The Sept. 26 ceremony lauds the best in local journalism from the past year and community award honorees
Tickets for the 2024 Touchstone Awards are available for purchase at toledopressclub.com, with discounts available for Press Club members, nominees and students.
Hosted annually by the Press Club of Toledo, the Touchstone Awards celebrate the best in local journalism and communications across print, television, radio, social media and public relations. The ceremony will take place Thursday, Sept. 26 at the Valentine Theatre and is observing 26 years of commemorating the work of area journalists and communications professionals.
Tickets are $100 for nonmembers, $75 for Press Club members and $45 for Touchstone nominees and students. Parking in the North Summit Street lot, located across the street from the Valentine Theatre entrance, is included with ticket purchase.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with gourmet grazing, cocktails and a raffle featuring donations from Metroparks Toledo, TolHouse and other local organizations. The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. in the historic theater.
In addition to giving journalism and communications awards, the Press Club of Toledo recognizes individuals for their service and contributions to the greater Toledo community at the ceremony. The 2024 community award honorees are:
Barbara Hendel, society editor at The Blade, is the recipient of the Norm Cartwright Award, which is named after a founding member of the Press Club of Toledo and honors outstanding efforts to promote the Press Club’s principles;
Ambrea Mikolajczyk, real estate developer and owner of ARK Restoration and Construction, is the recipient of the Contributor Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the community, specifically someone who has made a significant impact on the quality of life in Northwest Ohio over the past year;
Debra Monagan, president ex officio of Communica, is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the community in all aspects, including business, public service and philanthropy; and
Mark Zaborney, retired reporter from The Blade, is the recipient of the Golden Touchstone Award, which recognizes lifetime achievement in the field of journalism in Northwest Ohio.
The Touchstone Awards is the sole fundraiser for the Press Club of Toledo’s scholarship fund. Two scholarships will be awarded at the ceremony to students from The University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University who epitomize service and dedication to the profession of journalism.
The 2024 Touchstone Awards is supported in part by The Blade, Adams Street Publishing, Communica, Nuestra Gente Community Projects, Owens Corning, SSOE Group and media sponsor BCAN/BCSN.