50 years of honoring volunteers

It began with a simple mission:

"We have originated this award to encourage men to do the work for their community that would not otherwise be done," wrote Roy E. Marquardt in a letter, dated Aug. 28, 1959, announcing the first recipient of the Fernando Award.

"We want to make the presentation of the award fit the high value that should be placed on civic work." Brendan Lowrey in the Daily News.