Tony Sawyer of Weare was presented with Granite State Communication’s Hometown Hero Award at the 17th annual Customer Appreciation Day on Sept. 26.

The award is presented to a resident who is giving to his or her community to make it a better place.

Sawyer is president of the John Stark Generals Football Association, as well as a coach. He is also coordinator of the Hillsborough County Corrections Community Service Program, in which qualified inmates volunteer in communities throughout Hillsborough County, including Weare.

Sawyer said he was overwhelmed by the award.

“I’m very surprised, and very humbled by it,” he added, noting that the recognition is nice, but that isn’t what drives him. “I do this for the kids. They should have a place to experience positive things and I want to make sure they’re going in a positive direction.”

Sawyer said he’s also surrounded by a lot of great parents and volunteers, most of whom worked tirelessly to raise more than $30,000 to build a new concession stand at Weare’s Francis A. Bolton Memorial Park, known to most residents as Bolton Field.

Money raised by the concession stand will be rolled back into the organization, to pay for items such as team jerseys and having referees and EMTs at each game. Eventually, Sawyer would like to see lights at the field, so that teams can play evening games.

Sawyer has lived in Weare with his wife, Kerri, and their two children for eight years. He said that even when his own children are grown and it’s time to move on, he wants to leave the Generals “in a good place.” In his involvement with the Generals, he said he’s learned that “it really does take a community to raise a child.”

The Customer Appreciation Day also included a barbecue lunch, pumpkin decorating, a magic show by local magician Steve Thomas, balloon animals for kids and a child ID booth hosted by the Weare Police Department and John Stark senior Kris Begin. An interactive tour of the building provided visitors with a chance to explore what new services Granite State Communications has to offer, including fiber optic technology. Participants were given a scavenger hunt-type quiz to learn about fiber optics, and correct entries were entered into a raffle to win a Wii fit.