2010 - Serve Idaho

The 2010 

Governor’s Brightest 

Star Awards 

November 10, 2010 

Commemorative Program 

Hosted by 

Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter and 

First Lady Lori Otter

The 2010 

Governor’s Brightest Star Awards 


The 2010 Governor’s Brightest Star Awards are proudly presented by Serve Idaho, 

the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism, a 

Division of the Idaho Department of Labor. 

City of Boise Police 

Pipes and Drums 

Governor C.L. “Butch” Oer and 

First Lady Lori Oer 

Master of Ceremonies, 

Larry Gebert 

Governor’s Brightest Star Awards Ceremony, November 10, 2010 3

Executive Department 

State of Idaho 

The Office of the Governor 

Proclamation 

WHEREAS, our nation’s heritage is based on citizen involvement and citizen 

participation and is essential to its spirit; and 

WHEREAS, service and volunteerism is a solution to addressing critical needs 

and building a better community and a better sense of one’s own well being; and 

State Capitol 

Boise 

WHEREAS, the Governor’s Brightest Stars are ordinary people contributing their 

time and talents through extraordinary acts of service and volunteerism to ensure the 

vitality of Idaho communities; and 

WHEREAS, the Governor’s Brightest Stars remind us all that the investment we 

make in the lives of Idaho citizens will reap a lifetime of rewards for our families, 

communities, and the state; and 

WHEREAS, the examples of voluntary public service and volunteerism to others 

that these corporations, small businesses, organizations, schools, students and 

individuals deliver should be replicated in every corner of our state; and 

WHEREAS, the leadership, selfless actions, resources and expertise of the 

Governor’s Brightest Stars truly make a positive difference in the lives of its citizens; 

WHEREAS, Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and 

Volunteerism, a Division of the Idaho Department of Labor, seeks to encourage 

volunteerism and community service and recognize outstanding acts of citizen 

involvement; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho, 

do hereby proclaim November 10, 2010 to be 

2010 GOVERNOR’S 

BRIGHTEST STARS DAY 

In Idaho, and encourage the citizens of the state to affirm and support the ongoing 

commitment of these Brightest Stars to continue to serve in their communities. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set 

my hand and caused to be affixed the Great 

Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in 

Boise on this 10th day of November in the year 

of our Lord two-thousand and ten and of the 

Independence of the United States of America 

the two hundred thirty-fifth and of the 

Statehood of Idaho the one hundred twentieth. 

C.L. "BUTCH" OTTER 

GOVERNOR 


C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER 

GOVERNOR 


Dear Brightest Stars, 

Congratulations on your extraordinary achievements as a volunteer. First Lady Lori and I are 

pleased to host the 2010 celebration where you and many others will be honored for your 

contributions to our Gem State. Your efforts have been noticed by those who took the time to 

nominate you as a Governor’s Brightest Star and we are here today to say thank you and 

celebrate your achievements. 

We are humbled to have so many individuals who are committed to making life better for 

others. Your dedication and ingenuity have benefitted our entire Idaho community and show 

that service truly is a solution to addressing community needs. Each of you has contributed 

so much that it was difficult to select our Volunteers of the Year from among this inspiring 

group — what a wonderful challenge to have! 

Thank you to Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism and all 

who served on the organizing committee to make this event possible. Your efforts are 

appreciated. Congratulations again to this year’s Governor’s Brightest Stars and thank you 

for setting an example of what citizenship is all about. 

As Always—Idaho, “Esto Perpetua” 

C.L. “Butch” Otter 

Governor of Idaho 

STATE CAPITOL • BOISE,IDAHO 83720 • (208) 334-2100 • FAX (208) 334-3454 


Serve Idaho 

Governor’s Commission on Service & Volunteerism 

Mission 

“TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEERISM AND COMMUNITY SERVICE” 

Serve Idaho, Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism is a Division of 

the Idaho Department of Labor and encourages national and community service 

and volunteerism throughout Idaho. The Serve Idaho Commission administers 

Idaho’s AmeriCorps grants program, provides technical assistance in volunteer 

management during times of disaster and celebrates the outstanding contributions 

of Idaho volunteers through the annual Governor’s Brightest Star Awards Program. 

Serve Idaho is funded in part by the Corporation for National and Community 

Service and Idaho Department of Labor. 

History 

Governor Dirk Kempthorne and the Governor’s Coordinating Council for Families 

and Children established the Governor’s Brightest Star Awards in 2001, in 

partnership with the Association of Idaho Cities, to recognize Idaho’s “unsung heroes” 

who volunteer tirelessly on behalf of children and families. 

The tradition of these awards has continued and grown to celebrate and affirm all 

types of active voluntary citizen service by individuals of all ages. 

The Governor’s Brightest Star Awards Program is presented annually by Serve 

Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism. Since its inception 

more than 500 individuals and groups have been recognized as the Governor’s 

Brightest Stars. 


Serve Idaho’s Governor Appointed 

Commission Members 

Pam McGarry, Chair 

New Meadows 

Sheri Blackwood 

Filer 

Cindy Jesinger 

Sun Valley 

Becky Martin 

Fort Hall 

Carol Martin, 2nd Vice Chair 

Boise 

Amanda McGehee 

Orofino 

Lynn Muehlfeit 

Idaho Falls 

Tina Naillon 

Boise 

Sarah Nielsen 

Coeur d’Alene 

Rob Sauer 

Meridian 

Sister Janice Otis, F.S.E. 

Pocatello 

Representative Mack Shirley 

Rexburg 

Bruce Stevens, 1st Vice Chair 

Twin Falls 

Dottie Stimpson 

Boise 

Adrian Wurr 

Moscow 

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS 

Lori Hendon 

Boise 

Kent Griffitts 

Nampa 

Roger B. Madsen 

Meridian 

2010 Governor’s Brightest Star Committee 

First Lady Lori Otter 

Kelly Houston Staskey - Serve Idaho Executive Director 

Committee Chair Bruce Stevens* - Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Director 

Nancy Berto - 2008 Governor’s Brightest Star 

Peggy Blodgett - Serve Idaho 

Alisa Bondurant - Idaho Department of Labor 

Jennifer Caprile - Serve Idaho 

Mandy DeCastro - Association of Idaho Cities 

Carol Martin* - Boise State University Faculty Member 

* Serve Idaho Commission Members 

Serve Idaho Staff 

Kelly Houston Staskey - Executive Director 

Renee Cox - Grant Officer 

Jennifer Caprile - Project Coordinator 

Peggy Blodgett - Office Specialist 


Thank You 

to the 2010 Governor’s Brightest Star Awards Ceremony Sponsors 

Presenting Sponsor 

Serve Idaho, Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism, 

a division of the Idaho Department of Labor 

Corporation for National and Community Service and Boise State University Service-Learning 

Program 

Gold 

Association of Idaho Cities 

Silver 

Intermountain Community Bank and KC Portraits, Nampa, Idaho 

In-Kind Contributors 

Edwards Greenhouse and KTVB News Channel 7 

Thank you to the anonymous organizations and individuals throughout 

Idaho who participated in Citizen Review Panels to assist Governor Otter and 

First Lady Lori Otter in their difficult task of selecting the 

Governor’s Brightest Star Volunteers of the Year. 

