Lions Club honors Whitaker with Cloverdale Civic Award

Named the 2023 winner of the Cloverdale Civic Award, Vivian Whitaker (left) receives the award from Jenna Lanham, who chairs the Civic Award Committee for the Cloverdale Lions Club. Whitaker’s name has been inscribed on a plaque that is displayed at Cloverdale Town Hall.

Courtesy photo

CLOVERDALE — A dedicated native who moved back to the community in retirement was recently honored for her dedication to her hometown with the Cloverdale Civic Award.

The Cloverdale Lions Club recently presented the 27th annual Cloverdale Civic Award to Vivian Whitaker.

Whitaker was presented this award as a thank you for the numerous volunteer hours she has devoted to the betterment of the Cloverdale community.

Whitaker is a proud member of the Cloverdale High School class of 1968, and she served many years on the Cloverdale Alumni Board. She is a retired teacher and principal.

Since moving back to Cloverdale, Whitaker has been secretary for Cloverdale Community Dollars for Scholars for almost 20 years. She was recognized as the National Volunteer of the Year by Scholarship America for all her work with the local Dollars for Scholars chapter and with Cloverdale students.

She has also served on the Cloverdale Community School Board of Directors since 2014 and was instrumental in helping the school obtain and implement the Leader In Me program. Currently, she leads a group of volunteers who are helping Cloverdale students complete their requirements to receive 21st Century Scholarships.

She is also a member of the Cloverdale Lions Club and has spent many hours with its projects, such as vision screening, park cleanup and fundraising events.

Whitaker is an honorary board member of the Putnam County Community Foundation, having served six years on its board and several more on various foundation committees. She is currently the leader of the Youth Philanthropy Committee. In 2020, the organization recognized Whitaker with its Spirit of Philanthropy award for all her contributions to the Putnam County community.

Although presented by the Cloverdale Lions Club, nominations for the award come from the general public.

Whitaker joins previous Cloverdale Civic Award recipients Pam Gilman, Mike Price, Lisa Baker, Larry Haltom, Kay Gedert, Lita Sandy, Donna Fidler, Dewey Garrett, Todd Lewis, Kerry Shepherd, Joyce Johnson, Mona Smith, Bob Hostetter, Don Walton, Jeff Rich, Rosemary (Davis)Berry, Jack Davis, Dr. Keith Ernst, Eric Hayman, Vera Hughes, Adeline Knoy, Bill Henson, Judy Whitaker, Rod Garrett, Norv Gottula and Wayne Sutherlin.