Ann Neizman Receives Rotary's Highest Honor

Ann Neizman of the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise has been selected to receive Rotary International's Service Above Self Award for 2024-25, the organization's highest honor bestowed upon a member. The award was presented this week by Immediate Past District Governor Ted Faigle, Assistant Governor Al Weiland, and current District Governor Nancy Cabral at a special gathering of the three Lahaina Rotary clubs. The Service Above Self Award recognizes remarkable contributions that significantly impact humanity, with only about 150 recipients selected worldwide each year from Rotary's 1.2 million members. Awardees are chosen by the Rotary International Board of Directors, making this recognition truly exceptional.

Ann's nomination centered on her extraordinary leadership during and after the devastating Maui fires of August 8, 2023. Despite losing her own home and all possessions when the fire destroyed historic Lahaina, Ann continued serving as Club President and led critical community recovery efforts while personally displaced.
 
Her selfless leadership included spearheading disaster recovery support at evacuation centers, coordinating distribution of 1,000 gift cards to fire survivors, and managing a 16,000-pound book supply drive for students at destroyed schools. Throughout her personal displacement of over a year, Ann maintained essential services like Meals on Wheels deliveries and led vocational recovery projects helping dozens of residents restart their livelihoods.

"Despite Ann's own personal situation, she always shows up to volunteer with a positive attitude," noted a fellow club member. "Without my club family and Ann's leadership, I don't know if I would have made it through the first year after the fire."

Ann's story exemplifies Rotary's highest ideals – choosing to serve others while experiencing profound personal loss, strengthening her club's service capacity during crisis, and directly impacting thousands of lives through her initiatives. Her recognition with this prestigious award honors not only her individual service but represents the resilience and spirit of service that defines Rotary in Hawaii District 5000.

(Photo left to right: Past District Governor Ted Faigle, Past President Ann Neizman, Assistant Governor Al Weiland, District Governor Nancy Cabral)