Al Ruechel Receives Media Person of the Year AwardCLEARWATER - The Clearwater Civitan Club will award Al Ruechel, Senior Anchor with Bay News 9, Media Person of the Year, for his selfless volunteering in our community. To recognize his positive community impact, Clearwater Civitan Club will also make him an Honorary Member during a dinner October 2nd at the Countryside Country Club. In June the Clearwater Civitan Club requested nominations from all Bay area media, including TV, radio and newspapers. Al Ruechel's Manager submitted a nomination, a surprise to Al. Deeply committed to his community, Al has coached youth soccer, both recreational and competitive, for more than 16 years. He is currently the worship leader at Grace Christian Fellowship, where he also composes and performs original Christian contemporary music. He has volunteered more than 4,000 hours with Bay area schoolchildren and helping the Pinellas County school system with their TV interview programs for the past 12 years. Al was a missionary to East Africa for two years and currently serves on a number of advisory boards for local charities and organizations including, Junior League of St. Petersburg, Clothes for Kids, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg College Ethics Department and Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, to name a few. For 14 years Al has been involved with Christmas Celebration at Isaiah's Inn Ministry which provides gifts, clothing, instruction, food and employment for single mothers or families in distress. He is a regular speaker at All Pro Dads chapters, promoting positive father-son relationships based on Judeo-Christian principles. Al has helped raise funds for the MS Society Chapter in Central Florida, served as Master of Ceremonies for the past 7 years for the Florida Bandmasters Association high school marching band competition and received the Florida PTA Life Time Achievement Award When contacted to advise that he is the winner due to his extensive tireless and selfless volunteering for our community, Ruechel responded "I am humbled to receive this award".
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