By Jennifer Theurer

OneMarysville is hosting the Celebrate Marysville Annual Awards Banquet January 10 at Venue 36 to celebrate area businesses, volunteers, and those who do the many small things that make a community great.

“The ceremony is a way for everyone to come together,” Wayne Kruse, OneMarysville executive director, said. “It’s the one time where you see most of our business leaders, active volunteers, and community leaders in the same room.”

Many awards will be given during the banquet, including the Legacy Award honoring Dan and Ronda Wassenberg of Pepsi-Cola, business of the year, and volunteer of the year.

“It’s a way to spotlight all of the good things that are going on,” Kruse said. “Whether that’s looking through the lens of customer service or what people are doing to the outsides and insides of their business or what they’re doing to be creative in staying relevant in today’s economy.”

In order to help citizens be more aware of all the volunteer work that goes on in Marysville, Kruse uses OneMarysville’s social media platforms to highlight a community volunteer they’re “nuts about” once a week throughout the year. Those weekly award winners are then voted on to see who wins the Black Squirrel of the Year award at the banquet.

“Sometimes it’s the really, really big things, but just as important are the little things that happen in town,” he said. “It’s all of those things working together that make Marysville a fantastic city.”

With so many volunteers helping Marysville to look great and run smoothly, Kruse sees the banquet as a way to thank them for all their hard work.

Reservations for the banquet are requested by January 5 and tickets may be purchased at onemarysville.com.