We are excited to announce that nominations are open for our annual community service and entrepreneurship awards.
These distinguished awards, the Gwen Pelletier Award for Excellence in Community Service and the Norm Edinberg Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, seek to recognize and honor outstanding individuals who have left an indelible mark on the Lower Cape community through their selfless service and commitment to fostering economic diversity and entrepreneurship.
We invite community members to actively participate in this important process by submitting nominations for deserving candidates by March 14, 2025. Award recipients will be announced at the CDP's annual meeting on May 7, 2025.
Gwen Pelletier Award for Excellence in Community Service
The Gwen Pelletier Award for Excellence in Community Service was created to honor former longtime Executive Director, Gwen Pelletier for her years of service to the Lower Cape Community. It recognizes individuals, businesses or organizations for their involvement and support for maintaining the economic diversity of the Lower Cape.
2024 Recipient
Michelle Jarusiewicz
Former Housing Director and Grant Administrator, Provincetown
Prior Award Recipients Include
- 2023 –Elaine McIlroy
- Chair, Wellfleet Housing Authority
- 2022 –Fran and Alan McClennen
- 2021 –Vicki Goldsmith
- Former Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod
- 2019 –Andi Genser
- Former Executive Director, WECAN
- 2018 –John Pappalardo
- CEO, Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance
- 2017 –Wellfleet Preservation Hall
- An organization celebrating arts, culture & community
- 2016 –Florence Seldin
- CDP Board Member, Retired School Superintendent, Chatham
- 2015 –Paul Ruchinskas
- Retired affordable housing advocate, Brewster
- 2014 –Jari Rapaport
- Long-time CDP Board Member, Eastham
- 2013 –Bob Murray
- Falmouth Housing Authority
- 2012 –Susan Lindquist
- Host of This Place Matters, Brewster
- 2011 –Lisa Brown
- The Haiti Project, Wellfleet
- 2010 –Senator Robert O’Leary
- Former State Senator
- 2009 –Mary Lou Petitt
- CDP Founder and Long-time Board Member, Eastham
- 2008 –Christine Austin
- Homeless Prevention Council (former Director), Eastham
- 2007 –Ted Malone
- President, Community Housing Resource, Inc., Provincetown
- 2006 –David Willard
- Vice President, Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank
- 2005 –Gwen Pelletier
- Award was established to honor the CDP's long-time, former Executive Director
Norm Edinberg Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship
The Norm Edinberg Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship was created to honor former longtime CDP Board Member, Norm Edinberg for his years of service to the CDP and supporting small business development on the Lower Cape. The Award recognizes an established Lower Cape business owner who has utilized CDP business and credit services, and who has an established community connection through social responsibility, environmental sustainability, volunteer time or financial contributions.
2024 Recipient
Kate Escher-Jacob and Elizabeth Escher
Founders, ARTichoke, Eastham
Prior Award Recipients Include
- 2023 –Jess Georges
- Owner & Founder, Green Road Refill
- 2022 –Katherine Reed
- CEO & Co-founder, Chequesset Chocolate
- 2021 –J'aime Sparrow, Christian Sparrow, Karen Densmore, and Garrett Smythe
- Sunbird Kitchen
- 2019 –The Roberts Family
- Truro Vineyards and South Hollow Spirits
- 2018 –Chris and Virginia Smith
- Owners, Cape Cod Tree & Landscape, Inc.
- 2017 –Laura Davis
- Cosmos Catering, Provincetown
- 2016 –Judy Tarr
- Ben & Jerry’s in North Eastham
- 2015 –Tom Boland and Jim Farley
- Far Land Provisions in Provincetown
- 2014 –Sanette Groenewald
- Karoo Restaurant in Eastham