Something our 2022 award winners have in common is they all exemplify the strength of community spirit and the joy of working together for the common good. It is their selfless acts of service that bring about meaningful and lasting change in our community, and it is my privilege to further celebrate their achievements with you.

Former Chamber President and current Second Vice President Amanda Reid-Raper was the unanimous choice for the Chamber Member of the Year Award. Amanda has served on the chamber board in some capacity for nearly 10 years and is a genuine ambassador for the chamber’s mission. Whether it’s leading a committee, setting up for an event, or helping to hire and onboard a chamber director, Amanda’s guidance and leadership have made her someone the chamber can always rely on. We thank her for her commitment to the people and businesses of our community and the causes that matter to them.

We were honored to recognize the incredible group of women who make up the nonprofit organization Women of Norwalk with our Citizen of the Year award. What was once a handful of women organizing community service projects has grown into a membership of roughly 50 local women giving back. The group supports its efforts through fundraising with merchandise sales, Trivia Nights and Bunco. The WON’s motto is “Give Where You Live” and, for them, that means awarding an annual scholarship to Norwalk graduates, supporting students who struggle with food insecurity by providing gift cards through their Backpack Program, and assisting families who need help with childcare expenses. Find them on Facebook @WomenofNorwalk or email womenofnorwalk@gmail.com to find out how you can help support their causes.

Our 2022 Business of the Year Award was presented to Winn’s Pizza & Steakhouse, which has been a Norwalk favorite since 2015. Andrew Nguyen accepted the award saying, “What drives me each day is knowing I can go to work and have the ability to make somebody’s day better one table and one meal at a time.” That sentiment is echoed by the restaurant’s motto, “Enter as strangers, leave as friends,” and through their contributions to the community. Congratulations to Winn’s and please remember to dine in town when dining out.

To see photos from our event, please visit our Facebook page and leave a note of congratulations to our deserving award winners. If you’re inspired by the individuals and groups above, please reach out to the chamber at info@ norwalkchamber.org to find out how you can get involved and help us do something greater, together.