Warren Coalition is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Larry M. Funk Memorial Award for Outstanding Service to Children. This award, established by the Warren Coalition in 2022, recognizes an individual who has made an exceptionally positive impact on the children of Warren County through dedicated, selfless service.
The award is open to anyone who serves children in any way. However, if serving children is their professional occupation, the nominator will need to demonstrate the ways in which they go above and beyond their normal job requirements.
Nomination Process
Nominators are asked to explain the contributions made to the children and youth of Warren County, cite specific examples, and list five outstanding qualities of the nominee. The selection of the award recipient is based solely on the nomination provided, not on outside information that the selection committees may have. The nomination is also used for the award write-up and subsequent media releases.
Nominations can be made online at https://bit.ly/FunkAward2026. (Note that the link is case-sensitive.) Nominations are due June 15, 2026. After the deadline, a panel of Warren Coalition staff and members will review the nomination packages, and select three to five packages to forward to the Funk family, who will make the final decision of who this year’s recipient will be. The selected person will be presented with a plaque and $500 cash at the Warren Coalition’s Annual Membership Luncheon in late July.
People who have been nominated before may be submitted again. However, past honorees are ineligible for five years following receipt of the award. Past recipients include Roger Smelzer (2022), Laura Nelson-Haas (2023), Michael S. Williams (2024), and Harmony Hike (2025). Questions may be sent to Celeste Brooks at celeste@warrencoalition.org.
About Larry
Larry M. Funk was a member of Warren Coalition for more than 20 years, serving in a number of positions to include Vice President and President during that time. The Warren County Sheriff Department employed Larry for over 28 years, and 27 of those were as the D.A.R.E. instructor and Community Policing representative. He received many awards and recognitions from community organizations such as Kiwanis, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, Warren County Sheriff Department, Warren County Board of Supervisors, and American Legion Post 53, just to name a few.
Larry’s many activities included presentations at events and distribution of educational materials for the youth of Warren County. This included many bike rodeos; Warren County Fair booths; Warren Memorial Hospital annual health fair; drug awareness displays; car shows; and car seat safety checks. He coordinated and organized the annual D.A.R.E. Day, which was the culmination of a year of planning for the fifth graders of Warren County Public Schools as part of the D.A.R.E education during the school year.
At his church, Larry served as an elder, assistant Sunday school superintendent, and a youth Sunday school teacher. His family recalled that he would practice his presentations for hours until he got them just the way he wanted. He took great pride working with the children of the community. Students and former students would frequently greet him with hugs whenever they saw him. Larry’s impact was great and long-lasting.
Larry was married for 38 years; the proud father of two sons; and grandfather of five grandchildren. He loved spending time with them and especially teaching them.
Warren Coalition is a nonprofit agency established in 1994 to help fill the gaps in health care and substance abuse awareness to the community. The Coalition began under the guidance of Warren Memorial Hospital as an outreach project, but it has since grown and was incorporated in 2001. The office is currently located in the Warren County Community Center. Their mission is to make Warren County a safe, healthy, and drug-free community through many programs and in collaboration with 15+ member agencies.
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