A well-known Sudbury woman was honoured Thursday for her outstanding community service that has earned her admiration and respect throughout the city.
Lesli Green, the founder of Safe Ride Home Sudbury, was presented with a prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship by the Rotary Club of Sudbury, the city's longest running service club.
Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary International. Those named to the fellowship are regarded as individuals who meet the high professional and personal standards exemplified by Paul Harris,
Sudbury Rotary president Marc Morin highlighted the club’s motto of “Service Above Self,” which he said easily describes the community work that Green has performed in the past 25 years.
"Today, we have the honor and pleasure of recognizing Lesli Green as she becomes a Paul Harris fellow," said Morin.
Safe Ride Home Sudbury is a volunteer organization that provides transportation to people during the festival holiday season, a time when people don't want to drive after they've been drinking alcohol, served up at a holiday party or dinner event.
Volunteers drive that person's car home for them thus preventing the partygoer from drinking and driving, and people get home safely.
For this holiday season, Safe Ride Home kicks off their work on Nov. 29.
The Safe Home service is confidential and it's free, but any donations are gratefully accepted. The organization also relies on generous donations from the community.
Green was thanked for the community contribution by Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) Acting Deputy Chief Mark Burnett. He told Green that the organized effort to keep impaired drivers off the road is not only an outstanding achievement, but it also saves lives.
"Though prevention is difficult to measure, I can tell you with the utmost confidence, and my colleagues here in the room can attest, your work saves lives," said Burnett.
"Your work prevents injuries, your work avoids losses and grief placed upon loved ones. Your work combating impaired driving mitigates negative impacts it can have on first responders, including myself. So for that, thank you."
Also speaking to the event was Lesli's daughter, Molly Green. She said she was so proud of her mother for providing an important community service during the holiday season, and also for her passion in spreading awareness about the need to stop impaired driving all year round.
Molly recalled tagging along with her mom who spoke to a youth group about the dangers of impaired driving.
"I left that speaking engagement thinking that even if one person was impacted enough to make a smarter choice that day, she could be saving someone's life."
Molly said she was proud of Lesli Green for that.
"The work that you do matters every day, that you show up, even when it's hard, you're making a difference in someone's life.," said Molly.
Also speaking at the event was Safe Ride Home volunteer member Joseph Mansourian who said he was more than overwhelmed with the passion and hard work that Green had brought to her organization.
"I want to reiterate it here today, our community is blessed to have Lesli Green. And I mean that. When you think about passion, dedication and resilience, Leslie's name shines bright," said Mansourian.
As she was presented with the certificate for the fellowship, Green expressed her thanks.
"Together, we can continue to make Sudbury a safer and more caring community. Thank you truly for this honor and for shining a light on our Safe Ride Home organization. Thank you, everyone."
The room, consisting of several hundred community leaders, stood and responded to Green with a standing ovation.
Len Gillis is a reporter at Sudbury.com.
