Uncommon friends honored at gala

COURTESY PHOTO The Uncommon Friends Foundation presented their Honorary Lifetime Member Awards on Sept. 19 at the Harborside Event Center. From the left are: Uncommon Friends Foundation President, Tom Hoolihan; Honorary Lifetime Member Award Honoree, Steven "Rusty" Whitley; Honorary Lifetime Member Award Honoree, Bernice "Bernie" Swartz; University of Florida, Athletic Director, Jeremy Foley

The Uncommon Friends Foundation presented their Honorary Lifetime Member Awards on Sept. 19 at the Harborside Event Center.

The keynote speaker was Jeremy Foley, University of Florida athletic director, who is a strong character education advocate.

The 2007 recipients were Steven "Rusty" Whitley and Bernice "Bernie" Swartz. Rusty is a founding member of Wiltshire, Whitley, Richardson, & English, P.A., a full-service accounting firm. . Bernie is currently a reading coach at Edgewood Elementary School and is also an adjunct professor at Barry University.

Honorary Lifetime Member Awards have been presented over the years to distinguished individuals who have demonstrated the uncommon friends' traits, personal achievement, and ongoing support of the foundation. Included in this distinguished group are Jim and Ellie Newton, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Walter Cronkite, and former U.S. Senator Connie Mack.