Sparklight® recently awarded $1,000 each to Kirksville residents Ron Tennyson and Loren Wright for making a difference in their community as part of the internet service provider’s “A Stronger Connection” social media campaign.
Nominated by Wright, Tennyson is the owner of Kirksville Brake and Muffler. He goes the extra mile and never hesitates to stay late, or just lend a hand to customers and his community, Wright said. Tennyson ensures his shop is a welcoming place and a few of his neighbors and residents can usually be found there relishing in the space.
“We have been very fortunate to receive support from the community in a number of ways throughout the years and have been very blessed by our customers,” said Tennyson. “For these reasons, among many others, we feel that it is extremely important to invest in and give back to the community in which we live.”
Wright, nominated by Katie LeBaron, owns and operates Wright Pest Solutions. He is always making the community a priority and continuously supports all the businesses in town by either sponsorships, deals for treatments or by shopping there regularly, LeBaron wrote in the nomination. “He never fails to stop and help anyone in need regardless of payment or time,” LeBaron wrote.
“I’ve always lived in this small community so it’s easy for me to feel involved in so many areas,” said Wright. “We have always and will always sponsor various people and organizations in our community. This $1,000 award from Sparklight allows us to fill in some gaps for our sponsorships, from baseball and softball teams, local color guard and bands, to race cars and pulling trucks.”
Wright added that a portion of the award will be a big help in a larger scale mosquito project he’s doing to benefit a local neighborhood to combat the “pesky blood suckers.”
“It’s inspiring to how Ron and Loren take owning their businesses to the next level and truly impact the lives of their friends and neighbors,” said Martin Stitzer, Sparklight Kirksville General Manager. “Both Ron and Loren are building strong connections in their community and we’re honored to recognize them for their contributions to Kirksville.”
Individuals throughout the 21 states Sparklight serves were nominated by fellow community members who shared how the nominee works to build connections in their community.
Sparklight awarded $1,000 each to 12 individuals through its “A Stronger Connection” social media campaign. Winning individuals are highlighted on Sparklight’s social media channels, including Facebook and Instagram.