The Olean Rotary Club will host its 8th Annual Service Above Self Awards Dinner on Monday, May 11, 2026, recognizing three organizations whose long-standing service has made a lasting impact on the Olean community.The event will be held at Woodside Tavern on the Range, 3319 W. River Road, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Cocktails will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:15 p.m. and the award presentation.
The evening will feature a buffet dinner with a cash bar.
This year’s honorees are Harvest Field Ministries, the Olean Food Pantry, and The Warming House.
Together, these organizations represent decades of service addressing food insecurity and other critical community needs.
“The phrase Service Above Self was established as the principal motto of Rotary because it best conveys the philosophy of unselfish volunteer service,” said Paula Bernstein, Rotary Area Governor, and president-elect. “These organizations embody that philosophy every day through their dedication to helping others and strengthening our community.”
Tickets for the Service Above Self Awards Dinner are $45 per person or $85 per couple. Tickets may be purchased at the door, by mail to P.O. Box 121, Olean, NY, or by reserving online at https://portal.clubrunner.ca/344/Events/serviceaboveselfdinner
Reservations are requested by May 1.
Harvest Field Ministries has served individuals and families experiencing hardship since 2021, providing food assistance, outreach, and supportive services rooted in compassion, faith, and strong community partnerships.
The Olean Food Pantry has worked to alleviate hunger since 1954 by providing nutritious food to individuals and families in need while ensuring access to basic necessities with dignity and respect. Operated as a volunteer organization, the Food Pantry promotes food security by offering choices of healthy foods and empowering individuals through education, resources, and knowledge to support opportunities for self-sufficiency. Its vision is a community without food insecurity, recognizing that while hunger is a global issue, solutions are most effective when addressed locally through neighbors helping neighbors.
The Warming House provides nourishment, fellowship, and dignity to individuals experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. One of the oldest student-run soup kitchens in the nation, the Warming House began in 1974 as a drop-in center for isolated adults and expanded in the early 1980s to offer daily meals. In 2023, the organization served more than 23,000 meals, representing a 300 percent increase from five years earlier.
Past recipients of the Service Above Self Award include Meme Yanetsko; the Olean Area Service Clubs, including the Exchange Club, Lions Club, and Zonta; the Allegany American Legion Ritual Team; the Crandall family with Curt, Cathy, and Cory; Dan Evans; Linda O’Brien and Dan Spring; the Enchanted Mountain Garden Club of Allegany and the Olean Gardens and Beautification Committee; and the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany.
The Olean Rotary Club is a service organization of professionals dedicated to improving quality of life locally and internationally.
