The Rye City Lions Club will honor Nancy Haneman with the James A. and Marian M. Shea Community Service Award at the organization’s annual dinner, November 14 at Whitby Castle. The Award was established in 2003 to recognize an individual or individuals who lives or works in the community and has contributed to enhancing the lives of its citizens through outstanding volunteerism. 

Without question, Haneman’s leadership and fund-raising skills have improved the quality of life in and around Rye, from the Rye YMCA to the Rye Youth Council to SPRYE. 

At the Rye YMCA, she helped organize the first Rye Derby in 1995. From 1995 to 1997, she served as president of the Y board and, in 1997, she received the organization’s Gold Spirit Award. 

In addition to serving as Milton PTO President, Haneman chaired the Milton Fair and was a member of Rye’s middle and high schools’ parent organizations, as well as the First Night committee. Her fund-raising skills have benefited the Rye Youth Council and the Carver Center, where she was Director of Fundraising. 

Haneman’s dedication to the Rye community she grew up in remains steadfast. Currently, she is a member of the Outreach Committee at Christ’s Church; Co-Chair of the Rye Senior Advocacy Committee; and Chair of the SPRYE Advisory Council. Since SPRYE’s early days in 2010, she has worked to establish services for seniors, and served as president from 2012 to 2014.

In addition, she has volunteered for the American Cancer Society’s Reach for Recovery and the Strang Cancer Prevention Committee. 

All proceeds from the Lion’s Club event will go to support their mission to help meet the ever-increasing needs of our society, with a special focus on those who are blind or visually impaired. In the past, the Club has donated to Guiding Eyes for the Blind; VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired; and the Rye Free Reading Room to purchase large-print books and books on tape. Additionally, the Club provides financial assistance to the Rye YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program and to Rye Recreation for their summer camp program.

Tickets to the Lions Club dinner are $130 per person. Email ryecitylions1@gmail.com by November 3 if you plan to attend. You may pay by Venmo @RyeCityLions, or mail a check, made payable to the Rye City Lions Club and send to Rye City Lions Club, P.O. Box 354, Rye, NY 10580.