WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A longtime member of the Azalea Festival is getting international recognition.
The International Festivals & Events Association recently announced Jean Lawler received the 2018 IFEA Volunteer of the Year Award.
Lawler has served the North Carolina Azalea Festival in almost every way imaginable. She began her festival journey in 1960 and has since given more than 50 years of continual service to the Azalea Festival.
Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo and New Hanover County Commission Vice Chair Skip Watkins helped celebrate and show thanks to Lawler for all her years of hard work at Monday’s Azalea Festival meeting.
“Oh, it’s just fantastic,” Lawler said. “I love where I live, and being a volunteer has just been so easy, and when I got involved with the Azalea Festival we just had great people. They love their community, and they want to give back. That’s what it’s all about.”
Lawler says her granddaughter is a freshman in high school and plans to begin volunteering for the festival. She says that the inspiration to the next generation is enough of an award in itself.