Mottas earn Service Award
FINDLEY TWP, Mercer County — About 50 members of the Young Life youth ministry organization sneaked in the back door of the Legacy Banquet & Conference Center Wednesday evening to make the presentation of the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce's Community Service Award extra special.
The award, the chamber's most prestigious honor, was given to Chris and Darla Motta at the organization's annual dinner, which was attended by about 180 members and their family members.
The Mottas, owners of the Legacy, were recognized for their contributions to the community, including service through the Rotary Club and the Grove City Volunteer Fire Department.
However, they were recognized mostly for their work with Young Life, which included helping keep the Grove City High School chapter open. The group serves about 250 to 300 children each week.
Brad Mowry, area director for the global Christian organization, said the Mottas have opened their home and dedicated their time to train youth leaders who build relationships with other youths to minister.
Two Young Life youth leaders also gave testimonies about how the Mottas touched their lives.
In accepting the award, Chris Motta, a cancer survivor, said, “When we moved here in 1999, this community welcomed us in so many ways.”
“When I would go get my chemotherapy, we would come home, and there would be bags of groceries on our doorstep, there would be money taped to our front door, and we never knew who it was. So we try to treat everybody as if they left that bag on our doorstep and they left that money taped to the door,” he said.
Darla Motta said, “I do believe that the Lord has a plan and a purpose for all of us, and I am very excited that our plan was coming to Grove City and being a part of this wonderful community. We do feel very blessed to be here. We feel very blessed to be involved in the organizations we are.”
In introducing the award, Eric Thomas, who with his wife owns the Guthrie Theater in Grove City, thanked members for all their help to keep the theater open by raising money to buy a digital projector.
Eric Lindh of Elephant & Castle Pub & Restaurant, 2013 chamber board president, looked back on the chamber's successes during the past year.
Those included maintaining a stable organization, continued success of “cash mobs” that have helped infuse more than $10,000 into businesses since 2012, and completing renovation projects at the chamber's office.
Mike Johnson of Davevic Benefit Consultants, 2014 chamber board president, outlined goals for the new year, including redesigning the organization's website.
Mary Jo Palmer, owner of b'gifted on South Broad Street in Grove City, gave the evening's presentation, continuing the theme started at last year's meeting of showcasing hometown pride.
Palmer grew up in Grove City, and her father owned Bryer's Home Furnishings.
She talked about that experience, moving away for most of her life and why she returned to Grove City and opened her own business.
She also highlighted multigenerational family businesses through video interviews on the histories of Bryer's, Burdicks Men's Clothing Store and McMullen Travel & Tours.
