ALSAC/St. Jude took the opportunity this weekend to thank a number of groups, corporations and volunteers who play a vital role in the life-saving mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Individuals and groups who have been key supporters of St. Jude were honored at a Saturday dinner attended by the Boards of Directors and Governors and staff members from around the country who work closely with them on behalf of the hospital's mission.
"Without the literally hundreds of thousands of volunteers and donors from across this nation, we would not be realizing the dream of finding cures and saving children," said ALSAC National Executive Director Richard C. Shadyac. "The people we honor each year are all part of what we call Danny's army, because our founder, Danny Thomas, was so pleased by the way America embraced his dream of saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases."
Those honored helped coordinate or participate in a wide range of fund-raising programs or events. They were thanked and awarded special recognition plaques for their outstanding service on behalf of St. Jude.
Those recognized included (in order of presentation):
Volunteer Committee of the Year Bakersfield, Calif., Dream Home® Friends of St. Jude.
Dream Home Builder of the Year Residential Homes of America/Chicago RHA President Ann Danner, Director of Purchasing and General Operations Jim Wells.
Up 'til Dawn School of the Year Kansas State University Katherine Van Keuren, Executive Director of the Executive Board/Emily Hollis, Morale Captain
Volunteer of the Year Charles Williams/Baton Rouge Fishing Tournament
Group Recognition
National Auctioneers Association
Alpha Delta Kappa Colleen Jacobsen, International President
Delta Delta Delta Sarah Lindsay, International President
Roadway Express Craig Fleck, District VI Manager
Bombay Company James Carreker Chairman and CEO of Bombay
Epsilon Sigma Alpha Pat Griffin, Immediate Past President
More Individual Honors
Volunteer Teenage Coordinator of the Year Leah Muzzioli
Volunteer Coordinator of the Year Dick Boehnen (Saddle Up)/Lodi, Wisconsin
Volunteer Coordinator of the Year Tonda Thomas/Debbie Miller Math-A-Thon, Murray, Kentucky
Special Recognition Gaston Rivera, MD, was honored prior to his retirement for more than 30 years of work at St. Jude.
Jerry Nicholson Award (Named for an early St. Jude patient, this honor is awarded to a young person, often a patient, who has contributed significantly to fund-raising efforts during the past year.) Lori King
For more information, or to contact St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (ALSAC), see their website at: www.stjude.org