Larry Gebert - Master of Ceremonies 

Meteorologist, KTVB News Channel 7 

Idaho Army and Air National Guard - Honor Guard 

City of Boise Police Pipes and Drums 

Shania Fitte — Singer 

Thirteen-year-old eighth grade student from Salmon who was named “Salmon Idol 

Junior” in October at the community’s version of American Idol. 

Christa Rowland — Violinist 

Boise State University graduate with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music Performance and 

Music Education who teaches orchestra to fifth through ninth graders at East Junior High, 

Adams Elementary and Liberty Elementary schools in Boise. 

All our Volunteers 

Representing the community, AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps VISTA, 

Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. 


Honored Volunteers of the Year 

Governor’s Choice 

Vera C. O’Leary Middle School — Twin Falls 

Vera C. O’Leary Middle School is an outstanding example of students, parents, school staff and community 

members working together and making a difference. This school has provided over 18,000 hours of service in 

projects that include PBJ Day & Fesval of Giving, Helping Hands and Relay for Life that benefits the American 

Cancer Society. These projects are making an impact on the students, which they will carry on with them well 

into the future. 

First Lady’s Choice 

Patriot Guard Riders — Boise 

The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse combinaon of riders from across Idaho with, besides motorcycles, one 

thing in common — an unwavering respect for those who risk their lives for America’s freedom and security. 

Their main mission is to at end the funeral services of fallen American military service men and women as invited 

guests of the family and to at end deployments and homecomings. Whether dawn deployments, homecomings 

or heartbreaking funerals, the Patriot Guard at ends. Every year since Bowe Bergdahl, a U.S. Army soldier from 

Hailey, was captured the Patriot Guard has held a annual rally with Jani and Bob, Bowe’s parents, to show support 

and bring awareness to this Idaho prisoner of war. 


Volunteers of the Year by Category 

Corporation ~ Western States Equipment 

Company — Meridian 

Western States encourages 

volunteerism by 

supporng organiza- 

ons and causes that 

employees believe in 

and acvely provide 

volunteer support each 

year through three key 

events — Dump Hunger, 

MDA Ride for a Cure and the Ronald McDonald House Sporng 

Clays Tournament. Besides supplying volunteers, in-kind gis 

and financial sponsorship for these events, company employees 

are part of the planning commiees and provide markeng 

and promoon experse. 

Small Business ~ Studio D — Nampa 

Danae and Victor 

Valle, owners of 

Studio D, set the 

standard of giving 

back to their community 

by organizing 

and spearheading 

unique events such 

as Touch One Life and 

Rock the Runway to 

raise funds for local charies. All 14 of their employees volunteer 

year round to help support domesc violence programs, 

cancer awareness, Boise Rescue Mission and Locks of Love. 

They are commied to serving the community and inspiring 

women and young people to realize that beauty and happiness 

comes from the inside. 

Organization ~ Meridian Kiwanis Club 

The Meridian Kiwanis 

Club’s primary 

focus is on youth 

programs that meet 

crical community 

needs, but they also 

help with other programs 

that impact a 

broader age group, 

including the Meridian 

Senior Cizen Center, Meridian Food Bank and Rake Up 

Meridian. Meridian Kiwanis’s sponsorship of Key Clubs, K-Kids 

and Builders kids focuses on inspiring youth to join in community 

service through projects like the Easter Basket of Need. 

The club engages businesses and individuals to parcipate 

alongside them on various projects, including the Hope Tree 

which relies on volunteers to help fill wish requests and the 

Care Kits for Children project, making lap quilts for foster kids. 

School ~ Lewis-Clark State College — 

Lewiston 

Lewis-Clark State 

College is a leader 

in community 

service and literacy 

acvies throughout 

Idaho. Through 

AmeriCorps, the 

college recruits and 

trains tutors and 

mentors to work 

with academically at-risk students and provide new books to 

low-income children through the First Book Program. Professors 

are acvely leading projects that engage students to give 

back to their community, which include designing and building 

wheelchair ramps at private residences, providing medical care 

to the working poor and uninsured in Lewiston, and preparing 

taxes for the elderly and low-income in the area. 

Student ~ John M. Langfield — Boise 

John M. Langfield has 

served dinner at the 

Boise Rescue Mission 

Ministries Soup Kitchen 

for the past 10 years, 

and he has regularly 

recruited friends, cousins 

and classmates to work 

with him there. He has 

volunteered as assistant 

to the house manager at the Idaho Shakespeare Fesval, and 

he is the only Youth Commissioner on the Boise City Planning 

and Zoning Commission. As president of the Bishop Kelly High 

School Spanish Club, he orchestrated the sponsorship of three 

needy children, providing them with books, tuion, food, 

medicine and other necessies. 

Individual ~ Amy Bartoo — Coeur d’Alene 

Amy Bartoo spent the first 

10 years without a paycheck 

as she created, nurtured 

and built Idaho Drug Free 

Youth — wring grants, asking 

merchants for donaons and 

holding fund raisers to start 

what is now a state-wide 

program. She brought the 

Idaho Youth Summit Camp to fruion and when that filled to 

capacity, she went a step further so southern Idaho could have 

its own Youth Summit Camp. About 300 young people in the 

northern counes signed up in 1997 and there are now over 

1,600 parcipants throughout the state. Amy’s efforts also 

brought the Kootenai County Alliance for Families & Children 

Drug Free Communies into being. 


Brightest Star Honorees 2010 

Corporations 

Blue Cross of Idaho — Meridian 

Honorable Mention ~ Intermountain 

Community Bancorp/Panhandle State Bank 

— Sandpoint 

Blue Cross of Idaho understands the importance of 

community and empowers and inspires their employees 

to help give back by volunteering. The company 

has organiz ed a “Blue Crew,” which focuses on providing 

assistance to various organizaons and events 

that support posive physical and mental health. As 

a corporaon they have made financial contribuons 

to various organizaons including Rake Up Meridian, 

United Way, American Heart Associaon, Susan G. Komen 

Race for the Cure and the American Red Cross. 

