Significant Sig Rick Warther, KENT STATE 1977, Honored for Selflessness

When Rick Warther, KENT STATE 1977, was named a Significant Sig earlier this year, he thought that would be the zenith of his public recognition from the Fraternity. But when a person such as Warther, who continues to give his time by serving others through nonprofit organizations such as Tons of Turkeys, which provides turkeys to Philadelphia families in need, the accolades continue.
Warther was recently named the fall quarter recipient of the Mark V. Anderson Character-in-Action Leadership Award, which honors members who give of their time to help others and their communities. As such, a story about Warther and his service appeared in the fall issue of The Magazine.
“I was honored … surprised actually. To receive this additional award is really surprising and shocking. I’m truly humbled,” Warther says. “I found out that I won the award as I read the article. I’ve been walking air since I won the award.”
Warther’s daughters began Tons of Turkeys and his family remains heavily involved within it. Since 2008, they have donated more than 10,000 turkeys to families for their Thanksgiving meals.
“He decided that he saw a need and he wanted to act on it. He is a great Sigma Chi leader,” says Mark Anderson, ILLINOIS 1977, who selected Warther as this quarter’s award recipient. “What’s really great about it is that he allowed for people who received the turkeys to maintain a level of dignity. Some people won’t go to a soup kitchen looking for a handout.”