The Stan Black Award is named for one of the founders of The Community Foundation. Stan is retired now, but continues to be an active participant in a number of causes, both in the Boulder area and overseas. We present this award annually with the sponsorship of the law firm of Hutchinson, Black & Cook and the additional support individual donors. The award is intended to honor an individual who, like Stan Black, has given a lifetime of "time, treasure and talent" to the community.

The 2005 Stan Black Award honoree is Doris Hass

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.