Dr. Mendoza will receive Citizen of the Year Award from Brighton Rotary Club

ROCHESTER N.Y. (WHEC) — Dr. Michael Mendoza, the Monroe County Public Health Commissioner, will receive the 2022 Citizen of the Year Award from the Brighton Rotary Club for his volunteer and leadership work.

The rotary club annually honors a Brighton resident or worker who has impacted the town’s community and beyond. Mendoza will receive the award at a May 16 ceremony for his volunteer work at Brighton’s drive-through mask giveaways and for becoming a leader during the pandemic.

"The first day the Town of Brighton held a drive-through mask giveaway, he was there ready to give away masks to his neighbors," said a statement from the rotary club.

The club said Mendoza delivered critical information to county residents during a time of crisis, including about COVID19 testing, vaccines, and pandemic protocols. They also praised his work to establish vaccine clinics and distribution sites for test kits in the county’s underserved communities, in partnership with nonprofits and health groups.

"As health professionals began receiving threats, Dr. Mendoza never wavered and continued to guide the community response to COVID in a very visible and effective way," said the statement.

The ceremony on Monday, May 16 will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Joey B’s at Brickstone, 1325 Elmwood Ave. in Brighton. Attendance is $25, which goes toward the Brighton Rotary Service Foundation. To RSVP, send an email to deannagail38@icloud.com