SCCCC 2023 Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award Announcement
Front: Luis Tovar, 2023 Outstanding Citizen Award Recipient, Dorothy Tovar, Luis’s wife
Rear: L to R: Cheryl B. Kuhn, SCCCC President & CEO; Jerry Strusowski, Sales Manager, Berkshire Hathaway; Annalie Korengel, 2019 Award Recipient & Committee Chair, Doug Doerfler, SCCCC Chairman of the Board, Joan Holliday, 2014 Award Recipient; Leon R. Spencer, 2016 Award Recipient; Jeff Yetter, 2020 Award Recipient
The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce announced Luis Tovar as the 2023 Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award recipient. Mr. Tovar will receive recognition at the Chamber’s Annual Chairman’s Gala on Saturday, March 18th at Longwood Gardens. The Chamber established the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award in 1968 to recognize exemplary volunteer efforts, community service, vision, leadership, and citizenship of individuals who positively influence the welfare of the Southern Chester County community.
Mr. Tovar is an active member of the Kennett Rotary Club and a volunteer with the Bayard Taylor Library Adult Literacy Program. He pours countless hours into two main passions that have touched and served a myriad of community members in the Kennett Square area. Tovar serves as President of Kacie’s Cause, a not-for-profit organization that he co-created with Andy Rumford 10 years ago. Kacie’s Cause is instrumental in building awareness about the organization, and, offering support to families as they navigate through substance abuse. Through this important work, friends and family of addicted loved ones come together to reduce isolation and offer hope.
Doug Doerfler, SCCCC Chairman of the Board and President of Kennett Square Borough Council, can attest to the impact Tovar has made. “I am so excited to be honoring Luis Tovar with this year’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award! Luis is the epitome of what this award represents. He is the consummate community partner and is always looking for solutions to issues facing so many in our neighborhoods. I have witnessed his selfless leadership and influence in Kennett Borough, although the impact of his efforts can be seen throughout Southern Chester County.”
Mr. Tovar is a passionate voice for the Hispanic community of Kennett Square and has completed six years as Chairman for the Borough’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs (ACOLA). He works tirelessly to ensure affordable and equitable housing, accessible transportation and awareness of the value and cultural depth that the Hispanic community brings to our diverse community. This past year Tovar’s hard work and many connections brought together an amazing group of Hispanic contributors to the Kennett Memorial Day Parade:
Aztec Dancers, Mariachi, Caballeros, traditional folkloric dancers, and memorials of Hispanic Soldiers were carried by students from Kennett High School. When he is not devoting himself to community service work or spending time with his family, he can be found in the Kennett Square office of Berkshire Hathaway where he is an active real estate broker. Jerry Strusowski, Office Sales Leader of the Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach Realtors, Kennett Square office, reflects on the contributions Tovar has made in their industry: “Luis is a positive contributor to our office culture. He is always eager to participate in any charitable event we undertake and is always willing to help any of our sales associates.”
“Luis Tovar is a long- time resident and a highly respected citizen of Kennett Square, PA”, shared SCCCC President & CEO, Cheryl B. Kuhn. “Mr. Tovar makes a difference as an exemplary volunteer at many community events and meetings and making connections at all levels,” she continued. “We are proud to include Luis as the 2023 award recipient, and, we look forward to celebrating with he and his family at our Gala on March 18th.”
Presentation of the 2023 Outstanding Citizen of the Year will be held at the 56th Annual Gala on Saturday, March 18th at the prestigious Longwood Gardens. The event highlights an evening of celebration, dinner, dancing, and a silent auction that benefits the Chamber’s Education and Scholarship Fund supporting deserving high school students from Avon Grove, Kennett, and Unionville High Schools, and the Chester County Technical College High School – Pennock’s Bridge Campus and the Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week program.
