The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation will honor Paul Hedberg and Ruth Lundin with this year’s John D. Hamilton Community Service Award. Submitted photo

The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation will honor Paul Hedberg and Ruth Lundin as this year’s John D. Hamilton Community Service Award recipients.

A reception celebrating the couple is scheduled for Sept. 30 at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel.

“Paul and Ruth are an incredible example of how a shared love of community service can bring people together,” said Peter Stark, John D. Hamilton Community Service Award committee chair. “Our region has benefited greatly from their dedicated service and leadership throughout the years.”

A Jamestown native, Hedberg is the former assistant dean of administration at Jamestown Community College. He served in leadership roles with the Chautauqua County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Chautauqua Leadership Network, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and United Way of Southern Chautauqua County. Hedberg is also credited with serving as chair of Research and Planning for Human Service.

It was through Chautauqua Leadership Network that he met Lundin, a Homewood, Ill., native who had recently moved to Chautauqua County and accepted a position as president of the local Audubon Society.

Lundin spent nearly 20 years leading the Audubon Community Nature Center and expanding her passion for the environment by serving on the board of the Audubon Council of New York State. She was recognized with the Norman I. Stotz Award which honors local members who best demonstrate extraordinary leadership and their contributions to the environmental cause. Today, she serves as the president-elect of the Rotary Club of Jamestown and leads its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Despite busy professional careers and community service commitments, the couple continued to find new ways to spend time together. They supported the local arts through their involvement with Community Music Project — collecting tickets, volunteering as ushers, and even lending their voices to several community productions with the choral singing group. Lundin also spent more than 20 years on the organization’s Board of Directors.

In 2008, Hedberg was involved in a car accident that left him with an uncertain future. However, with his family’s unwavering support, Hedberg has continued to make a lasting difference in his community.

Together, he and Lundin tutored through Chautauqua Striders and stayed connected to the many organizations for which they developed a deep passion.

“The lines between Paul and Ruth’s volunteer service, community leadership and professional work are deeply intertwined,” said Tory Irgang, Community Foundation executive director. “This is a common theme of past recipients and we are so excited to publicly recognize them for their efforts. And what’s even better – Paul and Ruth aren’t done contributing to our community!”

The reception honoring Hedberg and Lundin is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 30 at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel. The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the award presentation at 6:30 p.m.

For more information on the event, including how to purchase tickets or send the recipients a congratulatory message, visit crcfonline.org/communityserviceaward or contact the foundation at 716-661-3390.