2026 Community Partner of the Month Awards

The Honey Hut Ice Cream in Old Brooklyn has been a favorite place to visit for both adults and children alike since 1974. This past Summer, they provided quite a deal to kids in the neighborhood, so I reached out to 2^nd District Patrol Officer Katie Medwid who played a big role in this endeavor.

Officer Medwid stated, “I partnered with Honey Hut Ice Cream in Old Brooklyn to provide ice cream coupons to children who were wearing helmets while riding their bicycles, encouraging bicycle safety and rewarding kids for practicing safe riding habits. I have been going to Honey Hut since I was little, and they have always been incredibly kind and welcoming to their customers. Their willingness to support this initiative was a great reflection of that continued kindness and commitment to the community.”

It was 2^nd District Commander Tim Maffo-Judd that reached out to me for this nomination and he remarked ” I would like to nominate Honey Hut Ice Cream in Old Brooklyn for the Community Partner of the Month for helping foster this effort in putting smiles on so many kids faces all while keeping them safe.”

It is because of their commitment to the safety of the kids in the community that the Cleveland Police Foundation is proud to name Honey Hut Ice Cream in Old Brooklyn its Community Partner of the Month for August 2026.

-Bob Guttu CPF

Nominated by 2^nd District Commander Tim Maffo- Judd

The following individuals have been nominated for our Community Partners of the Month Award for July 2026 by retired CPD Commander Keith Sulzer, and his statement is as follows:

“Lou Galizio, Nick Mazzone, and the Men of St Rocco’s have helped raise money for the CPF and the 2^nd District for nearly 20 years. They have selflessly sold tickets and donated their time organizing and manning reverse raffles so that our officers and our organization could help kids and families in our community. Most people don’t understand what goes into organizing and running fundraising events, and these men do it effortlessly and generously! Our thanks, goes out to St Rocco’s Church and the Men of St Rocco’s for all they do for those in need.”

It is because of their dedication to our officers, and the kids and families in our community, that the Cleveland Police Foundation is honored to name Lou Galizio, Nick Mazzone and the Men of St Rocco’s our Community Partners of the Month for July 2026.

-Bob Guttu CPF

-Nominated by Keith Sulzer

The Cleveland Police Foundation’s June 2026 Community Partners of the Month are Zeina Meslat and Firas Haykal of the Boaz Cafe located in Ohio City and specializing in Mediterranean food. These two individuals make it their mission to treat customers with respect and courtesy all while serving delicious food.

This respect and courtesy also extends to the law enforcement community as they have for the second year in a row supported the Officer Down Softball Tournament held on July 25, at Brookside Park in Cleveland Ohio. Their generosity and commitment will help benefit the family of fallen Lorain P.D. Officer Phillip Wagner, as did the families of CPD Officer Ritter and Euclid PD Officer Derbin benefitted last year.

I spoke with tournament director Todd Walsh who stated ” Zeina and Firas of the Boaz Cafe were honored to once again support our Officer Down Tournament and wanted to thank the Cleveland Police Foundation for recognizing their efforts.” It is because of their commitment to the community and our Heroes in Blue that the Cleveland Police Foundation is honored to name Zeina Meslat and Firas Haykal of the Boaz Cafe, our Community Partners of the Month for June 2026.

Our Community Partners of the Month for May 2026 are Joan Carabello and Sandra Negron, who are both being recognized for their extraordinary generosity, dedication, and unwavering support of the Cleveland Division of Police District Policing Award Ceremonies. The following narration was provided by Tammy Hanna, Project Director for the City of Cleveland’s Community Relations Board:

“Since 2022, Joan and Sandra have donated their time, talents, and resources to ensure that our award ceremonies are professional, elegant, and memorable events. Beginning with the First District and Second District ceremonies and expanding to all five police districts from 2023 to the present, their contributions have elevated these important community celebrations and allowed us to properly recognize the outstanding individuals who make a positive difference throughout our city.

Joan Carrabello has generously provided extensive event decor services, including premium linen tablecloths, beautiful satin napkins, elegant centerpieces, and stunning floral arrangements. Her contributions also include the creation of a floral wall backdrop that serves as a centerpiece of each ceremony. The value of her donated decor and floral services exceeds $1,250 per event, totaling more than $6,250 annually across the five district ceremonies.

