Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival today named Robert and Janis Kazimour as recipients of the 8th annual Peter Teahen Award.
The Peter Teahen Award, named after Peter Teahen -- the founder of the Freedom Festival, is presented each year to an individual or individuals who embody the spirit of patriotism and who exemplify the sense of community and family. The Kazimours have an extensive and exemplary history of community involvement not only with Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival, but also numerous healthcare, youth, religious, education, cultural and recreation, public safety, business, philanthropic and other organizations.
“Robert and Janis Kazimour have been loyal supporters of Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival over the years, but even more importantly, each day they demonstrate their sense of community and family upon which this award is founded,” noted Freedom Festival executive director, Janet Wilhelm. “The Kazimours are dedicated to their community and have shared generously of their time and talents for more than four decades and continue to do so.”
A former U.S. Air Force captain, Robert Kazimour founded RFK Transportation, Inc., in 1973 and is the company’s CEO and Chairman. Janis Kazimour is an ardent supporter and volunteer for Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids providing assistance in numerous aspects of the Center’s management and patient care. Generous with their financial resources, the Kazimours are equally generous with their time and talents with numerous other organizations and community projects.
Past recipients of the award include Peter Teahen, Rick Sellers, Jerry Carr, Bill Quinby, Julie Perez, Linn County Commissioner Lu Barron and Cindy Dietz.
Freedom Festival 2008 will run from June 19 through July 4, and offer a broad spectrum of family-friendly entertainment, educational and reflection-inspiring activities and events. The Festival has grown steadily over the years and today is one of the premier patriotic celebrations of our many freedoms in America’s Heartland, and is a signature event for Cedar Rapids. More than 403,000 attended events during the 2007 Freedom Festival.