Bonafede Receives Rotary Service Award

The Rotary Club of Albion honored ACS Board of Education President Michael Bonafede on December 15th with the Paul Harris Fellow Award at a holiday reception consisting of Rotarians from Albion, Medina, Holley, and Middleport.

Mr. Bonafede is not a member of Rotary Club but was recognized as a community servant. He has been a board member since 1995. Mr. Bonafede is a supporter of youth soccer and helped start the AYSO youth soccer program in 1980 where he created 6 soccer fields on his own land. After several years of maintaining the fields he turned over their use and care to AYSO members for the cost of $1 a year. He also coached a youth league at Salmon Creek for 10 years and helped organize and coach the Lake Plains YMCA (age 19 and under) soccer program with Gary Smith in 1988.

Mr. Bonafede was a professional drummer for the band Black Sheep. In 2003 he and the band held a benefit concert in Rochester with proceeds going to "Bright Eyes" an organization for children with brain tumors. He promotes the annual Genesee-Orleans Jazz Festival that donates all proceeds to the Orleans Visitor's Center. He was the house drummer on weekends at Stage 13 and for several years volunteered his time to play in the orchestra pit for the Albion High School musicals.

Mr. Bonafede is the owner and operator of Sports Graphics. He believes in giving to the community and offers fair, low prices to organizations for items. He donates clothes to Yesterday's Treasures, a store located in downtown Albion, when people order items and do not collect them. He and his wife Judy served as co-chairpersons for the Eastern Orleans United Way fundraising campaign.