Each year, United Way of Snohomish County honors volunteers and community members with its prestigious Spirit Awards. This year’s winners were announced at United Way’s Spirit of Snohomish County Breakfast on September 9 at Tulalip Resort Casino.
The breakfast included a keynote address by Manuel Scott, an original freedom writer whose story is told in the Hollywood movie Freedom Writers.
 Spirit of Snohomish County Youth Award
Courtney Creech
This award is given to a youth who exemplifies leadership and volunteerism. He or she volunteers at a United Way-funded program, initiative or service and has made a significant, exemplary and noteworthy impact.
At 19, Courtney already has a tremendous sense of what she wants to accomplish and a mature approach to getting it done. One of her goals is to change people's lives through volunteering. A recent graduate of Kamiak High School, she is now a freshman at the University of Idaho where she was just accepted into the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.
Courtney has volunteered on the Kids Matter Vision Council for four years. That's four years of monthly council meetings starting when she was 14. She brought a talent for asking insightful questions and offering a fresh, young perspective as the council launched the Marysville Kids Matter initiative, read grants and allocated a million dollars to programs serving children, and helped set United Way's public policy agenda.
Additionally, this Mukilteo resident volunteered at her high school in drama, on the robotics team, serving as a peer mentor to younger students and playing in the jazz and show bands. Furthermore, she has been a member of the Cascade Youth Symphony. The word she uses to describe volunteering is "supportive"—a word we would use to describe this Spirit winner herself! |
 Spirit of Snohomish County Adult Awards
Annie Fortnum & Bob Snyder
This award is given to an adult who improves others' lives in Snohomish County. It is presented to someone who works or volunteers in human services. He or she manifests United Way's mission to transform community to improve people's lives and to inspire that spirit in others.
Annie Fortnum is the organizer of Annie's Kitchen in Edmonds. Each Wednesday since 2004, Annie has overseen the cooking and serving of a hot, nutritious meal that feeds the hungry near their Edmonds Lutheran Church location. As their nomination form says, "some have lost their jobs, others are behind on medical bills and some have struggled with poverty all their lives." Bob Snyder oversees the gleaning program that acquires and supplies food for this weekly dinner for 150-200 people. Nearly 4,000 pounds of food—two tons!—are gathered from area grocery stores each week and brought to Annie's Kitchen and food banks throughout the area. Aiding Annie and Bob are over 60 volunteers, constantly stirring the pot. Together, they provide more than 50,000 meals each year. |
 Spirit of Labor Award
Christopher Louie
The Spirit of Labor Award is presented to a union member exemplifying outstanding leadership and community service through the partnership between United Way of Snohomish County and organized labor. The recipient demonstrates a commitment to our community through long-term, notable volunteer service.
Everett resident Christopher Louie learned to volunteer as many of us did—seeing it in action in his family. A member of IAM 751 and an employee of The Boeing Company, Christopher has volunteered well over 300 hours in the past year, and recently received the President's Service Award. His volunteer work includes projects with Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound, Books and Backpacks, building wheelchair ramps, food drives and canning factory work for Northwest Harvest, the National Association of Letter Carrier's annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, Volunteers of America Western Washington, Guide Dogs of America, Adopt-A-Street, Union Gospel Mission, Salvation Army's Toys for Tots drive, United Way's Days of Caring, and countless other campaigns to help people. Chris continues that family tradition, instilling a love of volunteering in his own son. |
 Spirit of Snohomish County Community Partner Award
Y of Snohomish County
The Community Partner Award recognizes an organization or corporation that exemplifies the most comprehensive, measurable commitment to building strong and caring communities.
Our local Y is all about community partnerships. President & CEO Scott Washburn leads by example as chair of the local Human Services Executives collaborative, a founding member of the State's Charities Advisory Council and an active Tocqueville member with United Way. The Y was nominated for this year's Spirit of Snohomish County Community Partner Award based on a collaborative effort with Catholic Services and United Way. Two hundred and fifty youth volunteers, including youth from the Y's Minority Achievers Program directed by J.J. Frank who partnered with teens from United Way's Youth United program, worked around the county on National Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Instead of sleeping in, these kids partnered with senior volunteers from Senior Corps' Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) to help elderly and disabled clients. The teens scrubbed bathrooms, did yard work, cleaned kitchens—you name it. Y of Snohomish County also works with United Way on our early learning initiative and Y employees have served on a number of United Way committees. Additionally, in 2010, The Y was the only nonprofit to send volunteer teams to help with other projects on Days of Caring. Commitment to volunteering is truly strong at every level of this organization!
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 Spirit of Snohomish County Community Partner Award
Philips Healthcare
Our second Community Partner Award goes to one of our county's largest companies. Over the past year, under the engaged leadership of General Manager Conrad Smits (pictured, right), Philips Healthcare has demonstrated how much an engaged, involved company increases the vitality of our community. In the past 12 months, over 375 employees from this organization have been given time off from work to volunteer at local nonprofits including Cocoon House, Sherwood Community Services, the YWCA, Housing Hope, Northshore Senior Center and Catholic Community Services. They are also forming two large teams for Days of Caring! Additionally, Philips Healthcare employees support the American Heart Association, a book drive for children and a food drive for Northwest Harvest. As General Manager Smits says, "Community still is the fabric of our society here. The businesses that are in this area actively participate in the care of the community." Philips lives this community care on a daily basis, and we congratulate them for being our Community Partner. |
 Reeves/Sievers Founders' Award
Matt Reinhard
J.A. Reeves and Roy Sievers led the formation of the Everett Community Chest in 1940, the predecessor of United Way of Snohomish County. The Reeves/Sievers Founders' Award is given to recognize a lifetime of community service and the spirit of philanthropy.
Matt Reinhard first contacted United Way when he decided to hold a campaign at his business, Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies. The first year, only two AMT employees gave and Matt was one of them. Under Matt's leadership, AMT's campaign grew. Today, over 58% of AMT employees give, and the campaign annually raises over $100,000.
Since then, Matt has been a stellar volunteer. He has been our Board Chair, our 2009 Campaign Chair and is currently holding the title of Tocqueville Chair for the second time.
It turns out that Matt isn't just invaluable to United Way; it was The Y of Snohomish County that nominated him for the 2011 Reeves/Sievers Founders' Award! Matt has led their Invest in Youth Campaign and served as their Trustees' Campaign Chair. And, just like at United Way, he has been a very successful leader for a number their fundraising campaigns.
Matt is truly an outstanding community leader and United Way is pleased to present him with the 2011 Reeves/Sievers Founders' Award. |
