Rotary Club of Lexington Receives Award from Military Missions

Rotary Club of Lexington Honored with 2025 Barbara Denson Memorial Volunteer Award

At last week’s meeting, the Rotary Club of Lexington was recognized with the 2025 Barbara Denson Memorial Annual Volunteer Award, presented on behalf of Military Missions, Inc.

The award, accepted by Veterans Dean Hammond and Chris Cambell on behalf of the Club, honors individuals or organizations whose volunteer efforts have made a meaningful impact in supporting deployed U.S. military service members.

Named in memory of Barbara Denson, mother of Military Missions founder Beth Pennington, the award reflects a legacy of quiet, faithful service. Since the organization’s founding in 2004, Barbara played an instrumental role in its growth, dedicating countless hours to ensuring service members felt remembered and supported from home.

That same spirit of service lives on through the Rotary Club of Lexington.

In 2025, Military Missions served a record 11,724 deployed service members, a milestone made possible in large part through Rotary’s continued partnership. Club members played a hands-on role in all four major care package shipments throughout the year, helping pack nearly half of the total packages distributed. Their presence was especially felt during Operation Send Christmas, where Rotarians showed up in force to support one of the organization’s most meaningful initiatives.

Beyond the financial support and volunteer hours, one of the most impactful contributions continues to be the handwritten notes included in each care package, simple, heartfelt messages that serve as powerful reminders to service members that they are not forgotten.

The Rotary Club of Lexington’s commitment to service above self was on full display, and this recognition serves as a testament to the Club’s enduring impact, both here at home and for those serving far from it.