Chamber of Commerce Banquet Raises Money, Distributes Awards

By ALEX WUKMAN

Updated: 03.13.09

The Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce’s annual fundraising banquet was held at the Cleveland Civic Center March 13. The event is the largest fundraising event held by the chamber.

The event featured a silent and live auction, a performance by comedian Adam Christing who also doubled as the auctioneer. The items up for auction ranged from coat racks to gift baskets to rifles.

The item that raised the most money was a crawfish diner for 50 people catered by Top Hat Catering, it went for $1,100. The item that generated the second largest amount of funds was a five day Carnival cruise, which went $1,000.

After the auction the chamber board announced the recipients of the Business, Citizen and Volunteer of the year awards. The Business of the Year award went to Cleveland Regional Medical Center (CRMC) and was accepted by CRMC’s CEO Cory Countryman.

The Citizen of the Year award went to Dr. Iraj Jabbari for his purchase and donation of thousands of bikes. It was accepted by his son Arash Jabbari.

The Volunteer of the Year award was renamed the Jean McAdam's Volunteer of the Year award in recognition of McAdams ongoing commitment to serving the people of the Greater Cleveland area. The inaugural Jean McAdams Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Kenneth Riggs.