Published 9/28/2007

United Way Spirit Award

United Way of Snohomish County honored recipients of its annual Spirit Awards at a special breakfast meeting September 12.

United Way campaign chair John Dickson, CEO of Frontier Bank, announced a $7.4 million goal for the organization’s 2007 Local Community Fund. The community fund is made up of contributions that are not directed to a specific charity by the donor.

This year’s Spirit Awards were presented to four individuals and several community partners who exemplified the standards of service and commitment to residents of the county.

The Individual Spirit Award was given to Jim Strickland, a special education teacher at Marysville Junior High School. Strickland works to engage his students in active community service and democratic education. With his students, he volunteers weekly at the Marysville Food Bank, the YMCA and the Marysville Senior Center and has been instrumental in developing apprenticeship opportunities for his students.

Chelsea Boren, 16, was presented with the Spirit Award to a Youth for her work with Everett’s Cocoon House. Chelsea, a junior at Lake Stevens High School, is the youngest member of the shelter’s board of directors and has been a volunteer with the program since 2005.

The Spirit of Labor Award honored Bob Neumann posthumously and was accepted by his wife Judy. Neumann was a tireless volunteer at Providence Everett Medical Center and a catalyst for his union’s involvement in projects ranging from cleaning up schools and roads to building playgrounds. In the past ten years, Neumann contributed over 5,000 hours to volunteer service.

Mary Duryee of Everett is this year’s recipient of the Spirit of Snohomish County – Reeves/Sievers Founders’ Award. Duryee is a lifelong resident of Everett and has made lasting contributions to the Children’s Museum, First Presbyterian Church, the Everett Symphony, Camp Fire USA, the American Red Cross, and the YMCA. She and her late husband, Dan, have been leaders in civic involvement and charitable giving in Snohomish County for decades, and she exemplifies the spirit of philanthropy.

The Spirit of Snohomish County – Community Partners award was presented to representatives from Bank of America, the IRS, EverTrust Foundation, Moss Adams, Boys & Girls Club of Snohomish County, United Way of King County, the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) and tax site manager Bob LaBouy. These diverse organizations and agencies came together to equip, train and staff a tax assistance office for low-income families who were eligible to claim Earned Income Credit but might not have known how to do so. With financial contributions, donation of office space and equipment, and tax expertise, more than 500 returns were completed, resulting in $770,000 in income tax refunds, $330,000 of which was from earned income tax credits.