Rebecca Wasik
Dec 28, 2024
Rose Cholewinski is known for her involvement in an array of organizations and projects in the Davis community.
Her hard work and dedication is why she has been named the 2024 Davis Citizen of the Year.
The Citizen of the Year Award is an annual award given to a Davis resident that has exemplified outstanding service to the community over time.
“I have been around Davis for a bit, since 1978, and have been fortunate to know many of the tireless volunteers that make Davis the community it is,” said Cholewinski’s nominator Chuck Cunningham. “Rose is definitely one of those special individuals that is deserving of Citizen of the Year.”
You may recognize Cholewinski from a number of different community organizations - the most likely being Swim America Swim School, which she owns.
Cholewinski has over 25 years of teaching and coaching experience and founded the AquaStarz synchronized swimming team.
The Davis AquaStarz were established in 1999. The AquaStarz Founder’s Award is given each year through donations to an individual who has demonstrated hard work and determination through commitment, fun, teamwork and a positive, upbeat attitude.
Recently, Cholewinski and her Swim America staff provided a free, eight-week course of swim lessons for young children in the Knight’s Landing community as a way to help the kids learn life saving skills.
In 2022, the United States Swim School Association honored Cholewinski for her work in the local community and nationally with the United States Swim School Association Humanitarian Award.
According to the organization’s website, “This award is given periodically and seeks to recognize members of the U.S. Swim School Association who have provided outstanding service to others, demonstrating empathy, selflessness and commitment. The Humanitarian Award seeks to encourage good works among the members of the U.S. Swim School Association, particularly good works that impact children, learning to swim, safety, community and families.”
Thriving Pink
Cholewinski makes an impact out of the water too.
She is a founding board member of local nonprofit Thriving Pink and has served as the Granting Pink Chair since 2017.
According to Thriving Pink Executive Director Leslie Hunter, Cholewinski’s leadership has allowed the organization to partner with local businesses and her efforts to raise funds to support newly diagnosed patients have been invaluable.
At the eighth annual Pink Gala, Cholewinski was honored with the 2024 Community Service Award for her work.
Under her coordination, over $300,000 in individual financial grants have been awarded over the past eight years to support breast cancer patients.
“Rose's compassion drives her to be successful as a nonprofit volunteer, always showing up with positivity to lead others,” remarked Hunter.
Citizens Who Care/YoloCares
As a Citizens Who Care board member, Cholewinski helped oversee its 2018 merger with YoloCares, a local nonprofit hospice organization. Cholewinski continues to be a board member with YoloCares, advocating for respite care for family caregivers.
“Rose is a valuable member of our Board of Directors, offering strategic planning insights and remaining an advocate for the caregiver support component of YoloCares,” said YoloCares CEO Craig Dresang.
Sunrise Rotary/Natalie’s Corner
For many years, Cholewinski has been an active member of the Davis Sunrise Rotary, serving as president in 2018 and 2019.
In 2023 and 2024, she organized a “Touch a Truck” event for kids and their families, benefitting the Officer Natalie Corona Memorial (Natalie’s Corner) and Make it Happen Yolo, which provides underserved transition age youth (generally between ages 18 and 24) in Yolo County who are transitioning into independent living situations with furniture, household goods and resources to furnish their first home.
Alongside the City of Davis, the Davis Joint Unified School District and the National Touch a Truck Organization, Cholewinski worked with public agencies, contractors, farmers and more to assemble a wide variety of trucks, tractors, backhoes, garbage trucks and more for kids to climb, blow horns and have fun exploring.
Through sponsorships and gate receipts, in conjunction with the Davis Sunrise Rotary, $70,000 was donated to Natalie’s Corner and $15,000 to Make it Happen.
“Rose embraced Touch A Truck with enthusiasm, involving many members of our club,” stated 2023-2024 Davis Sunrise Rotary President Brodie Hamilton. “We were pleased to be able to contribute in a meaningful way to two very worthy local causes.”
Chamber of Commerce
In addition to her many other endeavors, Cholewinski has also served on the Davis Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, including a time as president in 2016.
"I am deeply honored and humbled to be selected as the Citizen of the Year," Cholewinski told The Enterprise. "I have loved this community since I moved here in 1987 and my plan is to keep serving in a variety of ways while always giving my attention to water safety as my number one focus. This community has always been a source of inspiration, challenge, energy, success, warmth and kindness. I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to our community in meaningful ways. Thank you to everyone, all those who have been part of the SwimAmerica team, past and present, and to all the committees and Boards of Directors with whom I have served. It’s been a meaningful journey and I’m not finished…yet."