On December 14, 2021, WeTHRIVE! held a Facebook Live event to announce the winners of the 2021 WeTHRIVE! Community Champion Awards. (If you missed it, you can view the short video here.) This week, we’re introducing you to the winners!
Pat and Tracy Ormond of Reading are the 2021 WeTHRIVE! Champions for Community Spirit.
Pat and Tracy are a driving force for change in the city of Reading. For 20 years, they have been picking up litter in the city’s streets and parks. They started doing this for exercise and to beautify their own neighborhood, then branched out to other parts of the city.
Walk With Purpose
In 2021, the Ormonds worked with Annie Hess (a WeTHRIVE! in Reading team member), to form Walk With Purpose: The Reading, Ohio Litter Project (WWP). They collaborated with other WeTHRIVE! team members to create a logo, set up the WWP Facebook Group, and obtain special litter buckets and t-shirts for members.
Through WWP, residents have adopted more than 60 streets, parks, schools, and other open spaces in the city. WWP recently expanded to the Village of Arlington Heights. Pat and Tracy hope the initiative will continue to grow to other communities.
Policies with purpose
Pat and Tracy encouraged Reading City Council to adopt policies that will have a long-term impact beyond litter pickup. A new ordinance passed by council requires that unsolicited materials like Doorstore ads be mailed or placed on the doorstep, which means less litter left on sidewalks. The city will also begin curbside recycling for all residents in January 2022.
Collaborating with purpose
The Ormonds worked with Rumpke to get recycling receptacles for Taste of Reading and other community events. Rumpke also donated $500 for WWP to purchase litter cleanup supplies.
Pat and Tracy are currently working with Hamilton County R3source to increase the amount of waste diverted from landfills.
Ormonds focus on teamwork
“We are proud to win this award because it means that the residents of Reading and the whole WeTHRIVE! organization recognize the tremendous value of community service! We are happy that we get to work with so many great people in keeping the city of Reading clean and litter-free. A special thank you to Donna Wiggins and Sabrina Smith for welcoming us to WeTHRIVE and supporting the litter cleanup project that is so dear to us!”
–Pat & Tracy Ormond
Pat and Tracy are admired for their commitment, drive, and follow-through. They are described as passionate and tenacious, and they embody what it means to be a WeTHRIVE! Community Champion.
Read more about Walk With Purpose in this special post written by Pat Ormond.
Keep up with Walk With Purpose by joining their Facebook group.