The Bill Prest Community Service Award is presented annually to a player who best represents what the Ontario Football Conference is all about. The young man who receives this is a player who gains recognition and respect from the community, from his coaches and his peers.He establishes a work ethic that represents self-sacrifice and the blue-collar image of the league. This is the image that sets the O.F.C. and the C.J.F.L. apart from other leagues.
The Ontario Football Conference is proud to announce the 2012 recipient of “The Bill Prest Community Service Award”, Windsor AKO Fratmen Offensive Lineman Johnny Muresan.
Submitted by Windsor AKO Fratmen Head Coach Mike LaChance.
Like most players in the CJFL, Windsor AKO Fratmen Offensive Lineman Johnny Muresan practices each night during the season, works at a part time job and attends school. However, unlike most young athletes Johnny also fills his days and nights with countless hours giving back to those less fortunate.
John’s lists of volunteer activities are numerous to say the least. He has served as an inner city youth councilor for “Breakout”. There he helped to plan and execute safe extracurricular activities at the West End Community Center for kids ages 5-18. They played basketball, floor hockey, and provided Halloween parties, Christmas parties, and game nights for the kids while teaching them how God was an integral part of their lives. At “Breakout” John is also involved in the “Breakout Bags” program. This program involves distributing bags that are filled with toys, hats, gloves, and winter coats. These bags are then given out to Windsor children in need. Finally the “Breakout” group fund raises to bring 25 underprivileged kids to the Braeside Christian Camp for 6 days in the summer. At the camp the kids learn about the power of God and get to enjoy a week filled with services, pools, zip lines, sports etc. John is also heavily involved in “Operation Christmas Child” at his Church. This movement sends shoe boxes filled with toothbrushes, toiletries, toys, books, crayons, pencils etc.to the children of third world countries. Last year alone, Johnny’s church sent over 2000 boxes overseas.
This summer before football started, Johnny volunteered for a mission at the Deer Lake Native Reserve in Northern Ontario. They provided a Vacation Bible School each afternoon, engaged in community building events at the Reserve like sports, fishing, and barbeques and led Church services on Sunday. His group provided a shining light and preached hope and faith to the native peoples. At his church John is involved as a youth intern. He helps run a program called “Mosaic Youth”. They work with kids from the 5th grade to the 12th grade and help to answer questions about faith, God, and the pressures of being young in today’s world. John helps the church connect with its younger members and provide them with mentoring and coaching along their journey.
Besides these countless accomplishments Johnny still finds time to volunteer as a Bible School Leader, run Christmas and Easter musicals, serve as a “Surge Camp” Councilor, help run church led blood drives, and serve at the Nursing Home Ministry which puts on Church services at various nursing homes across Windsor.
Obviously Johnny Muresan is a remarkable individual. He is everything that a Coach would want in a player and everything that a parent would want from a son. He is able to make an impact on the world both near and far. He has shown the ability to reach out to those in need and make their life better in the process. The Fratmen Football family is very proud of our players “on” field accomplishments, but we are even more proud of our players “off” field endeavors. This is why I am ecstatic to nominate Windsor AKO Fratmen Johnny Muresan for the 2012 Bill Prest Award.
Mike LaChance Head Coach Windsor AKO Fratmen Congratulations to Johnny Muresan and the Windsor AKO Fratmen, well-done.
The mission and mandate of the O.F.C. and the C.J.F.L. is:
“The Ontario Football Conference, as part of the Canadian Junior Football League, provides the opportunity for young men, aged 17 to 22, to participate in highly competitive, post-high school football that is unique in Canada. The goal of the league is to foster community involvement and yield a positive environment by teaching discipline, perseverance and co-operation. The benefits of the league are strong camaraderie, national competition and life-long friends. “
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