Sheriff Rambosk was one of 10 Men Of Distinction recognized at a special awards celebration dinner at the Hilton Naples on Thursday evening.
The Education Foundation of Collier County is a non-profit organization that eliminates barriers and creates opportunities for students, families, education, and the community to work together to help students succeed
“We can think of no one who better exemplifies the personal and professional qualities that the Education Foundation of Collier County honors through this award,” the CCSO Command Staff wrote in a letter nominating Sheriff Rambosk for the award.
The Foundation apparently agreed, selecting Sheriff Rambosk from a field of distinguished nominees.
“The Men of Distinction Awards honor men for their dedication and philanthropic service to benefit the Collier County community,” said Susan McManus, president of The Education Foundation. “These individuals work in a variety of ways throughout the community to make an impact on our quality of life and that of students and families.”
Chances are Sheriff Rambosk will be written in the local history books as a true champion of children in Collier County.
As the top law enforcement officer of Collier County, Sheriff Rambosk has led the way in creating a multitude of programs and initiatives aimed at keeping kids safe and engaged in positive activities. Here are just a few examples:
Summerfest. For the past two summers kids of all ages in Collier County have had the opportunity to participate in hundreds of free activities in a safe environment, thanks to the vision and initiative of Sheriff Rambosk. With the help of more than 200 supportive businesses and community partners, Summerfest is the most ambitious youth program in CCSO history.
Youth Resource Center. Sheriff Rambosk led the multi-agency creation of the Youth Resource Center, which offers an array of referral services to at-risk youth. Located at the Collier County Courthouse, the center will act as the hub for the youth-centered services available in the community.
D.A.R.E. Board. In March, Sheriff Rambosk agreed to serve on the prestigious D.A.R.E. America International Executive Law Enforcement Advisory Board to ensure that the DARE curriculum reflects the trends that our deputies are seeing in the community. This summer the Florida D.A.R.E. Officers Association presented the Sheriff with the organization’s 2011 Leadership Award in recognition of his ongoing commitment to our community’s youth.
Kids Zone. The CCSO website, www.colliersheriff.org, prominently features a Kids Zone where children of all ages can find safety and crime prevention tips.
Expert blogger. Sheriff Rambosk blogs about safety on the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C’mon) website. His topics have included online safety, bicycle safety and Summerfest.
Back-to-school message. At the start of every school year, each elementary-level student receives a letter with a back-to-school safety message from Sheriff Rambosk.
Do The Right Thing Award. Each month during the school year Sheriff Rambosk recognizes selected children for performing a good deed within their school, community or family.
Celebrate With A Star. CCSO’s Celebrate With A Star program seeks to make the holidays merry and bright for children. Groups that have benefitted from the annual holiday giving program include Boys and Girls Club, Youth Haven and Grace Place.
Art Gallery. CCSO’s Community Gallery features children’s art. The gallery, open to the public, has featured works by children from Everglades City School, Youth Haven and K Is For Kids Foundation.
Sheriff Rambosk has served as honorary chairman of the Baby Basics Biking and Walking Challenge at North Collier Regional Park. He is a member of the board of directors for the Junior Deputies League Inc. and a past board member for Youth Haven. He serves as a literacy buddy for the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida.
The 2012 Men of Distinction also included: Doug Campbell; Eugene Frey; Lt. Col. (Ret.) Paul Garrah; F. Craig Jilk; Thomas D. McCann; West McCann; Dr. Bob Morantz; Dr. Keith Riley; and George M. Walters Jr.
Proceeds from the awards celebration will benefit The Education Foundation and its Take Stock in Children scholarships and mentoring program. For the 2011 Men of Distinction Awards Celebration, $45,000 was raised to support the work of The Education Foundation
