2000 - George and Carol Kanaan
GRINDSTONE AWARD
2000

 

George and Carol
Kanaan
For an evening in April, 2001, the City of Berea was enthusiastically transformed into the Land of Canaan - with a "K" that is. On that evening, George and Carol Kanaan were feted as the 34th winners of Berea's Grindstone Award as Citizens of the Year.

There are people who seem destined to serve their fellow man. The Kanaans both are cut from this rare cloth, as they have been quietly and without fanfare volunteering services and providing leadership, both in public and private situations, both individually and as a couple, all of their adult lives.

Carol and George were both born and educated in Youngstown, Ohio, and attended Youngstown Statue University. George came to Berea in 1963 and joined the Berea News, while Carol came here after marrying George in 1964. The couple then started a family, a business and their long tradition of involvement with Berea and its people. They founded their business, Copy Center West Printing Company in 1970.

Early on, George and Carol became active members of the Berea Jaycees and their involvement in civic affairs started. George has also had long term involvement in the Berea Rotary Club and the Discover Berea Chamber of Commerce. He served as President of the Chamber and is in line to become the Berea Rotary Club President in 2005. Carol has served many terms as the Financial Officer for Discover Berea.

Carol is also the driving force behind the Grindstone Festival, Berea's Annual July 4th celebration. She worked tirelessly to bring the Triangle Clock Tower project to fruition. And, also shared her time on other civic committees including the Light Up Berea Parade and the Lou Groza dedication projects.

Both Kanaans have given many years of active service and leadership to these civic organizations as important committee chairs, officers and trustees, bringing to many programs and activities their main strengths of organization, fund raising and financial management.

Carol has been a volunteer at Southwest General Health Center and a volunteer tutor in Berea elementary schools. She also has been a Girl Scout leader. George recently served on the Berea Master Plan Committee, is a former Chairman of the Board of Discover Berea and has been a member of the Berea Schools Business Advisory Council.

Both Kanaans are old car buffs. As owners of several classic cars, they have frequently used these vehicles to enliven holiday parades in the community.

Carol and George live in Berea. Their daughter Traci was in the class of 1987 at Berea High School and, graduated with honors from Otterbein College in 1991. She is married and lives in Florida with her husband Michael, where she owns and operates her own promotional products company.

In so many ways, George and Carol's involvement and caring are the embodiment of the Grindstone Award's tradition of honoring those who make Berea a better place for all of us.
Presented April 10, 2001 Radisson Hotel, Middleburg Heights