Perego's big night: Daytona artist receives presidential honor for volunteer service

ORMOND BEACH — Art Army founder Perego received a President's Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award before a cheering crowd of friends and fellow artists Tuesday night.

"This is un-freaking-believable," the Daytona Beach artist told the gathering of approximately 125 people at The Grind Gastropub & Kona Tiki Bar in Ormond Beach. "This is so awesome you are all here with me. That's what this is all about. That's what the Art Army is all about. That's what this event is all about. Everyone is an artist."

The ceremony took place in front of one of the many murals Perego has painted for businesses since moving to the Daytona Beach area in 1991.

How did he get selected for the honor?

Perego, who started legally going by his last name several years ago, was nominated to receive the presidential honor by Khalilah Camacho-Ali, a past-recipient of the award who is a humanitarian/author/actress once married to boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

Camacho-Ali told the audience that President Joe Biden personally invited her to nominate others to receive the award for volunteer service "even though I am a conservative."

One of the requirements for the award is to have performed at least 4,000 hours of volunteer service.

Perego founded the Art Army in Daytona Beach in 1996. The all-volunteer group's mission is to change the world through art and creativity as well as to promote the concept that everyone can be artists. The nonprofit alliance has grown to represent thousands of artists around the world.

Perego's selection to receive the award was approved by the S.M.I.L.E. Foundation in Houston, one of the certifying organizations involved in the President's Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award program.

Camacho-Ali presented Perego with both a letter and certificate signed by Biden as well as a presidential medal which she hung around his neck.

Why was the event held in Ormond Beach?

Perego told the audience that he was given the choice of where to receive the award. For him, it was a no-brainer.

"I could've probably done it at the White House, probably done it with the president, but I'd rather be here with y'all," he said. "Yes, Art Army people!"

What else happened at the event?

Perego's big night began with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m., at three neighboring Ormond Beach restaurants, all of which he has created murals and/or paintings for over the years: The Grind/Kona Tiki Bar, 31 Supper Club and Rose Villa Southern Table & Bar. The event included live music as well as an interactive community mural project that attendees were invited to help create. The festivities culminated with the award presentation which included speeches, a video about the Art Army, and testimonials from friends and Art Army member artists.

Camacho-Ali sold signed copies of her autobiography "Undefeated" which came with an autographed photo of her and Muhammad Ali when they were married from 1967-1977.

Also in attendance were Rich Harvey and Audrey Parente of South Florida's Bold Venture Press who were selling copies of an award-winning anthology of Zorro short stories featuring illustrations by Perego.

What others say about Perego receiving the presidential honor

"This man (Perego) is going to go down in history. He's done so much for our youth and, honey, that Art Army is a message from heaven." — Khalilah Camacho-Ali

"Meeting Perego and realizing he was an artist, I'm like, 'I wish I was an artist.' I didn't realize I was an artist. Whatever we do in this world … is our art." — Ormond Beach filmmaker/videographer Christo Hansen who became a member of Art Army

"It's a well-deserved honor and it's not something he solicited. The people that meet and work with (Perego) fall in love with him. He's got so much soul." — Bold Venture Press Editor Audrey Parente (who first met Perego when she wrote a story about him in the 1990s as a then-freelance writer for The Daytona Beach News-Journal)

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: White House honors Daytona artist and Art Army founder Perego