Trail Blazers and Hands on Greater Portland Announce Heart of the Community Award Winners
Paul King and Walter Jaffe of White Bird Dance among local individuals and businesses to be honored for outstanding volunteer leadership.
Portland, OR. – The Portland Trail Blazers and Hands On Greater Portland announced the Eighth Annual Heart of the Community Awards honoring exemplary volunteers who have made significant contributions through service. Presented at a lunchtime ceremony in the Governor Hotel’s Heritage Ballroom, the awards promoted volunteerism in the community and called attention to local individuals and organizations that model outstanding volunteer leadership.
Award winners were chosen in six categories, including Heart of the Community Award, Individual Volunteer Award, Youth Leadership Award, Volunteer Innovation Award, Hands On Volunteer Award, and the Corporate Volunteer Award.
The 2008 award recipients are as follows:
Paul King and Walter Jaffe, Heart of the Community Award
Kelly Broomall, Individual Volunteer Award
Shantel Monk, Nathan Sibell Youth Leadership Award
Children’s Cancer Association, Volunteer Innovation Award
Stephanie Blackman, Hands On Volunteer Award
Providence Health and Services, Corporate Volunteer Award
With KGW News Anchor Laural Porter serving as master of ceremonies, local business and community leaders - including Trail Blazers President Larry Miller and former honorees - were on hand to present the awards.
All proceeds from the event benefit Hands on Greater Portland, Portland’s volunteer center dedicated to matching individuals of all ages with nonprofit organizations throughout the Portland area.
The Heart of the Community Awards is also sponsored by Fred Meyer, NW Natural, Comcast, Eco-Metro / Chinook Bank, Umpqua Bank, The Standard, U.S. Bank, Perkins & Co, Bank of the Cascades, OregonLive.com, and Intel.
Individual Volunteer Award Recipient, Kelly Broomall
Kelly Broomall is an exceptional volunteer with a big heart. A SnowCap ambassador since 1979 working to alleviate hunger in east Multnomah County, Kelly has given 30 years of immeasurable service to SnowCap, donating more than 1,000 high-skill level service hours annually. Whether donating his time and expertise to create and implement fundraisers, such as a 9/11 Flag Tribute, the Spirit of the Holidays program at Boeing Portland or saving the day by securing donations and leading the design and upgrade work in the warehouse when SnowCap was in danger of closing its doors due to code violations, Kelly is there leading the charge. His ability to draw volunteers, organize, lead and complete projects illustrates his leadership skills and his ability to see the bigger picture. Kelly Broomall embodies exceptional volunteer skills: passionate dependable, caring, dedicated, energetic, and selfless.
Nathan Sibell Youth Leadership Award Recipient, Shantel Monk
A foster child from the age of 10, Shantel Monk has grown into an All-Star volunteer. Now an 18 year old at De La Salle North Catholic High School, Shantel has been a Class Ambassador for three years and also serves as Youth Commissioner for City Commissioner Nick Fish. A gifted and passionate public speaker, Shantel was not only selected to speak at First Lady Laura Bush’s Regional Conference on Helping America’s Youth, she also introduced Oregon’s governor Ted Kulongoski at that conference. Shantel is dedicated and determined to improve the lives of at-risk and foster care children, serving as Chairman of “Speak Up…Speak Out”, a foster care Youth Advisory Committee that, with funding from Commissioner Dan Saltzman’s office, hosted a formal dinner for all of DHS foster care children. Shantel was also asked to testify before Mayor Tom Potter and the commissioners on issues relating to foster care. Shantel has helped raise more $250,000 for at-risk youth through her volunteer work with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Wednesday’s Child, and Hope Meadows.
Hands On Volunteer Award – Stephanie Blackman
Stephanie’s involvement with Hands On Greater Portland began in 1999 as a project leader for the Community Energy Project. Over the years she has increased her commitment and now teaches PSU capstone classes in conjunction with Hands On. Stephanie teaches students about civic participation and researches the relationship between education and democracy. An instructor of both undergraduate and graduate level courses in the Graduate School of Education at Portland State University, she has a background in sociology and a strong commitment to social justice in her classes. Stephanie’s interests in civic engagement, political participation, and service-learning in the classroom as ways of building democracy and creating social change have led to an inspiring experience for her students. Stephanie sees engaged learning as the key to personal and social transformation and shares that enthusiasm for service with her students semester after semester, helping to raise the next generation of volunteers and leaders in our community.
