Neffs National Bank President and CEO Kevin Schmidt was honored March 25 at the 23rd annual Spirit Award dinner hosted by the Greater Northern Lehigh Chamber of Commerce, a partner of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The dinner was at the Woodstone Country Club, Danielsville.

In addition to receiving the Spirit Award, Schmidt was also presented with several citations from state and federal representatives acknowledging his volunteer work.

“It’s a privilege to receive this award,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt is a member and Melvin Jones Fellow of the Upper Lehigh Lions Club, a member of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, an audit committee member at Union United Church of Christ, a member of Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers, as well as GNLCC and GLVCC.

He also is a volunteer for the Northern Valley Emergency Medical Services Auxiliary and is the president of the NOVA Board of Directors.

The awards dinner also served as a fundraiser for NOVA.

“You are a silent superhero,” said Marlyn Kissner, the executive director of the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp. “You are so well deserving of this award.”

Alice Wanamaker, the member relations director for CCEDC, said the Spirit Award event committee has been trying to honor Schmidt for the past three years, but he continually said no and that he did not deserve it.

When he was absent for the meeting to choose the recipient this year, “we took advantage of his absence and voted to honor him,” she said.

“We want people to know how great they are, and this award has done that year after year,” she said.

In his acceptance speech, Schmidt said, “While I don’t deserve this award, I thank you for it. … I would also like to thank my wife.”

And with a pause and getting a little choked up, he added, “She has been my rock. Thank you.”

The couple volunteers together for the NOVA auxiliary.

“I was really surprised when he was picked,” said his wife, Bobbi. “He’s not the kind of person who wants to be recognized. I think he’s very deserving of it though.”

Bobbi Schmidt said her husband puts in several hours a week on the Board of Directors for NOVA, in addition to the fundraisers. In all, he volunteers about 20 hours a month, just to NOVA.

“He volunteers me for everything, too, which I don’t mind,” she said. “We enjoy it. We get to meet a lot of people.”

The fundraising goal of the dinner was a minimum of $1,500 for NOVA.

Kristie Wilk, director of administration for NOVA, spoke to the audience about the organization and its work.

Wilk said that costs have gone up for NOVA. About 64 percent of the patients it serves are on Medicare or Medicaid, and the government reimbursements are low compared to the costs.

“When we go out on these calls, we are already operating at a deficit,” she said. “Grants and subscribers all help to fill that void.”

NOVA also has costs related to medications and equipment.

Wilk said one of the medications causes a mild paralysis to help the paramedic intubate the patient. Donations from the dinner will go toward the purchase of new scopes for intubation, she said.

Kevin Schmidt urged all of those in attendance to volunteer their time and talents to an organization.

“Don’t stand on the sidelines. Get involved,” he said.