Michigan volunteer efforts lauded

Date: June 21, 2007
By: Oralandar Brand-Williams
Source: The Detroit News

DETROIT -- They serve in soup kitchens. They teach adults to read. They mentor fatherless boys. They do it willingly and freely.

On Wednesday evening, Gov. Jennifer Granholm thanked them for their selfless spirit with Governor's Service Awards during the Miracle of Volunteering awards ceremony at the Fox Theatre.

"This is an incredible group of people," said Granholm at the event. "This is what Michigan is all about. This is who we are."

Eleven Michigan organizations, businesses and individuals were honored for their volunteerism throughout Michigan.

Those honored:

Comcast Communications of Detroit, which received an Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Award

Bridget Gaitor of Taylor, who received a Youth Volunteer Award of Excellence

Winning Futures-Mentoring Solutions program in Warren, which was honored with an Innovative Mentoring Program Award. The organization serves children in grades three through 12 in Highland Park, Oak Park, Warren and Pontiac through its educational mentoring program. Kristina Marshall, the program's first participant and now its president and CEO, was overwhelmed by the honor, she said.

"It's amazing. It's really a tribute to our mentors, our business sponsors and mostly our kids," said Marshall, 30."It's a wonderful tribute. I'm really grateful for it."

Madonna University and the All Saints Neighborhood Center received a Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Partnership Award for a community partnership program with a variety of community services such as literacy tutoring, computer training, and a health and wellness program at a community center run by All Saints Catholic Church.

Lenore Croudy of Flint received the Governor George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteerism.

Doug Heslip of Marquette received the Exemplary Volunteer Service Award

Tuesday Toolmen of Kalamazoo received the Exemplary Community Service Program Award

Carlas Quinney Jr. of Lansing received the Outstanding Mentor Award

Margaret Yake of Lexington received the Senior Volunteer Award of Excellence

Special awards were given to Hugo E. Braun Jr., who received the Russell G. Mawby Award for Philanthropy for outstanding service in Saginaw County and Molly Dobson of Ann Arbor, who received the Community Foundation Award for Philanthropy.

You can reach Oralandar Brand-Williams at (313) 222-2027 or bwilliams@detnews.com.