BodyBuilding.com — Meridian 

Ryan DeLuca, owner of BodyBuilding.com, has created 

a corporate mission to help every customer succeed 

in improving his or her quality of life. With over 350 

employees, his company helps customers achieve this 

goal by volunteering their experse and knowledge 

every day. The company is a leader in helping small 

businesses in the community such as the recent “Business 

Transformaon” project that, with other Meridian 

business leaders, helped Sam’s Toy Box aer the store 

experienced some hardships. 

Intermountain Community Bancorp supported more 

than 100 volunteer projects last year and encourages 

their employees to give back to their community both 

during and outside of work hours. In fact, employees 

are paid four hours per quarter to volunteer at a 

charitable cause of their choice. The IMCB Powered by 

Community iniave has provided assistance to Kootenai 

Animal Shelter, developed non-profit seminars, 

awarded college scholarships and supported Idaho 

Food Bank. 

Honorable Mention ~ Empire Airlines — 

Hayden 

Empire Airlines has a fund-raising commiee that organizes 

events throughout the year, including bake sales, 

cooking contests, 

raffles and silent 

aucons to purchase 

needed items for 

non-profits in the 

community. The 

company matches 

other fundraising 

efforts and sponsors 

employees’ involvement 

in Lile League 

and other acvies. Employees also serve on boards 

throughout the community and receive full wages 

while volunteering. 


Small Businesses 

Ataraxis — Boise 

Ataraxis has a “pay it forward” mentality and believes 

that promong civic engagement builds the business 

team as many talents are uncovered in the giving 

and sharing process, thus building the individual and 

creang a holisc approach to company wellness. For 

seven years, management and staff have contributed 

significantly to and volunteered for the Boise Burnout 

Fund’s “Light My Fire” dinner and aucon and the Miss 

Meridian Scholarship Pageant. Forty-two percent of 

the company’s employees volunteer and contributed 

over 500 hours of service last year with a multude of 

community organizaons. 

IDAHO Magazine — Boise 

IDAHO 

Magazine’s 

editor Kiy 

Fleishman is 

a reless volunteer 

for her 

“causes.” She 

leads by example 

and gives 

the members 

of her team 

the freedom and me to do the same. Staff at IDAHO 

Magazine feel passionately about their community and 

the state, showing it by volunteering for non-profit 

fundraising events, literacy and women’s issues, while 

recording the history and heritage of Idaho through 

their magazine. And they have helped bring hundreds 

of guests to Idaho, hosng such events as the Naonal 

Federaon of Press Women. 

Keller Williams Realty — Boise 

Keller Williams’ philosophy is that they are servant 

leaders whose mission is to make a difference in the 

community and, 

by leading the 

way, inspiring 

others to do the 

same. With 18 employees 

and over 

350 agents they 

are involved with 

various volunteer 

projects that give back to the community including 

Paint the Town, Rake up Boise and contribuons to KW 

Cares and Women’s and Children’s Alliance. This year 

the business partnered with Fred Meyer Stores in their 

annual Red Day event, which raised over $60,000 in 

goods and cash contribuons for six charies within 

the Treasure Valley. 

Shu’s Idaho Running Company — Boise 

Mike and Kit Shuman, owners of Shu’s Running Company 

encourage their employees to be visible in the 

community and help 

where they can. They 

have been leaders in the 

community by organizing 

the Marathon Training 

Group, assisng with 

Ridge to Rivers Trail System 

and fundraising for 

Girls on The Run. For the 

past 18 years they have 

recruited volunteers for the Women’s Day Celebraon 

finish line acvies and provided their experse to 

make the annual event a success. 

Ground Force MFG, LLC — Post Falls 

Ground Force MFG, LLC believes it is their job to give 

back to the community whenever possible. The company 

has focused on several charies that help the 

homeless, hungry, elderly and youth. They host an annual 

turkey drive and community food drives. This past 

year they volunteered 4,570 hours including parcipang 

in the Idaho Department of Labor’s reverse job 

fairs and Hard Hats, Hammers and Hot Dogs career fair. 


Small Businesses 

Kirby Graphix, Ltd. — Boise 

Aer only three years in business this company knows 

the importance of giving back to the community. 

Owners Kristen and Sco Robertson have volunteered 

over 1000 hours to organizaons that focus on helping 

children and animals. Their company has worked extensively 

with Children’s Archery Challenges and Black 

Dog Awareness Walk supplying t-shirts, banners, coffee 

mugs and silkscreen services to assist in fundraising. 

Honorable Mention ~ North Idaho Title — 


Mountain West Bank, Wood River Valley 

Branches — Hailey and Ketchum 

From assisng at-risk youth by serving as lunch buddies 

to helping at the Share Your Heart Ball benefing 

Camp Rainbow 

Gold; from 

lending a hand 

at the Senior 

Connecon’s 

Roadrunner 

5K to cleaning 

up trails at 

the Howard 

Preserve, employees of Mountain West Bank have 

been a making posive difference in the small communies 

of Hailey and Ketchum. All eleven employees 

are acve community volunteers and enjoy giving back 

as the Mountain West Bank team. During the past year 

the bank has also contributed $15,500 to community 

events including Senior Connecon’s Fesval of Trees 

and Friday Fun Days at the Blaine County Recreaon 

District’s Summer Day Camp. 

Honorable Mention ~ Ultra Clean — 

Meridian 

North Idaho Title has been a leader in volunteer contribuons 

in Coeur d’Alene providing financial donaons 

to over 43 organizaons and serving on 29 boards or 

commiees that serve the community. They support 

and organize various events that assist the community 

such as Relay for Life, St. Vincent DePaul “Souport the 

End of Homelessness” soup-off contest and Borah 

Elementary School Movie at Christmas Time. The business 

has provided more than 3,000 hours of service 

this year and encourages their employees to volunteer 

by giving them me off to pursue community service. 

Ultra Clean is dedicated to the small business community 

and several non-profit organizaons such as the 

Boise Rescue Mission, Ronald McDonald House, Meridian 

Food Bank and the EYE Club. Over the years Ultra 

Clean has developed events such as Meridian Business 

Day, Ultra Clean Smokeout, VibesBB (Breakfast and 

Book Club), Wright Stuff Radio and Business Transformaons 

that bring local businesses together to provide 

workshops and networking opportunies. 