Sandra Negron has dedicated countless hours to planning, decorating, setting up, and tearing down each event. Her expertise, attention to detail, and hands-on involvement ensure that every ceremony runs smoothly and maintains the high standards our honorees deserve. The value of her donated services is approximately $900 per event, totaling more than $4,500 annually across the five district ceremonies.

Most remarkable is that neither Joan nor Sandra has accepted any compensation for their services. Their generosity reflects a genuine commitment to supporting law enforcement and strengthening relationships between the police department and the communities they serve. Their contributions have played a pivotal role in the success of our District Policing Award Ceremonies. Through their dedication, they have helped create an atmosphere of pride, appreciation, and celebration for officers, community members, and stakeholders alike. Their willingness to give so selflessly demonstrates the very spirit of community partnership and civic engagement.”  It is because of their dedication and generosity that the Cleveland Police Foundation is honored to name Joan Carabello and Sandra Negron its Community Partners of the Month for May 2026. (Bob Guttu) (Nominated by Tammy Hanna)

The Grace Recovery Cafe is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing ongoing support and compassionate outreach programs for individuals in need of recovery from both mental health issues and substance abuse disorders. They are also committed to providing personalized treatment to support lasting well-being, and when necessary, they specialize in treating chronic relapses with integrated care to sustain recovery. Recently, they were gracious enough to host the Third District’s Coffee with a Cop at the cafe with both citizens and officers present to share conversations over a hot cup of coffee. Also included was a question-and-answer session moderated by Third District Commander Mark Maguth. At this time, many questions, concerns, and information were exchanged by both officers and individuals. A big thank you goes out to Founder/ Executive Director Marnetta Lewis and her staff for making us all feel welcome and for hosting this event. It is because of your dedication to helping people to recover from their individual issues that the Cleveland Police Foundation is honored to name the Grace Recovery Cafe its Community Partner of the Month for April 2026.

-Nominated by Third District Sgt. John Kubas

-Submitted by Bob Guttu

This month’s Community Partner of the Month is Kristina’s Family Restaurant where they not only serve delicious food but treat their customers and our CPD officers like family. They also have hosted numerous 1^st District Coffee with a Cop Events where officers and residents can engage in conversation over a hot cup of coffee. I reached out to CPD Officer Kerry Adams who sets up these events, and she shared the following, ” The folks at Kristina’s are a great community partner and are always available to host one of our Coffee with a Cop Events. They also love seeing us stop in on a regular basis for breakfast and a little small talk”. It is because of their devotion to the community and willingness to provide a venue for police and residents to engage with one another that the Cleveland Police Foundation is honored to name Kristina’s Family Restaurant our Community Partner of the Month for March/ 2026. (Bob Guttu CPF) ( Nominated by P.O. Kerry Adams)

The Cleveland Police Foundation is proud to recognize the United Parcel Service Middleburgh Heights Team as our February 2026 Community Partner of the Month. For the past three years, the UPS Team has generously supported the Cleveland Police Foundation through their donations and commitment to our mission. Their continued partnership helps us extend our impact and better serve our Cleveland Police Foundation Charities who rely on our support. We are especially excited to grow this relationship even further as the UPS Team looks to become even more involved through volunteering at upcoming events. Partnerships like this demonstrate the power of community collaboration, and we are grateful for UPS’s dedication to giving back.

It is because of their commitment to our mission that the Cleveland Police Foundation is honored to name the United Parcel Service Middleburgh Heights Team our Community Partner of the Month for February/ 2026.

-Bob Guttu, CPF

Nominated by Kathy Heigle, CPF

Members of the Western Elmwood Berea Corporation (WEBCO), a 40-plus year old industrial, manufacturing, and business organization on Cleveland’s West Side, were pleased to provide gourmet box lunches to the 80 officers working in District 1 on Christmas Day. WEBCO members work closely with CPD First District officers on safety issues and wanted to demonstrate their support for the remarkable work the officers do day in and day out, 365 days a year.

CPD Officer Kerry Adams, who has provided safety programs for members of WEBCO, stated, “They are a great partner with the Cleveland Division of Police and the First District. They have invited us numerous times to luncheons to talk about safety and how they can be better partners with us. They also loved when our K-9 Unit visited their facility and the officers discussed their duties and the importance of having these K-9’s available as partners.”

It is because of their willingness to support the Cleveland Division of Police that the Cleveland Police Foundation is proud to name the Western Elmwood Berea Corporation (WEBCO) our Community Partner of the Month for January 2026.

– Bob Guttu, CPF

Nominated by First District Officer Kerry Adams