney Lifetime Achievement
finalist, 2008), 1835 Livonia City Hall of Fame
(2012). When it comes to volunteering, his philosophy is simple,
direct and life-affirming: "If there is a vacuum,
fill it!" To the countless children who've been touched by
Bill's kindness over the years, there's "No child without a
Christmas", no matter what day of the year it is.
Bill Heaton, Livonia
Goodfellows, lives the goal of "No child without a Christmas" each
day of the year.
2012 Spirit of
St. Nicholas Award Acceptance: Bill Heaton
2012 ST. NICHOLAS INSTITUTE AWARDS BANQUET
HIGHLIGHTS:
V.I.P. Institute
Santas Doing the "Santa Jive"
Master of
Ceremonies Tom Loewe Introductions
Dave Varga, City of Livonia
Presentation of Papal Blessing
Certificate
"Bluegrass Santa", John Johnson
IV Performs: "I Carry the Torch"
Certificates Presented to V.I.P.
Santa Students / Santa Claus Oath