Individuals 

Shenna Baughman — Boise 

Shenna Baughman is a parent volunteer who gives 

more than her fair share of me to help not only the 

teachers and students 

in her children’s classroom, 

but all of the 

staff and students at 

Hawthorne Elementary 

School in Boise. She 

wears many hats — 

mother, Parent-Teacher 

Organizaon president, 

Title 1 tutor, basketball 

coach and Hawthorne Elementary volunteer. She 

arrives at the school early and stays late each day, 

oen giving me in the evenings and weekends to 

assist with various programs. Shenna works on school 

improvement projects and fundraisers, including one 

that enabled all students to have their own t-shirt with 

their name on the back. 

Honorable Mention ~ Charles Norman 

Beckert - Boise 

Norm Beckert has been a volunteer consultant for the 

SCORE — Senior Core of Rered Execuves — office 

operated out 

of the Boise 

Small Business 

Associaon for 

many years. 

He works relessly 

providing 

advice and 

consultaon 

to individuals and small businesses. His solid business 

experience, sharp mind, dedicaon to help and persistence 

in tracking down all available resources to help 

his clients has resulted in many businesses “making 

it.” As his desire to see SCORE grow and his consulng 

calendar expanded, so did the SCORE chapter in the 

Treasure Valley. 

Fred C. Bradshaw — Hailey 

As a Boy Scout leader, Fred Bradshaw has led young 

men on many hikes, campouts and even a Naonal 

Boy Scout Jamboree. He was instrumental in geng 

a new shower house built at Camp Bradley northwest 

of Stanley to be used by both staff and campers. He 

organized work weekends and obtained donaons of 

money and supplies. As a Naonal Youth Leadership 

Training Scout Master, he has been a mentor to over 

50 young men who have reached the rank of Eagle 

Scout. Fred is also acve in the American Legion and 

the LDS Church. 

Jodi Brawley — Boise 

Jodi Brawley has been the co-chair of the Susan G. 

Komen for the Cure Educaon Commiee for two 

years where she has 

engaged the affiliate 

in numerous 

commiee events, 

ranging from health 

fairs to the I AM 

THE CURE educaon 

piece at the Race for 

the Cure. Jodi also 

serves on the board 

of directors of the 

Boise Affiliate, Susan 

G. Komen for the Cure. She not only fund raises on behalf 

of the affiliate, but also recruits volunteers to work 

at the various community events. In her professional 

role at Boise State University she works with students 

to help them reach goals and promotes social change 

by providing educaonal outreach and other support 

services, and inspiring some to become volunteers of 

Komen. 

Anita Brown — Lewiston 

Anita Brown served for two years as an AmeriCorps 

member tutoring and mentoring at-risk college students 

through the 

TRiO program. She 

also served for two 

years as an Ameri- 

Corps VISTA volunteer 

working to 

establish a statewide 

AmeriCorps Alumni 

Associaon. She 

connues her work 

with students by 


Individuals 

teaching at a bilingual preschool. Through her work 

with an organizaon called CIRCLES, she partners with 

individuals working their way out of poverty, offering 

them friendship, guidance and support. She serves on 

the First Book-Lewis Clark State College advisory board 

bringing new books to low-income children in four 

Idaho counes. 

Eric Buckner — Boise 

Eric Buckner has done exemplary work as a volunteer 

for the Mental Health Awareness Day organized by the 

Idaho Federa- 

on of Families 

for Children’s 

Mental 

Health. He 

has talked 

to various 

organizaons 

about his experience with mental health issues and 

he took control of technical/ electronic problems at a 

two-day conference. He has also co-facilitated a youth 

support group and various other projects for the Idaho 

Federaon of Families such as wring a grant to sponsor 

a community acvity to foster more understanding 

about mental health issues. 

Shawn L. Burke — Post Falls 

Shawn Burke’s passion has always been for the health 

and well being of others. To prevent obesity and encourage 

health and wellness 

at the developmental 

age, Shawn has organized a 

triathlon for kids at Kootenai 

Medical Center for the 

past two years. His enthusiasm 

makes every child 4 

- 11 years of age feel like an 

Olympic champion. The atmosphere 

that Shawn has 

developed in this event spills over into families to encourage 

health and fitness in their home environment. 

Educang himself and others in health and fitness is a 

driving force for Shawn. 

Jennifer M. Call — Pocatello 

Jennifer Call is an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer in Pocatello, 

working on the Idaho Kinship Project. Within 

the past year she started three support groups, including 

one on the Shoshone-Bannock Reservaon. She 

started an advisory council comprised of mulple community 

agencies and worked extensively with kincare 

families – those in which relaves are the caretakers of 

other family members – by developing a local brochure 

that is distributed by police and child protecon workers 

to kincare families, created a local resource guide 

specifically for these families and held various free 

events for the families — legal forums, family fun day 

and respite care. She has developed community support 

and has partnerships with many area agencies. 

Doris Cameron — Eden 

Doris Cameron is a volunteer for the Rered and 

Senior Volunteer Program in the Magic Valley’s respite 

services, and she has 

also volunteered many 

hours since 1986 at the 

Eden Senior Center, 

where she served as 

chairman of the board 

for five years. She is a 

transportaon volunteer 

for seniors, helping them 

with medical appointments 

and grocery shopping. 

At the center, Doris has prepares pancake breakfasts 

twice a month for large crowds, and she bakes 

cookies and delivers treats to respite clients. 

Dawn Collins — Donnelly 

Dawn Collins serves as a volunteer in Donnelly Elementary 

School, doing whatever is needed — making 

copies, reading 

with children 

who need extra 

help, preparing 

bullen boards, 

filing and many 

other tasks, 

including keeping 

the students 


Individuals 

accountable for walking in the halls quietly. She helps 

at recess, at lunch and in art, science, math and reading 

classes, and encourages students to work harder 

and think deeper. Dawn is unmatched in the amount 

of me she spends as a volunteer, and inspires other 

parents to volunteer. 

Shirley Conger — Caldwell 

Shirley not only encourages everyone she meets to 

volunteer, she understands the importance of a wellrun 

program to keep 

volunteers involved 

and interested. A 

founding member of 

the Southwest Idaho 

Directors of Volunteer 

Services in 1995, 

Shirley has connued 

with the organizaon 

for 15 years, serving 

as a wonderful inspiraon 

and resource to group members. Shirley has 

been a Serve Idaho commissioner, and for the last two 

years has been a naonal founding board member of 

the Associaon for Leaders in Volunteer Engagement, 

represenng the Northwest United States. 

