Person of Year Liz Sutter helped make ends meet for many during pandemic

Aurora — Aurora’s 2021 Person of the Year, Liz Sutter, distinguished herself by spearheading aid within the city during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presenting the award Nov. 10 at the Atrium at Anna Maria before a crowd of about 40 to 50 Aurora Chamber of Commerce members, Aurora Chamber of Commerce president Kyle Hersh said the Person of the Year Award is “given to recognize the contribution of a person who exemplifies civic awareness, demonstrates leadership and works for the betterment of the Aurora community.”

“Liz was instrumental in organizing the Aurora Community Relief Fund during the pandemic,” he said. “She stepped up and filled the gap to help those in need. This is a passionate, determined and caring leader with deep roots in the Aurora community who’s active with the Aurora Alumni Association.”

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Also recognized during the event was Mary Strimple, whose business, Mary Strimple and Associates, a real estate team affiliated with Howard Hanna, received the Business of the Year Award for 2021.

Sutter said she “was beyond surprised” when she learned she received the Person of the Year award.

“I was humbled and grateful,” she said. “There’s such a network of volunteers and organizations that helped along the way; we couldn’t have done what we did without them.”

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She thanked the Church in Aurora, The Rotary Club of Cleveland, the Moore Trust, the Portage Foundation and the many volunteers who have helped provide for needy Aurorans since spring of 2020.

Aurora Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin said Sutter worked hard during the pandemic to make sure people in Aurora did not suffer.

“I watched you from my window at City Hall last year during the pandemic as you collected food and delivered food for the needy in Aurora,” she told Sutter as she presented her the key to the city of Aurora. “We don't always think of there being needy folks in Aurora. There are. There always are; however, the pandemic really brought it home. And Liz, you stepped up. You did it. You helped these people. And as I have said in my support for organizations like the [Volunteers of America] and for efforts like Liz’s, they're doing things that government really can't do.”

Sutter said she formed the Aurora Community Relief Fund within the Church in Aurora in response to the need to provide food for children at home early in the COVID-19 pandemic, and it grew from there.

“The reason we got into this is because the schools had to shut down so quickly,” she said. “We wanted to make sure all the kids on the free and reduced lunch program had access to food. We realized those kids were attached to families, too.”

The Aurora Community Relief Fund continues weekly food distribution each Friday, she added.

“We’re in really close communication with the Aurora schools,” she said.

Sutter said the organization started with about 17 volunteers. Time passed, more people and organizations got involved, and now the fund’s focus also has expanded.

“That grew into support for people in an emergency situation like a shutoff notification for utilities or inability to pay rent,” she said.

The Aurora Community Relief Fund also works to make sure students have all the school supplies they need and that they can participate in field trips despite financial challenges.

“Somewhere along the line, we started doing Mobile Meals for seniors who qualify for that financially,” said Sutter.

Sutter credited a close friend for giving her the inspiration and energy to create the fund and expand its reach.

“I lost a really good friend this year,” she told the gathering at the chamber luncheon. “His name was Walter Chapman. He was someone who had a deep belief in caring for his community, and his support absolutely energized me. Without Walter, none of this would have come to fruition. I look back on one of my last conversations with Walter, and I think he summed it up well by saying, ‘Liz, we still have magnificent work to do on God's behalf.’ So amen, Walter.”

Business of the Year Mary Strimple and Associates

Hersh said Strimple supports a variety of causes within Aurora, including Coats for Kids, Howard Hanna’s Children’s Free Care Fund, the Aurora Sports Booster Club and more.

“Mary's dedication to the community and leadership within her business was on full display at this year’s Trunk-or-Treat where her team won best theme for her Wizard of Oz spectacle,” he said.

Strimple said she was honored by the recognition.

“I just really want to say thank you very much,” she said. “I'm very honored. I love that I get to work and live in this wonderful community. And I'm just I'm very humbled and very honored.”

Womer Benjamin presented her with the key to the city of Aurora and said she and her business go out of their way to support Aurora.

“This lady is so deserving of this recognition,” said the mayor. “You know if you ever need a smiling face, find Mary Strimple because she will always have.”

Do you have a business or healthcare story you'd like to share? Reporter Bob Gaetjens can be reached at 330-541-9440, bgaetjens@recordpub.com and @bobgaetjens_rc.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Aurora chamber gives Sutter Person of Year, Strimple Business of Year