FORMER TIMES-UNION PUBLISHER CARL CANNON RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS PRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTEER AWARD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 28, 2011
CONTACT: Jayme O’Rourke, 850-414-2974
JACKSONVILLE – At a meeting of the Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (Volunteer Florida) this afternoon, Carl Cannon, retired publisher of the Florida Times-Union and former chairman of the Florida Press Association, was presented with the President’s Call to Service Award for having served over 20,000 volunteer hours in his lifetime. Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Commission, and Commissioner Danny Berenberg presented the award.
“If there is a community service needed, Carl Cannon has been there to do it. He has continued, after retirement, to serve the needs of the community with almost limitless energy and dedication,” said Commissioner Berenberg. “There can be few who deserve this recognition more than Mr. Cannon.”
To qualify for the President’s Call to Service Award, volunteers must have logged 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetime.
“Mr. Cannon’s extensive volunteer efforts have made a tremendous impact in Jacksonville, and I commend him for achieving this high honor and thank him for his service,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Wendy Spencer.
Cannon’s volunteer service in the Jacksonville region is extensive, including leading the efforts to build the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts and his current work with Touchdown Jacksonville, a community effort to keep the Jaguars in Jacksonville. Cannon’s volunteer board work includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Florida Press Service; Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens; Wesley Manor, Inc.; The University of North Florida Foundation Board; the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast Metropolitan Board; the Jacksonville Symphony Association; the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce; the Florida Community College Foundation; Rotary Club of Jacksonville; and the Alliance for World Class Education.
Cannon was publisher of The Florida Times-Union and executive vice-president of Morris Publishing Group before retiring on December 31, 2007. He was with Morris for 42 years and was made publisher of The Florida Times-Union in 1990.
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The Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, Volunteer Florida, was established in 1994 by the Florida Legislature to administer grants under the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. The Commission grants funds to Florida AmeriCorps and National Service programs; coordinates volunteerism in disaster preparedness, response and recovery; and helps to strengthen and expand volunteer engagement for everyone from youths to seniors to people with disabilities. For more information, visit: www.volunteerflorida.org.