Jeff Cooper — Salmon 

Jeff Cooper is a mentor for Future Farmers of America 

students in Salmon, not only supporng their programs 

but sharing 

his skills directly 

with students. His 

work with White 

Water Therapeuc 

Riding and Recreaon 

Associaon 

has enabled many 

elderly, disabled 

persons and youth 

to parcipate in 

meaningful, modified 

recreaonal 

acvies otherwise inaccessible to them. Jeff also 

served as a mentor for Natural Helpers -- a peer assistance 

program -- assisted FFA students in building a 

catapult for Career Expo compeon and coordinated 

fund raising to support FFA. 

Betty Costello — Boise 

Bey Costello has volunteered at St. Luke’s Hospital for 

at least one day per week, somemes more, for more 

than 42 years. She was also a volunteer at the Boise 

River Fesval for its duraon and ran the Western 

Idaho Fair informaon booth unl it was no longer a 

volunteer operaon. 

Neil Cross — Eden 

Neil Cross has volunteered many hours a month at 

the Helping Hands Thri Store in his community, has 

a large community garden and donates much of the 

bounty to others. Some years ago, when Neil became 

aware that local students were not having their eyes 

tested, he got in touch with the local Lions Club and as 

a result, each year students get an eye exam. If glasses 

are required, the Lions Club will help provide funds 

if needed. A local group called the Valley Community 

Alliance has also benefied from his wisdom and kindness. 

Barbara Cunningham — Coeur d’Alene 

Barbara Cunningham serves as unpaid treasurer for 

Trinity Group Homes Inc., has been acng president for 

the past year and works full me as office manager for 

Coeur d’Alene Tractor. She maintains Trinity’s financial 

records, prepares monthly statements and checks, 

and transmits year-end data for an outside audit. She 

aends quarterly lunches for residents, recruits gis 

for the annual golf tournament and supports every 

special event. She played a key role in expanding facili- 

es for the current 17 residents. She advises on fund 

raising and inspires board members in her dedicaon 

to Trinity’s mission of providing housing for those with 

mental illness. 

Liam Elms — Boise 

Liam Elms logged more than 5,600 acve volunteer 

hours at the Idaho State Veterans Home since 2003. 

He normally volunteers each Tuesday through Friday, 

organizing and somemes running the morning acvity 

program on the One West Unit. Liam serves lunch doing 

whatever he can to make the dining experience for 


Individuals 

veterans special. He fills in for acvity assistants and 

he helps on veterans’ shopping trips, fair oungs and 

anything else where he may be needed. 

Jackie Gale — Naples 

Jackie Gale is the go-to person for the Internaonal 

Gateway Visitors Center in Bonners Ferry. She meets 

and greets, stocks shelves, helps train new people 

and meets every visitor with a very big “Welcome 

to Bonners Ferry” and “How can I help you?” During 

the Smithsonian’s Journey Stories Exhibit at the local 

museum Jackie stepped up to two more days a week 

and brought other volunteers with her. She also works 

at the Naples Helping Hands Soups On Kitchen every 

Friday and was instrumental in geng the program 

started a few years ago when budget cuts caused 

schools to go to four days a week. 

Patricia (Pat) Gore — Boise 

In 2006 Pat Gore joined the Veterans Resource Network 

that was being formed to make sure veterans 

and those 

currently 

deployed 

were not 

forgoen. 

Her acvies 

have inspired 

many people 

to join in 

and show 

support for military members and help the families of 

deployed soldiers. She developed the idea to send care 

packages to deployed military members as a “thank 

you” from the cizens of Idaho. She recruited her Lions 

Club, other Lions clubs, the Veterans of Foreign Wars 

post, school students, businesses and many others 

to parcipate as well. Over 3,000 care packages have 

been mailed so far. 

Roger Grenier — Carmen 

Master stone carver Roger Grenier has created and 

donated numerous stone markers for city and county 

buildings. He has also provided tombstones when people 

have been unable to purchase them for loved ones. 

Roger also started a trebuchet compeon to benefit 

hospice in the Salmon community and recruited the efforts 

of students on several projects. His goal has been 

to encourage students to get involved in programs and 

find ways to raise money so the programs are self-sustaining. 

Roger also puts a lengthy State of the County 

Report together every year for the community. 

Sister Anthony Marie Greving — Pocatello 

Sister Anthony Marie Greving is the Director for Area V 

Southeast Idaho Council of Governments, Inc. The Area 

of Aging is to be the lead 

agency that makes a posi- 

ve difference in the lives 

of the elderly by addressing 

the changing needs of a 

growing populaon and by 

enhancing their quality of 

life. Sister Anthony Marie 

oversees Area V, which 

includes seven counes — 

Bannock, Bingham, Power, Caribou, Oneida, Franklin 

and Bear Lake. She is very acve in the community and 

a crusader for human rights and equality and a protector 

of those who can’t protect themselves. 

Linnea Hall — New Meadows 

Linnea Hall has served as a board member for the 

Meadows Valley Ambulance Service, Inc. She coordinates 

postfuneral 

family 

meals and created 

and coordinates 

the annual 

Support 

All Volunteer 

Services, an 

emergency 

services volunteers’ benefit and fund raiser. She also 

coordinates the annual Meadows Valley Days event 

benefing a wide variety of community-needs projects 

and the city seasonal decorang, which improves 

the city’s appearance. Linnea not only recruits others 

to help achieve goals at hand but is acvely involved 

through her personal parcipaon, leading by example. 


Individuals 

Norma Hawkins — Boise 

Norma Hawkins has been volunteering at the Idaho 

State Veterans Home for over 20 years, starng with 

just one day a week at the 

Fort Boise Canteen, where 

veterans, family members, 

volunteers and staff 

could get a snack and visit. 

Norma filled in for other 

volunteers when they 

could not pull their shi, 

and as the years went by, 

she took an acve role in helping with the Idaho Veterans 

Assistance League, including serving as assistant 

treasurer, ensuring that all donaons were properly 

placed. While she has connued doing this job, she 

also fills in for occasional shis in the canteen. 

Robert B. (Buck) Horton, Jr. — Idaho Falls 

Buck Horton parcipates in the Rered Seniors Volunteer 

Program, and he and his wife Debbie have supported 

homeless 

facilies 

such as FAITH, 

Ruth House, 

City of Refuge 

and the HAVEN. 

Both team up 

to support different 

volunteer 

staons as part 

of RSVP, their church and other non-profit organiza- 

ons. Buck also recruits volunteers to support the food 

bank program, and he supports Tax Aid – a program for 

the elderly and veterans — the Idaho Falls Symphony 

and The Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls. 

