Corning Lions honor WGI with highest award. How track, club work together for community

The Corning Lions Club has volunteered for the past 18 years at WGI events, while the track has contributed $250,000 to support other volunteer causes.

Corning Leader

Teamwork from the Corning Lions Club and Watkins Glen International has made race weekends possible for hundreds of visitors to the Schuyler County track, and improved the lives of many Corning residents as well.

In honor of that partnership, the Corning Lions Club recently presented the Robert J. Uplinger Distinguished Service Award to Watkins Glen International for its support of the Corning Lions Club and the greater Corning Area.

Richard Sullenberger, past president of the Corning Lions Club, said since 2006 the Corning Lions have been invited by WGI to drive ADA golf carts during the NASCAR and IMSA race weeks, assisting guests with disabilities in getting around the grounds of the 3.4-mile track.

As a result, many guests who would otherwise have difficulty attending the events are afforded the opportunity to enjoy the major races and the entire facility.

The support goes both ways.

Dr. Edward V. Cordes, past International Director of Lions Clubs International Corning, said since 2006 contributions from WGI to the Corning Lions Club have amounted to about $250,000.

All the funds donated to the Corning Lions Club are put back into the community through Lions Club service activities.

“We are just thanking and awarding this to WGI for all the years they have supported us and supported many of our events throughout the Corning area,” Sullenberger said. “It has done so much for us and helped us do things for others.”

The Robert J. Uplinger Award is the highest honor that the Corning Lions can present to a community partner.

Track President Dawn Burlew accepted the award on behalf of the track during a club meeting at Carey’s Brew House on Bridge Street in Corning Thursday.

“We have a unique community which drives us every day to give back,” Burlew said. “One of our missions at NASCAR and at Watkins Glen International is to give back to our community, which has a ripple effect that makes us all successful.

"At the end of the day all events at WGI happen because of organizations like the Corning Lions Club.”

Burlew said the track experience is all about the memories, and groups like the Corning Lions Club help make it happen.

“We just thank you all for taking part and hope to see you all this summer at one of our events," Burlew said. "We all enjoy it."