Dr. Stephen Schroering, right was presented the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce's Heart of Lehigh Award by Michael Swords, left.

Dr. Stephen Schroering received the Heart Of Lehigh Award Saturday night at the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Gala held at the Gateway Country Club. The Heart of Lehigh Award goes to someone in the community who has devoted his or her life to the betterment of Lehigh and for the betterment of life of others.

Schroering is chairman of the board forming the new Volunteers in Medicine Clinic in Lehigh. Several in Lehigh serve on the board which plans an opening within the next few months of the new medical clinic which will be free to the working poor, the un-insured and the under insured.

The clinic already has around 42 medical professionals who have signed up to volunteer their time. He also goes to Haiti for several days every month or so or when needed to treat children in a large orphanage. He has brought children from Haiti to Lehigh Regional Medical Center to received treatment not available in Haiti.

Also, Jim Phebus, a long-time volunteer at the Chamber and at Lehigh Community Services was named Volunteer of the Year. He once owned a florist in Lehigh and later operated a travel agency in the community.

Both men were given standing ovations at the gala which began at 7 p.m. and concluded at 11 p.m.

Jim Phebus, center, was named Volunteer of the Year at the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce Gala Saturday night. At left is Joe Whalen, pressident and CEO of the Chamber, and at right is David Deetscreek, outgoing president of the board. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Several other awards were given and the new Chamber board and new directors were sworn in by Capt. Ed Tamayo who stood in for Sheriff Mike Scott, who was ill. The new chairman of the Lehigh Board of Directors is Joe Pearson who replaces David Deetscreek.

Tamayo spoke briefly, explaining how crime has been cut in half in Lehigh Acres and noted that once deputies from Lehigh covered a much larger area of eastern Lee County.

He said today deputies serve only Lehigh Acres and the office has become the Bravo District.

“The Brava District Office is Lehigh’s police department,” Tamayo said.

The Lehigh Chamber held a casino style gaming night during the evening and made several thousand dollars for its treasury. Somewhere between 160 and 180 people attended the gala, said Inke Baker, the assistant executive director.

Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Whalen presented awards. The master of ceremonies was NBC-2 Morning Anchor Clay Miller, who is also a Lehigh resident.

A full story of those who received awards will appear in The Citizen’s printed editions which are distributed throughout Lehigh on Tuesday and online Tuesday night.