Edith Hufford — Boise 

At 87 years young and with failing eyesight, Edith Hufford 

is busy volunteering at a variety of Boise non-profits 

almost every day. She 

navigates the bus routes 

to travel to various nonprofit 

locaons, assisng 

the homeless and veterans 

in Boise. She has also 

volunteered at the Boise 

Rescue Mission Administra- 

on Office for the past four 

years. She encourages other 

rerees to do something 

for others, and oenmes she will bring rerees with 

her to volunteer, or, if they are unable to move around, 

she will take projects to their homes so they can sll 

contribute. 

Joyce Hughett — Coeur d’ Alene 

Joyce Hughe has been involved in expanding the local 

Naonal Alliance on Mental Illness programs that support 

individuals with mental illness and their families. 

She works to educate the community about mental 

illness, making presentaons to other groups through 

the alliance’s speaker’s bureau. She has parcipated 

in Methodist Church missions and outreach programs 

and led their last capital campaign. Joyce served on 

North Idaho College’s commiee for the Center for 

Educaonal Access that serves students with disabili- 

es and is on the Board of Directors of Trinity Groups 

Homes for the recovering mentally ill striving to become 

wholly independent. 


Individuals 

Janelle Johnson — Meridian 

Janelle Johnson was program chair for the 2009 Susan 

G. Komen Survivor Dinner, which entailed weekly 

meengs over a six-month 

period. She was on the event 

commiee for the 2010 Make- 

A-Wish Foundaon’s Annual 

Ulmate Urban Challenge 

and she has worked with her 

employer, the University of 

Phoenix, to recruit volunteers 

for the 2010 Idaho Food Bank 

drive. Janelle was the 2009 

Events and Commiee Member 

of the Year for the Boise 

Young Professionals and has helped put together the 

2009 and 2010 annual gala, which benefits this organizaon. 

Vincent Kituku — Boise 

Vincent Kituku has volunteered for many community 

groups and individuals, helping individuals build confidence 

and skills. Groups 

include United Way 

staff, Boise area alterna- 

ve schools, the Boise 

State University football 

team and a group of 

unemployed professional 

job seekers—PNG 

in Meridian. He is on the 

Boise Rescue Mission 

Board of Directors and 

has served as chairman, 

is a Boise YMCA Board member, Opmist Club 

Assistant Sponsor Coordinator and St. Luke’s Hospital 

Foundaon Commiee member. He works with the 

Opmist Club to find businesses that will be willing to 

sponsor football teams, serves meals and conducts 

chapel me at the Boise Rescue Mission and has 

trained Leadership Boise parcipants. 

Cathy Kowalski — Post Falls 

Cathy Kowalski works as a paid therapist and childcare 

provider. However, even in that role she provides free 

services to many on a daily basis, including disability 

support, food, childcare and homeless services. 

She provides support to parents for crisis childcare, 

hours of therapy to prediagnosed 

special needs 

children and free diabec 

support care for children 

in need. She has helped 

give voice to children 

who would not talk and 

created a safe haven for 

the suddenly homeless. 

She has championed for the disability rights of many 

special needs children and lobbied the legislature for 

beer childcare laws. 

Chris Kowrach — Kendrick 

Chris Kowrach is the secretary of the J-K Heritage 

Foundaon, whose mission is to preserve and promote 

the cultural heritage of Kendrick, Juliaea and the surrounding 

areas; to collect 

and preserve historical data; 

to accurately chronicle the 

materials for disseminaon 

and use of the cizens of 

the area; and to promote 

programs designed to raise 

public awareness of historical 

values and condions. 

Chris has spent hundreds 

of hours working with Carol 

Haynes in the fight to save the historic Kendrick Depot, 

and she is also involved with her community’s youth 

volunteer program, Pug Marks Community Service 

Incorporated. 

Marge Kuchynka — Weippe 

Marge Kuchynka‘s leadership helps make the annual 

Weippe Camas Fesval an 

enriching, fun, healthy event, 

which won the Governor’s 

Tourism Award for Best 

Cultural Event last year. She 

has also been acve in the 

Friends of the Weippe Library 

and is a volunteer for the 

annual Friends of the Library 


Individuals 

Dutch Oven Cookoff dinner, which generates over $500 

for the library. She is also chair of the Deyo Reservoir 

project, treasurer-secretary for Friends of the Weippe 

Library and board member of the Clearwater Valley 

Hospital. 

Iris Leppert — Coeur d’Alene 

Iris Leppert began her volunteer career with Kootenai 

Health Auxiliary in 2004. As the gi shop is the sole 

fundraising effort for the Auxiliary, Iris’s personal touch 

in helping people select the perfect item has increased 

sales. In 2006, Iris spent 32 hours to become a naonally 

cerfied car seat technician, and she regularly 

volunteers to conduct inspecons. Iris also volunteers 

at the Lake City Community Church’s food bank, where 

she has helped point people toward resources that 

have led to jobs, low income housing and treatment 

for addicons in efforts to break the cycle of poverty. 

She also volunteers at the Kootenai County Humane 

Society and works at pet adopon fairs. 

Jeff Luff — New Meadows 

Jeff Luff expanded the open hours from one day a 

week to five days a week at the New Meadows Community 

House, a 

thri store whose 

proceeds go to the 

graduang class of 

the New Meadows 

School District. He 

also expanded the 

list of merchandise 

donaons the 

Community House 

will accept — from 

clothing only to anything that can be resold. He has 

also worked to expand the local recycling center to 

handle the overload of recyclables. Jeff is also the local 

fire chief and has worked with the community to 

improve services, devong much of his me to training 

and fund raising — all outside of his normal dues. 

Vicky Mainzer — Pocatello 

As a member of the Friends of the Marshall Public 

Library, Vicky Mainzer developed a campaign called 

“Nickel-Mania” to raise funds to for a bookmobile to 

serve children and families living in nearby rural towns 

nearby that did not have access to local libraries. Her 

work raised community awareness and inspired the 

United Way of Southeast Idaho to deed its On Wheels 

Learning Mobile to the Friends of the Marshall Public 

Library. The renovated vehicle has received a complete 

exterior “wrap” and will be debuted in the near future. 

Carrie Malakowsky — Sandpoint 

Carrie Malakowsky was instrumental in reforming Bonner 

County interagency meengs, which are designed 

to create a format for agencies that serve cizens to 

gather together to network and to learn about each 

others’ programs and services available in Bonner 

County. She has been the driving force behind creating 

an online version of the Bonner County Resource 

Guide. She also acted as president at the startup of 

the Bonner Renters Advocacy Group, which is focused 

on providing educaon, advocacy and other support 

services for renters and landlords in Bonner County. 

