Community
PenMet honors Olympic Civic Services with second Lilienthal Award
The Peninsula Metropolitan Parks commissioners recognized Olympic Civic Services and its directors, Gary Parker and Joe Hillyer, with the second Betty Lilienthal Advocacy Award during a meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
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Olympic Civic Services is a nonprofit focused on seniors, veterans and youth services. Hillyer and Parker founded it in 2023, and it has been heavily involved in helping PenMet provide services to seniors.
PenMet created the advocacy award last year “to recognize a person or group who has been an exceptional advocate in the community and has significantly impacted PenMet Parks’ mission and vision.” It gave Lilienthal the first advocacy award and named it after her.
PenMet said in a news release that OCS, Hillyer and Parker “have made exceptional contributions to our community in a short amount of time. With a focus on seniors, veterans and youth, the organization has already made tangible impacts on our community.”
PenMet Parks commissioners honored Olympic Civic Services with the second Lilienthal Advocacy Award on Tuesday, Dec. 2. From left, PenMet commissioners Steve Nixon and Missy Hill; Betty Lilienthal; Gary Parker and Joe Hillyer of Olympic Civil Services; and PenMet commissioners Billy Sehmel and Kurt Grimmer. Photo courtesy of PenMet Parks
Olympic Civic Services
Among other efforts, OCS advocates for a senior center in Gig Harbor. Parker and Hillyer have been involved in such efforts since at least 2023, when they proposed leasing a building on Soundview Drive for that purpose.
Gig Harbor seniors previously met in the former Boys and Girls Club building on Skansie Aveue. The Peninsula School District bought the building in 2019 and converted it into Pioneer Elementary School.
The senior center became a program of the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation, which is also pursuing plans for a permanent facility. For now, seniors congregate at Peninsula Lutheran Church on 38th Avenue.
Olympic Civic Services also sponsors events at assisted living facilities and works with PenMet on activities like biweekly bingo games and trips for seniors.
Parker and Hillyer
Parker is a philanthropist who owns BBQ2U, a restaurant on Point Fosdick Drive. He previously worked for major tech firms IBM and Intel.
Hillyer is president of Homewatch Caregivers of Tacoma, a former senior executive in the defense industry and a U.S. Army veteran. Both are active in the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Gig Harbor.