Volunteer Innovation Award, Children’s Cancer Association
Regina Ellis and her family founded the Children’s Cancer Association in 1995, the same year her daughter Alexandra died from cancer. Regina’s experience with her child’s extensive treatment and surgeries provided her with an understanding of what can help many children and families in medical crisis, and the areas of non-medical care that were unmet by hospitals and community organizations. The Children’s Cancer Association works with medical professionals in delivering a series of innovative programs and services for seriously ill children and their families. The Children’s Cancer Association improves the lives of children and teens with serious illnesses, and the families who care for them through innovative programs: the Chemo Pal mentor program trains and matches adults with children undergoing chemotherapy, the Music RX program brings the healing power of music to the hospitalized children and their families and medical professionals, the Caring Cabin provides a family retreat to build memories and the Life Support program meets the special needs of families when they need it most.
Corporate Volunteer Program, Providence Health & Services
For more than 150 years, Providence Health and Services has been committed to providing care for all patients in need, regardless of ability to pay for services. In 2007, Providence provided $63 million in free care as a part of the total community benefit of more than $145 million. That kind of service cannot be accomplished without the support of Providence’s most valuable asset--its employees. Providence's core values are respect, compassion, justice, excellence and stewardship. The Providence mission is carried out by employees, volunteers, physicians and others who work together in a spirit of service that reflects those core values. From corporate giving to employee volunteering to care for the environment, Providence Health and Services gives back to the community on many different levels. Since 1987, Providence has awarded more than $15 million dollars in grants and donations to local organizations. Providence Health Plan employees contribute thousands of volunteer hours every year. They are committed to serving the community, carrying out the Providence mission and making a difference.
Heart of the Community Award, Paul King and Walter Jaffe of White Bird Dance
Founded in 1997 by Paul King and Walter Jaffe, White Bird is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing excellence in dance to Portland through presenting established and emerging companies and choreographers, commissioning or co-commissioning new work, and collaborating with other arts organizations in Portland and the region to make dance performances possible. White Bird is dedicated to making dance exciting, educational, and accessible to people of all social and economic backgrounds. Through contributed income and sponsorships, Paul and Walter achieve those goals by facilitating outreach to schools and maintaining affordable ticket prices. As an advocate for dance, White Bird continues to strive to broaden audiences, develop new dance venues, and support both existing and new dance programs.
Portland, OR. – The Portland Trail Blazers and Hands On Greater Portland announced the Eighth Annual Heart of the Community Awards honoring exemplary volunteers who have made significant contributions through service. Presented at a lunchtime ceremony in the Governor Hotel’s Heritage Ballroom, the awards promoted volunteerism in the community and called attention to local individuals and organizations that model outstanding volunteer leadership.
Award winners were chosen in six categories, including Heart of the Community Award, Individual Volunteer Award, Youth Leadership Award, Volunteer Innovation Award, Hands On Volunteer Award, and the Corporate Volunteer Award.
The 2008 award recipients are as follows:
With KGW News Anchor Laural Porter serving as master of ceremonies, local business and community leaders - including Trail Blazers President Larry Miller and former honorees - were on hand to present the awards.
All proceeds from the event benefit Hands on Greater Portland, Portland’s volunteer center dedicated to matching individuals of all ages with nonprofit organizations throughout the Portland area.
The Heart of the Community Awards is also sponsored by Fred Meyer, NW Natural, Comcast, Eco-Metro / Chinook Bank, Umpqua Bank, The Standard, U.S. Bank, Perkins & Co, Bank of the Cascades, OregonLive.com, and Intel.
Individual Volunteer Award Recipient, Kelly Broomall
Kelly Broomall is an exceptional volunteer with a big heart. A SnowCap ambassador since 1979 working to alleviate hunger in east Multnomah County, Kelly has given 30 years of immeasurable service to SnowCap, donating more than 1,000 high-skill level service hours annually. Whether donating his time and expertise to create and implement fundraisers, such as a 9/11 Flag Tribute, the Spirit of the Holidays program at Boeing Portland or saving the day by securing donations and leading the design and upgrade work in the warehouse when SnowCap was in danger of closing its doors due to code violations, Kelly is there leading the charge. His ability to draw volunteers, organize, lead and complete projects illustrates his leadership skills and his ability to see the bigger picture. Kelly Broomall embodies exceptional volunteer skills: passionate dependable, caring, dedicated, energetic, and selfless.