Magdalena Martinez — Rupert 

Despite some physical challenges, Magdalena Mar- 

nez, at 75 years of age walked for “Relay for Life” 

and “Crop Walk for 

Hunger” to raise 

money for those in 

need. She volunteered 

20 hours per 

week in two local 

nursing homes and 

helped prepare 500 

dozen tamales for 

the three-day Fourth 

of July celebraon, 

where she also 

volunteered and worked in the booth. Magdalena is a 

member of the Guadalupe Society, and she prepares 

and serves dinners for many funerals in Rupert. 

Roy and Gale Norman — Pocatello 

Roy and Gale Norman are mentors who help some of 

the neediest families. They nurture them, teach them 

manners, help them deal with complicated situaons, 

keep them from squabbling with each other, fix them 

home-cooked meals, integrate them into their ex- 


Individuals 

tended family 

and take them 

to the zoo on a 

regular basis to 

help them learn 

how to love 

animals. The 

Normans provide 

stability for individuals coming from very unstable 

situaons and show by example how a “healthy” family 

works. 

Al Ogram — Hayden 

Al Ogram volunteered to give computer classes to senior 

cizens at the Hayden Senior Center, but he soon 

realized they needed to be 

tutored individually, on their 

own equipment, to gain 

confidence and become 

successful. He has served 

33 clients so far with new 

requests almost daily. Al 

also helps staff with equipment 

and troubleshoong. 

He has also been a volunteer and treasurer for the 

Spokane Symphony Coeur d’Alene Chapter and for Art 

in the Park. He is a member of the Kootenai Environmental 

Alliance and a local fly fishing group, assisng 

in organizing fly fishing events. 

Janice Osborn — Garden City 

Janice Osborn rides Valley Transit to serve as a volunteer 

at the Cynthia Mann Elementary School, where 

she spends five hours a day, five days a week, helping 

first grade students who need extra help in the 

classroom. She tutors, mentors and is a special grandmother 

and friend to many children and families in 

the school. She also serves as an informal leader in the 

Foster Grandparent Program by recruing other senior 

cizens to become foster grandparents. She schedules 

rides, checks on sick volunteers and stays in touch with 

rered foster grandparents. 

Lillian Pierce — Caldwell 

Lillian Pierce has been a significant contributor to the 

Canyon County Habitat for Humanity building program, 

aending 

almost every 

Saturday 

building day 

for the past 

four years. 

She acts as 

“site host,” 

welcoming new builders and geng them signed in 

and ready to work. She also volunteers to work in 

the thri store every Monday morning, hauls off the 

program’s recycling and supports special events and 

fund raising programs. Lillian also helps with a variety 

of programs for her church, helps take care of elderly 

members of her community and solicits donaons for 

ReStore, a thri store for building materials. 

George Pool — McCall 

George Pool is the founder of Payee Lakes Community 

Associaon which provides aer-school care for children 

at Barbara Morgan 

and Donnelly Elementary 

schools as well as 

summer programming. 

He is president of the 

board for the McCall 

Senior Cizen Center, 

parcipates weekly in 

Meals on Wheels and 

also runs bingo. He is 

a panel member for 

First-Stop Diversion, offering alternaves for troubled 

youth, and is president of his homeowner’s associa- 

on. 


Individuals 

Mark Post — Eagle 

Mark Post counsels young families, especially men, 

about giving back to their communies through volunteer 

work. He has recruited 

numerous volunteers for 

vacaon bible school and 

has worked to help young 

people become responsible 

members of their community. 

He encourages men 

to be good husbands and 

fathers. Mark was instrumental 

in securing the 

naonally recognized “Men at the Cross” event this 

year for the Treasure Valley. The event went so well 

that the organizaon has already agreed to come back 

to Idaho in 2011. 

Terri Radford — Hayden 

Terri Radford is part of “Jubilee Ministries,” a team of 

volunteers from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Coeur d’ 

Alene. Several years ago Terri 

and her group began assisng 

St. Vincent de Paul Transional 

Housing Center, the youth 

program and St. Vincent de 

Paul emergency shelters with 

a variety of needs. The assistance 

has included securing 

grants for the agency, planned 

dinners, assistance with holiday needs and gis, 

locang furnishings for families graduang from the 

program, purchasing parenng and life skills materials, 

and spearheading and facilitang bike rides to raise 

awareness and financial assistance. 

Brian Simer — Meridian 

Through Brian Simer’s 

leadership, the Knights 

of Columbus has 

implemented the 

Ultrasound Iniave, 

Food for Families and 

Coats for Kids campaigns 

and has also 

become a partner with 

the American Wheelchair Mission. These programs are 

new to Idaho and have made a great impact. As president 

of PAL football, sponsored by the Meridian Police 

Acvies League, Brian Simer has also supervised the 

Leadership Program, a naonal organizaon that builds 

leadership skills in classrooms and communies. Over 

300 players have completed this leadership and andrug 

and alcohol program. 

Terry Smith — Meridian 

Terry Smith was a man of faith, a former banker, a 

Meridian Kiwanis leader and a president of and ambassador 

for the Meridian Chamber of Commerce. He 

was involved in preserving Meridian’s rich history, a 

believer and supporter of youth and a train enthusiast. 

Terry was the driving energy behind projects like Meridian’s 

Generaons Plaza, the creaon of downtown 

Meridian’s urban renewal district, Meridian Centennial 

Celebraon, Main Street improvements such as landscaping 

and sidewalks, the Eagle Road interchange and 

downtown Meridian’s street plan. He brought Paint the 

Town to Meridian and as a member of the Meridian 

Parks & Recreaon Commission was instrumental in 

the opening of several Meridian parks. 

Honorable Mention ~ Richard and Judy 

Snider — Twin Falls 

Richard Snider mentors young boys whose fathers are 

incarcerated. He helps with maintenance of church 

grounds — snow blowing, lawn cung, running 

sprinklers, ferlizing -- is parish musician and assists 

with handyman acvies for elderly and widows in 

the community. Judy Snider provides pastoral care 

at the hospital, donates quilts to non-profit agencies, 

helps elderly women with no family in the area, 


Individuals 

teaches sewing classes for refugees and leads refugee 

summer school. Both deliver meals on wheels three 

mes/week, help neighbors in need (distribung food 

to needy families), tutor refugees in schools, and are 

cultural ambassadors for refugee families. 

