Contact: Gretchen Minekime
The Community Foundation
303-442-0436 x107
BOULDER (August 29, 2005) – The
Community Foundation’s annual luncheon—Community
Stars—is on September 8, 2005 from 11:30am-1:30pm
at the historic Boulder Theater.
Seven local non-profit organizations will be awarded a
NOVA Award for their outstanding and innovative work within
their field. Each award consists of a beautiful John Haertling
plaque and a $1,000 grant. The winners in the categories
of Health & Human Services, Environment, Arts, Civic
Engagement, and Education will be kept secret, as is the
NOVA Awards’ tradition, until the luncheon. The
annual NOVA Award winners are chosen by a committee of
community members who review nominations every spring.
Also being honored for their years of committed volunteer
service in Boulder County are Doris Hass, Stan Black Award
winner, and Marilyn Tiedke, Pat on the Back Award winner.
Bios of both Doris and Marilyn follow. Both women will
receive $1,000 to donate to the non-profit organization
of their choice.
The Stan Black Award is named for Stan Black, a former
Community Foundation Trustee and a partner at Hutchinson
Black and Cook, LLC. The award recognizes an outstanding
volunteer who has given a lifetime of time, treasure,
and talent to the community. Past winners include: Jackson
Fuller 1998; Oak Thorne 1999; Robert McFarland and Laurence
Paddock 2000; La Vern Johnson 2001; Bev Sears 2002; Jerry
Lee 2003; and Ruth Wright 2004.
The Pat on the Back Award is named for Pat Shoemaker,
mother of local philanthropist, Linda Shoemaker. The spirit
of the award is to recognize an unsung hero—the
volunteer who has given constantly and quietly for years,
and who probably would prefer to remain under the radar!
Past winners include: Elaine Meyers 2000; Ann Rose 2001;
John Goodenbour 2002; Carol Carminati 2003; and Ester
Quintana-Matheson 2004.
Others celebrated at Community Stars are the many donors
who make it possible for non-profit organizations to meet
the basic needs of or enhance the lives of Boulder County
citizens.
“Community Stars is like the Academy Awards of the
Boulder nonprofit community,” said Conrad Lattes,
Chair of the Board of Trustees, “It's where we recognize
the real heroes of our community, the organizations and
the volunteers who make this a better place for all of
us. This year we'll also highlight a few of the many donors
who make the work of the Community Foundation Servicing
Boulder County possible.”
The Community Foundation exists to improve the quality
of life in Boulder County, now and forever, and to encourage
an ethic of philanthropy. It works with local donors and
has assisted 350-plus nonprofits over the years. Since
1992, the foundation has granted over $12 million locally
and elsewhere.
Doris Hass, Stan Black Award Winner
Doris Hass is an inspiration. She has touched many lives
in Boulder County and beyond through what she calls
her “compulsive volunteering.” “Sometimes
I need to control my enthusiasm. I like to jump in and
organize things,” she says with a laugh.
And organize she does. In the 45 years she has lived
in Boulder, many organizations have benefited from her
time and attention. She co-founded the Boulder Public
Library Foundation and served as its president from
1974-1995. She’s a member and former president
of both the American Association of University Women
and the Boulder Seniors Foundation. She and her husband
for many years hosted students through the Boulder Friends
of International Students organization, and since 1973,
she’s worked three days a week at Wardenburg Health
Center. Doris continues to teach Sunday school to three
and four year olds at Trinity Lutheran Church, an endeavor
she’s enjoyed since 1962.
She’s known as “The Wonderful Book Lady”
to a class of first-graders who were the recipients
of her book donations and “The Pink Flamingo Lady”
to the youth group at Trinity Lutheran Church. This
past July 4th, her front yard was home to more than
60 pink flamingos, a fundraiser the group puts on annually.
Doris’ energy and leadership is currently focused
on the Boulder County Latina Women’s League and
Global Response, both groups where she serves as a board
member. It was Dorothy Bustamante, from the Latina Women’s
League, who nominated Doris for the Stan Black Award.
Bustamante says, “Doris’ experience with
community organizations is invaluable as she has served
on the boards for several different organizations. She
brings to the league an enormous amount of experience
and knowledge.”
Doris has always been committed to organizations supporting
women and multi-cultural experiences so it’s no
surprise that the Latina Women’s League, whose
mission is to create educational and professional advancement
opportunities for Latina girls and women, nominated
her for the award. Bustamante goes on, “She will
take on any task assigned to her. When she is notified
of someone needing help she will always ask, 'What can
we do (as an organization) and tell me what I can do?'”
The Stan Black Award honors an individual who has shown
a lifetime commitment to offering his or her time, treasure,
and talent in serving non-profit organizations in Boulder
County and around the world. Doris Hass has indeed shown
a lifetime commitment to just that and is an outstanding
example of how one person truly can make a difference
and inspire us all.
Marilyn Tiedke, Pat on the Back Award Winner
Marilyn Tiedke brings life, humor and deep compassion
to everyone she encounters.
Says Erin Humphrey of RSVP Boulder County, who nominated
Marilyn for the Pat on the Back Award, “Our office
lights up every Tuesday morning when Marilyn arrives
with coffee, warm bread and “Bless you my sweethearts!”
for all of the staff at RSVP, the Retired Senior Volunteer
Program.”
Marilyn volunteers six days a week, dividing her time
between RSVP and the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.
She shops and delivers groceries to homebound seniors,
provides car rides and companionship to the isolated
elderly, works at the Thrift Shop at the Humane Society,
and answers phones and provides clerical assistance
to the RSVP office.
In addition, Marilyn is the first to get involved and
devote hours of extra time for RSVP’s yearly events,
the Senior Safety Conference, Holiday Fruit Basket delivery,
and Volunteer Recognition. Beyond her substantial time
commitment Marilyn’s genuine concern for helping
the homebound elderly and homeless animals in Boulder
County shines the brightest. She shows up before staff
meetings to shop grocery orders and often stays longer
than any other volunteer delivering food in individual
seniors across town. Every new person she meets receives
a huge blessing and a stream of caring interest and
questions. Marilyn has a knack for connecting with everyone
and creating an environment of ease and inclusion through
humor and storytelling. Always cracking a joke and introducing
herself as the ‘crazy Italian Catholic from Boston,”
her disarming nature and infectious smile bring staff,
volunteers, seniors and young people together in a unique
and irreplaceable way.
Marilyn moved to Boulder in 1975 from Boston. She spent
many years caring for her husband while he was ill,
and decided after he passed away that she didn’t
want to sit around and be lonely. Soon thereafter, she
was out in the community volunteering. “The world
needs you. If I can do it; I do it,” Marilyn empathically
says.
The Pat on the Back Award recognizes individuals who
have given extraordinary, but often unsung volunteer
time in caring for the community, and Marilyn Tiedke
certainly takes care of our community.
“I just like to do what I do. I love helping people.
It makes me happy!”
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