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2008 Volunteer Excellence Awards |
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Bill Manth - '08 National Winner: Adult Category |
Niagara Falls Chapter |
Bill Manth is blessed with amazing energy and drive. Thrivent Financial and members of his western New York community of Tonawanda are blessed that he has chosen to use those gifts to help others.Bill serves as vice president of the Niagara Falls Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and chapter members look to him for direction and inspiration as they plan their activities to help others. His commitment to excellence is a true driving force behind the chapter’s success. He implemented a policy where chapter leaders take turns attending Thrivent chapter activities and set up a Thrivent Financial display table with a banner, tablecloth and giveaways. In addition to his dedicated work with Thrivent Financial, Bill is very active in community organizations and in his church. But no matter where he volunteers, he is the face of Thrivent Financial with whomever he works with, letting them know about the wonderful opportunities available through Thrivent Financial. Among his community work, Bill served as the events committee chair for Mercy Flight. He led the effort to raise more than $10,000 for this volunteer organization. The funds are critical to Mercy Flight’s ability to fulfill its mission of transporting critically ill people, donated organs and medical personnel throughout western New York. Bill’s commitment to the health and safety of his community doesn’t stop there. He has served as a volunteer firefighter for Gratwick Hose Fire Company for more than 40 years. He also is the deputy director of the emergency management and response team for the city of North Tonawanda. Bill took this part-time job knowing full well that it required a full-time commitment. Through literally thousands of hours of volunteer time, Bill ensures the safety and security of North Tonawanda’s citizens. In 2007, when an ice storm hit the area, Bill — through 35 continuous hours of work — led the effort to ensure that the people of the community had food, shelter and medical assistance. Bill is a dedicated member of his St. Paul Lutheran Church congregation and serves in many roles, including lawn care and a go-to person for mechanical questions. And, as co-chair of the Canal Fest Parade Committee, Bill leads an effort in which 10,000 residents take time to celebrate their community pride.
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Matt Wilhelm - '08 National Volunteer: Youth Category |
New Hampshire Chapter |
By bringing to action his philosophy of giving what you can and never giving up, Matt Wilhelm is truly an inspiration to youth. He not only devotes his talent and time to giving to others, but also is described as one who’s “able to get people involved in a way no one else can.” Matt’s passion to help and his gift of motivating others to get youth involved is demonstrated through the various activities and programs he participates in with the New Hampshire Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. He recruited young people to participate in a Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity project in Vermont. He also worked with the chapter and City Year New Hampshire (CYNH) to inspire more than 2,000 people — including young people, corporate employees and civic leaders — to take part in a JOIN HANDS DAY service project uniting volunteers in the United States and South Africa. Through his extensive involvement with CYNH, an organization that unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, Matt has energized countless people for the good of his community. He demonstrated his passion for the future of CYNH by working with his peers to redefine and relaunch the first CYNH alumni board, bringing excitement and big ideas about what is possible. Through his work with ServeNext.org, Matt led strategy sessions with the CYNH executive director to educate and engage political leaders to support national service in New Hampshire. As a result, the organization implemented a strategy that educated all presidential candidates and New Hampshire stakeholders about CYNH’s work and future goals. Using his social entrepreneurship skills, Matt founded Concert Corps, an innovative way to inspire young people to volunteer. The organization connects touring performing artists and their fans with non-profit partners to provide meaningful community service. In his church, Matt has been active by hosting social gatherings and trips, and teaching Sunday school classes to high school students.
| | 2008 Regional Volunteer Excellence Award Winners |
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Reverend Tobias Anderson - Families with Children Category |
The Hudson Valley Chapter of
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans experienced an almost total veteran leadership
shift in 2007. Tobias was the sole experienced leader and agreed to shepherd
the new board in spite of increased work and family responsibilities. Tobias
was instrumental in guiding the chapter to conduct training/appreciation events
to help Thrivent branding and building relationships. Tobias encouraged the
board to think creatively about ways to use operating funds to promote member
engagement and build a network through trainings, workshops, appreciation
dinners and more. Most of all, Tobias
built relationships, working together to the benefit of all and for the glory
of God.
As part of the music
ministry “Faithful Folk”, Tobias spearheaded the grassroots
effort “For Diana” CD project to support a young mother involved in a serious
car accident. Diana has two small children and is a youth worker in the ELCA.
She may never walk again, but through the “For Diana” effort, a collaboration
of volunteers and Thrivent Financial, she and her family have received
tremendous prayer and financial support. This effort grew to include volunteers
from Michigan to Florida,
Maine to Massachusetts, and with the help of the
Hudson Valley Chapter, has raised over $30,000 to
date. Since Tobias’ ministry began five years ago, Faithful Folk have recorded
4 CDs and raised over $50,000 for various organizations.
In 2007, Tobias was blessed
with a new son, became an ordained ELCA minister, and was diagnosed with colon
cancer.
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Clark Paradise - Retired Category |
Clark is the creator, president and main motivator behind
Your Grandmother’s Cupboard which is an outgrowth of an earlier non-profit
organization – Shepherd’s Helper’s. He
has been involved with the Ocean County Chapter in many roles and has always
been there to find solutions.
Your
Grandmother’s Cupboard is also a main supporter of a “Bus Ministry” to the
homeless in Lakewood NJ providing propane, food & clothing as
well a personal products and diesel fuel for the bus.
Recognizing
that food banks do not supply personal items (razors, sanitary items, diapers
etc). Your Grandmother’s cupboard now
provides “mini” kits for men, women, children and infants. These kits are provided to area food banks
for distribution to those who need them.
Clark, as president of Lutheran Bible Ministries, developed
a “Courier Outreach Message Program” to bring God’s word to the homeless and
those who do not attend church. Each
week, they create & distribute a bookmark sized slip of colored paper
containing uplifting bible messages to food pantries & clothing
distribution points so the homeless can receive the Word along with food,
clothing and warm blankets.
Clark
attends Holy Cross Lutheran
Church where he served as
Past Council President, currently serves on the evangelism committee, the
stewardship committee and the finance committee member, audit committee
Clark
is past president of the Twin
Port’s Seafarer’s Center
and has changed the mission of the center from primarily providing support for sailors
to providing shelter for homeless and battered women.
Clark
has made the center a distribution point for the Courier Outreach Program, so
he is caring for the body and soul of the needy.
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