Danielle Carey Tolan, Westfield Washington Township Trustee, was awarded the prestigious honor of Trustee of the Year by the Indiana Township Association at its annual conference on Sept. 21.
This award is given to a trustee who has proven to be exceptional and goes above and beyond the traditionally required responsibilities.
“I am humbled and honored to receive this distinguished award,” Tolan said. “There are so many trustees across the state of Indiana whom have made important contributions to their community and do amazing things to serve their constituents.”
“Danielle is one of those people that is always looking for better ways to do things,” said Adams Township Trustee Michelle Junkins. “When she says she can take on a project, there is no doubt in my mind she can.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tolan stepped up as a community leader in many ways, including creating a Community Outreach team with Westfield community and nonprofit leaders to ensure that the needs of the community were being met.
She also works tirelessly to oversee a federal grant that provides assistance to renters in the county. As the President of the Hamilton County Trustees Association, she was given the opportunity to manage the $18 million federal grant for the Hamilton County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (HC ERAP). This program assists renters who have lost income due to the pandemic. Within a short timeframe, she secured a team to manage the rental assistance program for the entire county. To date, HC ERAP has distributed over $5 million in rent and utility assistance to more than 1300 households, allowing these residents to remain in their homes.
Tolan is in her second term as Washington Township Trustee and has worked to create efficiencies in local government to not only streamline the township office but to be a better steward of taxpayer money. Her passion to give to the community has shown as she has strengthened partnerships with over 150 Hamilton County and state service providers.