Spirit Award to a Youth: Chelsea Boren,
16, a resident of Everett, is a junior at Lake Stevens High School. In addition to her normal high school duties, Key Club and family life, Chelsea finds the time to be an inspiration to the staff, volunteers and participants at Cocoon House. Chelsea contacted Cocoon House in 2005 asking how she could get involved. Today she is the youngest board member serving on their board of directors. As a freshman in high school, Chelsea began by organizing
a school-wide food drive to stock the shelves
at Cocoon House. She raised hundreds of dollars working at the YMCA gift wrap store to purchase holiday gifts and cards for Cocoon teens. Her efforts continued as Chelsea worked to collect and pass out Valentines and teen hygiene products and support numerous fundraising events benefiting Cocoon House. Why do all of this? “I feel I owe it to the community to help people in need or who are in a difficult situation. I can’t help but think, wow, if a group of sophomores at Lake Stevens High School can lend a hand to Cocoon House, what would happen if everyone in Snohomish County contributed,” said Chelsea. The Spirit Award to a Youth is given to someone under the age of 18 who exemplifies leadership, volunteerism and the philanthropic spirit of Snohomish County. He or she works or volunteers at a United Way-funded program, initiative or service; and has made a significant, exemplary and noteworthy impact in his/her field of service. This Spirit winner is making an impact in our community and inspiring others to become involved.

Spirit Award to an Individual:
Jim Strickland
Jim continually explores ways to make learning relevant to students by connecting their learning with our community. As a special education teacher at Marysville Junior High School, he works to engage his students in active community service and democratic education. Jim has been a teacher for over 17 years and devotes a tremendous amount of time outside of the classroom to working on community projects that engage his students. With his
students, Jim volunteers weekly at the Marysville Food Bank, the YMCA, and the Marysville Senior Center. He has created several apprentice opportunities for local students to learn from professionals to further an entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit. He supports his students’ desires to connect to the community which recently resulted in Maryville’s first-ever Cinco de Mayo festival, bringing together more than 300 community members. This Everett resident has a passion for learning by living and making his community a great place for all. The Individual Spirit award is given to a person who is improving people’s lives in Snohomish County. It is presented to someone who works or volunteers in the human services profession; and who has made a significant, exemplary and noteworthy impact in his/her field of service. Jim manifests United Way’s mission to transform community to improve people’s lives and to inspire this spirit in others.

Spirit of Labor Award: Bob Neumann
(awarded posthumously)
When Bob Neumann was diagnosed with severe emphysema in 1995, he left his job as a structural mechanic on the wing line
at Everett’s Boeing plant and, on borrowed time, he became a tireless volunteer. 

For more than 10 years he volunteered four days a week, encouraging patients in the pulmonary rehab program at Providence Everett Medical Center to exercise.  With
his union, he headed an adopt-a-highway
program and worked on cleaning up Everett’s Casino Road.  He worked on several other community projects, cleaning up schools, building playgrounds and participating in United Way’s Day of Caring.

Neumann worked at the Boeing Company for 29 years and was a union steward with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 751A.  Formerly a resident of Mill Creek, he served as sergeant at arms for the Snohomish County Labor Council and was on the council’s community services committee.

Bob Neumann dedicated his last years to making life better for others, giving over 5,000 hours to volunteer service.  Robert William Neumann died on February 25, 2007 at age 60.  He is survived by his wife, Judy Neumann, who accepted the award on his behalf.

The Spirit of Labor Award is presented to a union member for 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.

Spirit of Snohomish County — Community Partners:  Bank of America, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), EverTrust Foundation, Moss Adams, Boys & Girls Club of Snohomish County, United Way of King County, WA State Dept. of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) and site manager Bob LaBouy.

United Way volunteers on the Families Matter Vision Council wanted to launch a free income tax preparation site to help low-income, working families. They knew that as much as $10 million in earned income tax credits is “left on the table” in Snohomish County each year by eligible families, and that this program is a proven way to help them pay for basic needs like food, housing and transportation.

They also knew they would need help, both practical and financial.

On the practical side, The Internal Revenue Service offered advice, the loan of laptop computers and software, and training for volunteer tax preparers. The Boys & Girls Club offered the use of their teen room at the North Everett Club. United Way of King County generously shared advice and lessons learned from five years’ of experience at operating free tax sites. And the State Dept. of Community Trade and Economic Development offered free printing and mailing for flyers and posters. 

Bank of America stepped up with a $15,000 donation and the EverTrust Foundation gave $5,000.  A $2,000 gift from Moss Adams was in turn given to the Boys & Girls Club to help pay for the free dinner program for kids.  Bob LaBouy, a retired IRS professional, agreed to manage the site for a “bare bones” salary, driving up from Redmond four days a week.

The goal was to complete 300 tax returns the first year. United Way’s site offered tax help in eight languages.  Instead, 500 returns were completed, resulting in $770,000 in income tax refunds, of which $330,000 was earned income tax credits—an incredible return on the investment for working families whose average annual income was $19,000.

The Community Partner Spirit Award recognizes the organization or corporation that exemplifies the most comprehensive, measurable commitment to building strong and caring communities.  The 2007 award winners are the partners who helped launch United Way’s free tax preparation site.

Spirit of Snohomish County — Reeves/Sievers Founders’ Award:
Mary Duryee, Everett. 

Mary Duryee is a life-long resident of Everett, and a life-long supporter of the town, its people and nonprofit organizations in the community.  Although she still resides only blocks away from where she grew up, a lifetime of charitable giving and volunteering have had a far-reaching impact.

Her charitable interests are as varied as the Children’s Museum, First Presbyterian Church, The Everett Symphony, Camp Fire USA, The American Red Cross and the YMCA, for whom she served on a capital campaign and chaired an Investment in Youth campaign. 

The Duryee name is nearly synonymous with civic involvement and charitable giving in Everett.  Together with her husband, Dan, Mary was involved in innumerable boards of directors and capital campaigns.  On his death in 1990, she established a Charitable Trust in his name and United Way’s local chapter of the Tocqueville Society—the very highest circle of donors– was named in his honor.

In her own right, Mary has carried the Duryee legacy of giving. It is the rare community fundraiser in which she is not still somehow involved. She was a founding member of United Way’s philanthropic association for women, and continues to contribute to the D.A. Duryee Chapter of the Tocqueville Society.

J.A. Reeves and Roy Sievers led the formation of the Everett Community Chest in 1941, the predecessor of United Way of Snohomish County.  Guiding it through the difficult early years, both served as President and as Campaign Chairmen. The Reeves/Sievers Award is given to an individual who, in that same spirit and tradition, has made a lifetime commitment to community service and the spirit of philanthropy.