Prize honors Toledo's good news
3/10/2011The owner of a Toledo law firm said he has grown tired of people running down Toledo and is handing out prizes twice a month to northwest Ohio residents who are helping the community as a way to highlight good things about the city.
Charles E. Boyk, who owns a firm bearing his name, was joined by Toledo Mayor Mike Bell Wednesday to announce a "Good News Good People" contest, which will seek out nominations from northwest Ohio residents "going out of their way to create good news."
Winners will receive a personalized prize pack valued at over $100, Mr. Boyk said.
"We believe that Toledo and northwest Ohio is a great place to live and to work," he said. "We are sick of the negativity and Forbes Magazine running down Toledo."
For the second consecutive year, Toledo was listed last month in Forbes' annual ranking of "America's 20 Most Miserable Cities," moving from No. 15 last year to No. 12 in the 2011 ranking.
Mr. Bell praised Mr. Boyk's idea as a great way to highlight positive things in Toledo.
The first winner was Steve Hartman, a Toledo native and CBS News correspondent who has hosted positive-news segments, Mr. Boyk said.
The second winner, announced Wednesday, was Norman Eck, a volunteer at Unity United Methodist Church food pantry in Northwood. Mr. Eck said the pantry served 9,338 people last year.