The Community Foundation has annually presented its John D. Hamilton Community Service Award since 1994 to recognize an individual’s dedication, leadership and support in furthering community spirit and enhancing the quality of life in the region. It is named for John Hamilton, in appreciation of his tireless efforts and leadership throughout the community.

A Rochester native, Metzger, and his wife, Marge, moved to Chautauqua County when he was assigned to Bauch & Laumb’s Jamestown office. What was only supposed to be a temporary assignment turned into a 38-year residency that allowed his passion for community service to grow.

Metzger has served as a leader for several local organizations including the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, American Red Cross of Southwestern New York, Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier and The Resource Center.

Currently, Metzger is a Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees member, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Investment Committee member; County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency Board of Directors chairman; and INSYTE Board of Directors member.

Most notably of all Metzger’s volunteer roles has been his involvement with Junior Achievement of Western New York. For over 25 years, Metzger has taught the Junior Achievement Economics for Success program to eighth-grade students at Falconer Central School. He has arranged tours of local businesses for students, helped them develop resumes, and even staged mock interviews between students and employees of local businesses.

Professionally, Metzger has worked for more than 30 years in the private sector. He currently serves as Vice President for Finance and Administration at Fredonia.

The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation recently presented its annual Community Service Award to Cristie Herbst.

JAMESTOWN – On October 7, during a virtual celebration, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation presented Cristie Herbst its John D. Hamilton Community Service Award.

According to Tory Irgang, Community Foundation executive director, there was never any question about turning the typical in-person event into a virtual gathering.

“The Community Foundation annually celebrates the very best in community service and volunteerism and never has that celebration been more important than in this year of unprecedented circumstances,” said Irgang.
The event, made available via Zoom and Facebook Live, was live streamed to more than 80 households, with many sharing stories of working with Herbst, both professionally and as a volunteer.

For decades, Herbst has used her natural leadership skills and wisdom to be an active community volunteer. Her dedicated service with the former Chautauqua Area Girl Scout Council, allowed her to mentor many young women throughout the region.

“I finally had the pleasure of meeting Cristie at Camp Timbercrest’s 50th Anniversary celebration a few years ago,” Jina Costa shared during the event, “She has inspired many other Girl Scouts in everything she’s done for our organization. I am so happy to see her receive this award.”

In addition to her numerous leadership positions within the scouting organization, Herbst has also volunteered in leadership roles with Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, SUNY Fredonia, UPMC Chautauqua and WCA Hospital Foundation, to name a few.

Now retired, the former Post-Journal editor, serves as a volunteer and president of the Board of Trustees at the Chautauqua County Historical Society, which also operates the McClurg Museum in Westfield.

Recently, under her leadership, the Historical Society entered into a partnership with the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department to operate a museum at the Barcelona Lighthouse.

“It’s both humbling and astonishing to receive this sort of recognition from your community and I thank you all for your kind words,” Herbst said. “The John D. Hamilton Award feels especially significant to me because of who it is named for. John Hamilton was the epitome of community service in Chautauqua County.”

Since 1994, the John D. Hamilton Community Service Award has been presented annually to individuals whose dedication, leadership and support further community spirit and enhance the quality of life in the Chautauqua Region.

A recording of the event is available on the Community Foundation’s website, crcfonline.org.

Although Peter and Holly grew up in two different communities, he in Jamestown, she in Berea, Ohio, their parents instilled in them the importance of doing good for others. While students at University of Miami (Ohio), they met and began dating. On August 24, 1969, they married and returned to the Chautauqua region in the early 1970s.

“My family was always very involved in the community, I was just sort of born into it,” Peter said. “When I moved back to Jamestown (after college) I wanted to do a lot of the things I had seen my father do.”

Like his father, Paul B. Sullivan, Peter became an integral part of the community and used his financial prowess to serve on a number of committees dedicated to capital campaigns. His first experience was with the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County’s 1978 campaign. Since then, he has been involved with the Jamestown YMCA’s campaign to renovate the building and WCA Hospital’s emergency room campaign.

In addition to fundraising activities, Peter has served as president of Moon Brook Country Club, member of the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, board of directors of the James Prendergast Library Association and more. Currently, he is president of The Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation and is a member of the Jamestown YMCA.

Peter is also credited with bringing the Ice Pick Competition to the Chautauqua Lake Association, and along with Holly, led the renovations of Putt-A-Round Chautauqua, the mini-golf course at Midway State Park.

Growing up in Berea, a suburb of Cleveland, Holly witnessed first hand the impact a person can have in their community.

“My parents taught us, when we were very young, how important it is to get involved,” Holly said.

Since moving to the Chautauqua region, Holly has been involved with the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, WCA Hospital and AAUW Jamestown. In 1984, she was named Woman of the Year by the Jamestown Interclub Council.

More recently, Holly was a founding member and board member of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Center and is currently serving on the National Comedy Center committee. She is also currently a volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates of Chautauqua County.

“We are very proud to receive this award,” Peter said. “To be recognized as a couple is so special to us. We will never forget it.”

The John D. Hamilton Community Service Award recognizes an individual, or a group, who has demonstrated dedication, leadership, and support in furthering community spirit and enriching the quality of life in the Chautauqua region. This is the fourth time the recipients are a husband and wife.  The first award was presented to John D. Hamilton in 1993.

According to an article in Friday’s Jamestown Post-Journal, Carlson is a Jamestown native who’s served on the board of directors at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Robert H. Jackson Center, CODE Inc., Jamestown Kiwanis Wives Club and the Eastside YMCA.

She also spent 22 years with the First Presbyterian Church and was recognized as the United Way’s Volunteer of the Year in 2002 for her work with children at the Eastside YMCA.

The John D. Hamilton Award is presented by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and given annually to an individual who has shown support and dedication in the community.