From the Harvest Moon celebration to the Farmington Farmers and Artisans Market, Farmington resident Walter Gajewski has been deeply involved with the city's central business district.

At the 2012 Farmington-Farmington Hills Foundation for Youth and Families Heart and Soul Winter Gala, held at Sellers Buick GMC on Feb. 11, he will be honored for his contributions, with the Riley Award for Altruism.

The award debuted in 2010, when Dolores and George Riley were honored for their contributions to the community, including donations that helped complete Riley Park in downtown Farmington and Riley Skate Park in Farmington Hills, among many other projects.

According to materials provided by the Foundation, the award "recognizes there are generous, selfless people who lift the standards of our community higher without compensation and often without recognition." 

In addition to stepping up as volunteer Farmers and Artisans Market manager this past season, Gajewski has served on the Farmington Downtown Development Authority board since 2009. He has been a driving force behind the DDA's Harvest Moon celebration, which has for the past seven years brought several thousand people to the Walter E. Sundquist Farmington Pavilion and Riley Park in late September.

Individual tickets for the gala are $175; sponsorships and program book ads are also available. For information, contact Foundation director Barbara Yuhas, 248-345-9090 or barbarayuhas@aol.com