The GazetteLeader has been tapped as the new sponsor of the highest honor in Arlington civic activism.
The “GazetteLeader Cup” will be the new name of the annual award presented by the Arlington County Civic Federation.
It will continue the tradition of media organizations sponsoring the award (the Civic Federation itself decides on the recipients). The honor was known as the Evening Star Cup from 1938-81, the Journal Cup from 1982-2004 and the Sun Gazette Cup from 2004-22.
The first recipient, in 1938, was Robert Plymale, a Civic Federation Committee chair, for his efforts reforming electric-utility service in the county. The most recent honoree, in 2022, was Allan Gajadhar, for his service as Civic Federation president.
The award traditionally has been presented at the Civic Federation’s annual springtime banquet. The arrival of COVID caused those events to be canceled in 2020, 2021 and 2022; the passing of the cup those years was accomplished at other times.
This year, the award presentation is planned for a Civic Federation picnic slated for June.
The Civic Federation traces its roots to 1916, when a group of six homeowners associations banded together to promote public purposes. It has grown to more than 60 member organizations in the intervening years.
For information, see the Website at www.civfed.org.
