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Duluth Area Chapter |
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Volunteer In Excellence Award Program |
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Each year, Thrivent Financial recognizes members in each of four categories: Youth/Young Adult, Families with children, Adults, and Retired. In addition, four field representatives and four corporate employees are also recognized for their volunteer efforts. The recognition is the organization’s highest community service award. Members are nominated by the local chapter leadership board to the regional financial office. All nominations are reviewed and recipients selected. Regional winners are forwarded to the home office and national winners are selected. Regional recipients each receive $250 from Thrivent Financial to donate to charities of their choice. National recipients each receive $1,000 from Thrivent Financial to donate to charities of their choice. The Duluth Area Chapter has a number of regional award winners. Read about these award recipients to learn how they make a difference in their chapters, congregations and communities.
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Know a Thrivent Member Who Should be Nominated? |
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If you know a Thrivent Financial member who volunteers in his/her church and/or community, that you believe could be a Volunteer in Excellence, please share his/her name with the chapter board! Nominations are prepared in November/December, although suggested names are accepted at any time. The chapter board handles all the necessary paperwork, and you can remain anonymous if that's your preference. Thrivent members who understand and are involved with Thrivent's CARE programs are especially great candidates. |
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Email your suggestion to the chapter president... |
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2008 Regional Award Winner: Jessica Brisbin |
Award recipient in Families with Children Category. |
Jessica served as an elected leader of the chapter board in 2005-08. In her role, she worked at helping Thrivent service teams complete and submit CAIC funding requests to the chapter leadership board.In 2007, she served as Vice President but also assumed the duties of community service team director when that position wasn't filled. She knew how Thrivent's CAIC program impacted people in the community and did not want the chapter to miss out on opportunities to serve others. Animal Allies received a $250 contribution from Thrivent Financial on behalf of Jessica. | |
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2008 Regional Award Winner: Mary Felknor |
Award recipient in Adult Category. |
What's important to Mary is helping people, whether or not she has a personal stake in a situation. She has organized numerous fundraisers -- often to meet medical needs -- and has served as one of her church's Thrivent congregational coordinators for many years.Mary is a member of Hope in Floodwood where she volunteers with the Befrienders Program, which brings communion to shut-ins. Mary has a special interest in senior citizens and drives a group of senior women and their pets to a neighboring community for pet-grooming services several times each year. Mary's enthusiasm is contagious and when she sees a need in the community, knows how to motivate people to get involved. Contented Critters Sanctuary in Makinen received a $250 contribution from Thrivent Financial on behalf of Mary.
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2008 Regional Award Winner: Carol Kelley |
Award recipient in Retired Category. |
Carol has served as president of the Lakeshore Lutheran Auxiliary where she coordinated numerous events that has received supplemental funding through CAIC. She is an active member of Gloria Dei church, serving in various positions. She also volunteers with numerous community organizations, often holding positions of responsibility.
Carol cares deeply about the needs of others, and with her boundless energy and gift of organizational abilities, knows how to create events and empower volunteers. Lakeshore Lutheran Auxiliary received a $250 contribution from Thrivent Financial on behalf of Carol.
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2007 Regional Winner: Marie and Paul Glaesemann |
Award recipients in Retired Category |
The Glasesmanns know what it takes to create a Care Abounds in Communities (CAIC) service project. In 2006, they initiated a project to provide much-needed maintenance work for the Joliet cabin at Camp Vermillion, near Cook, Minnesota. In March, they organized a service project at their church to benefit local food shelves. Marie used her CAIC knowledge when she enlisted her church circle to create and sell "gifts in a jar" of dried soups and cocoa mixes to benefit Renaissance House of Lutheran Social Services.The Renaissance House and Street Outreach Programs of Lutheran Social Services received a $250 contribution from Thrivent Financial on behalf of Paul and Marie. | |
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2007 Regional Winner: Laura J. Hanson |
Award recipient in Families with Children Category |
Laura served as an elected leader of the chapter board from 2005-08. In her role, she worked at obtaining publicity for chapter events, expanding the chapter website and keeping members apprised of chapter news.Laura's work on the chapter website essentially took the website from a simplistic home page to a multi-page resource of information. The Duluth site was named Chapter Website of the Month for September in 2006, and Website of the Year for 2006. She also helped promote the chapter to its members, congregations and local community and develop various marketing items including publicity kits, Thrivent Financial placemats for congregation use, and quarterly member newsletters. The Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank received a $250 contribution from Thrivent Financial on behalf of Laura. | |
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2006 Regional Winner: Suzanne Rauvola |
Award recipient in Adult Category |
Suzanne Rauvola has served the Duluth Area Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans for many years. She helped the chapter provide assistance to the community in many creative ways. Suzanne knows how to tap into resources and creatively encourage activities. She has a keen sense of how to fund activities that allows the chapter to address multiple needs throughout the community.Suzanne helped expose younger families to Thrivent Financial through member events that offer intergenerational appeal, specifically zoo outings and minor league baseball games. The Little Treasures Family Resource Center received a $250 contribution from Thrivent Financial on behalf of Suzanne. | |
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2005 Regional Winner: Shirley Hemenway |
Shirley served as assistant financial director on the Duluth Area Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in 2004 and used her knowledge of the Care Abounds in Communities® program funding process to help numerous local organizations receive needed assistance. She specifically assisted the Gabriel Project and a woman in the young adult transitional housing program. Shirley's familiarity with the Giving Plus® program resulted in additional funds being raised for Renaissance House, a local Lutheran Social Services program. Her efforts to promote the Giving Plus program at her church doubled the contributions made by Thrivent Financial members. The Renaissance House of Lutheran Social Services received a $250 contribution from Thrivent Financial on behalf of Shirley.
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Award recipient in Adult Category | |
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