Nathan Sibell Youth Leadership Award Recipient, Shantel Monk
A foster child from the age of 10, Shantel Monk has grown into an All-Star volunteer. Now an 18 year old at De La Salle North Catholic High School, Shantel has been a Class Ambassador for three years and also serves as Youth Commissioner for City Commissioner Nick Fish. A gifted and passionate public speaker, Shantel was not only selected to speak at First Lady Laura Bush’s Regional Conference on Helping America’s Youth, she also introduced Oregon’s governor Ted Kulongoski at that conference. Shantel is dedicated and determined to improve the lives of at-risk and foster care children, serving as Chairman of “Speak Up…Speak Out”, a foster care Youth Advisory Committee that, with funding from Commissioner Dan Saltzman’s office, hosted a formal dinner for all of DHS foster care children. Shantel was also asked to testify before Mayor Tom Potter and the commissioners on issues relating to foster care. Shantel has helped raise more $250,000 for at-risk youth through her volunteer work with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Wednesday’s Child, and Hope Meadows.
Hands On Volunteer Award – Stephanie Blackman
Stephanie’s involvement with Hands On Greater Portland began in 1999 as a project leader for the Community Energy Project. Over the years she has increased her commitment and now teaches PSU capstone classes in conjunction with Hands On. Stephanie teaches students about civic participation and researches the relationship between education and democracy. An instructor of both undergraduate and graduate level courses in the Graduate School of Education at Portland State University, she has a background in sociology and a strong commitment to social justice in her classes. Stephanie’s interests in civic engagement, political participation, and service-learning in the classroom as ways of building democracy and creating social change have led to an inspiring experience for her students. Stephanie sees engaged learning as the key to personal and social transformation and shares that enthusiasm for service with her students semester after semester, helping to raise the next generation of volunteers and leaders in our community.
Volunteer Innovation Award, Children’s Cancer Association
Regina Ellis and her family founded the Children’s Cancer Association in 1995, the same year her daughter Alexandra died from cancer. Regina’s experience with her child’s extensive treatment and surgeries provided her with an understanding of what can help many children and families in medical crisis, and the areas of non-medical care that were unmet by hospitals and community organizations. The Children’s Cancer Association works with medical professionals in delivering a series of innovative programs and services for seriously ill children and their families. The Children’s Cancer Association improves the lives of children and teens with serious illnesses, and the families who care for them through innovative programs: the Chemo Pal mentor program trains and matches adults with children undergoing chemotherapy, the Music RX program brings the healing power of music to the hospitalized children and their families and medical professionals, the Caring Cabin provides a family retreat to build memories and the Life Support program meets the special needs of families when they need it most.
Corporate Volunteer Program, Providence Health & Services
For more than 150 years, Providence Health and Services has been committed to providing care for all patients in need, regardless of ability to pay for services. In 2007, Providence provided $63 million in free care as a part of the total community benefit of more than $145 million. That kind of service cannot be accomplished without the support of Providence’s most valuable asset--its employees. Providence's core values are respect, compassion, justice, excellence and stewardship. The Providence mission is carried out by employees, volunteers, physicians and others who work together in a spirit of service that reflects those core values. From corporate giving to employee volunteering to care for the environment, Providence Health and Services gives back to the community on many different levels. Since 1987, Providence has awarded more than $15 million dollars in grants and donations to local organizations. Providence Health Plan employees contribute thousands of volunteer hours every year. They are committed to serving the community, carrying out the Providence mission and making a difference.
Heart of the Community Award, Paul King and Walter Jaffe of White Bird Dance
Founded in 1997 by Paul King and Walter Jaffe, White Bird is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing excellence in dance to Portland through presenting established and emerging companies and choreographers, commissioning or co-commissioning new work, and collaborating with other arts organizations in Portland and the region to make dance performances possible. White Bird is dedicated to making dance exciting, educational, and accessible to people of all social and economic backgrounds. Through contributed income and sponsorships, Paul and Walter achieve those goals by facilitating outreach to schools and maintaining affordable ticket prices. As an advocate for dance, White Bird continues to strive to broaden audiences, develop new dance venues, and support both existing and new dance programs.