Barbara Tennery — Hayden 

Under Barbara Tennery’s direcon, the Hayden Area 

Gem Community Center not only provides meals for 

seniors but also social ac- 

vies, a companionship 

program, training classes 

and medical and legal 

resource assistance. She 

was also instrumental 

in founding the center’s 

board of directors and 

in securing a grant to 

fund operaons. She has worked with food banks and 

eldercare agencies to provide nutrion, safety and 

resources to seniors and individuals with disabilies. 

Recently she helped in Hayden Days, raising funds for 

numerous charitable organizaons. 

Lacey Dawn Vander Boegh — Wilder 

Lacey Dawn Vander Boegh has been the lead drum 

major for the Boise State University Blue Thunder Band 

for the past four years, a 

director of Ballet Idaho’s 

Pre-ballet Program and 

a member of the BSU 

Code of Conduct Board. 

She volunteers and 

has spoken to schools, 

clubs, sports acvity 

groups and organiza- 

ons around Idaho, 

inslling the importance 

of resisng peer pressure. At a recent 4-H workshop 

she presented her plaorm on “Peer Pressure, be Your 

Own Person.” She was also a judge at the Emme 

Cherry Fesval, and she parcipates in walks and runs 

to raise money for charies. 

Nancy White — Caldwell 

As the Secretary of the Valley Heights Neighborhood 

Associaon, Nancy White has led by example 

in encouraging volunteering 

within 

the community. She 

coordinates placement 

of foreign exchange 

students and leads 

them in joining and 

volunteering in community 

service with 

the Caldwell Mayor’s 

Youth Advisory Council. 

She also encourages the host parents to volunteer 

as well. Nancy has also instructed in chapel services at 

the Idaho Correconal Corporaon facility every week 

since 1999. 

Isabell Yale — Boise 

Isabell Yale took on running the St. Mary’s food bank 

in Boise 17 years ago, serving just a few families. Now 

Isabell is 85 

years old, and 

the food bank 

serves over 

1,000 families 

a month. Isabell 

has been 

responsible 

for gathering 

resources, 

both personal and food items for the food bank, and 

she has inspired others who work with her. She enthusiascally 

welcomes all who come seeking help, and 

her colleagues connue to be amazed by the service 

she gives to the food bank. 


Organizations 

Better Business Bureau — Boise 

The Boise Beer Business Bureau serves the community 

through its constant vigilance and efforts in growing 

trust in the 

marketplace, 

educang 

consumers, 

providing 

dispute 

resoluon, 

mediaon 

and arbitra- 

on services. Daily it sounds the alarm about scams 

and fraud. The bureau tracks incoming phone calls 

regarding scams and records approximately $450,000 

per month in scam-related calls. The Beer Business 

Bureau partners with area businesses to provide two 

free sensive document shredding events per year, 

the most recent ‘Secure Your ID Day’ serving more 

than 500 people. Bureau employees also volunteer for 

many community organizaons. 

Blind Services Foundation Inc. — Boise 

A totally volunteer organizaon with no paid staff, 

Blind Services Foundaon helps to enhance the quality 

of life for blind and visually impaired cizens of Idaho. 

The organizaon helps Idaho cizens, ages 8 to 92, 

acquire materials such as closed-circuit televisions 

and magnifiers to help them live more independent 

lives, funding these gis by personal donaons and 

by grants. Eight volunteer “employees” provide over 

450 hours of service to make this organizaon a success. 

The foundaon’s president, who has personal 

experience of blindness, remains instrumental in grant 

wring and in picking up equipment from previous 

“giees” who can no longer use the item. 

Honorable Mention ~ Boise WaterShed 

Exhibits Inc. — Boise 

Boise WaterShed Exhibits’ mission is to educate the 

public about water quality and wastewater treatment, 

and to promote cizen stewardship of our natural 

resources. With only one paid employee the focus of 

environmental educaon is promoted by over 50 volunteers 

that have served more than 2,500 hours. The 

center’s approach is to engage volunteers at all levels, 

from the person who voluntarily changes his harmful 

environmental behaviors to the grandmother who 

trains to be a center docent. 

Boys & Girls Club of Kootenai County — 

Post Falls 

With over 350 members, hundreds of lives are posi- 

vely impacted each year through acvies of the 

Boys & 

Girls Club. 

Program 

staff and 

volunteers 

parcipate 

with youth 

in acvies 

to enhance 

their leadership 

skills and learn to use those skills through school 

interacons with other youth, Keystone Club, Torch 

Club, community service projects and various student 

councils. As club members work with program staff 

and volunteers to engage in posive behaviors and 

to set personal goals in order to live successfully as 

self-sufficient adults, these behaviors are passed on, so 

that club alumni make a difference in the local community 

and beyond. 


Organizations 

Honorable Mention ~ Tax-Aide Idaho — 

Buhl 

Center for Emerging Futures - Eric Jones 

Fund — Boise 

Tax-Aide Idaho is a 100 percent volunteer-run organizaon 

that provides federal and state income tax 

preparaon and filing assistance for all individuals, 

with special emphasis on helping the elderly, people 

with low incomes, persons with disabilies, people 

who are homebound and non-English speakers. Over 

19,000 Idaho cizens benefit from this service of 286 

volunteers who provide over 42,150 hours of free tax 

counseling and preparaon. Celebrang 35 years of 

service, the organizaon recruits from the general 

public and other businesses and organizaon. Many 

current volunteers inspire new volunteers by sharing 

how smulang and posive the work is for them 

personally. 

Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre — 


Each year Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre donates over 

$10,000 in cerficates for season ckets to over 60 local 

non-profit associaons. A free manee of “Wizard 

of Oz” charity event is especially targeted to underserved 

individuals and youth baling illnesses. Coeur 

d’Alene Summer Theatre, through example, encourages 

community involvement and has at least 10 volunteers 

at every show through the summer. During the 

year, volunteers help in the office with mailings and 

general clerical work. The volunteer board of directors 

have kept Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre involved in 

all aspects of the arts community. 

The Eric Jones Fund, part of the Center for Emerging 

Futures and comprised of employees of Business 

Psychology Associates, hosts a series of fundraisers 

throughout the year, donang the proceeds to various 

organizaons focused on women’s and children’s 

issues. A grass-roots, community-focused organizaon, 

EJF understands that it can make the greatest impact 

locally. Recent beneficiaries include the Valley Crisis 

Center, which helps vicms of domesc violence, and 

the Idaho Food Bank’s Backpack Program, supplying 

574 backpacks full of food to school children, as well as 

collecng and delivering $1,832.02 and 754 pounds of 

food items to the Idaho Food Bank 

Helping Hands Thrift Store, Inc. — Hazelton 

The Helping Hands Thri Store profits support the hungry, 

the elderly, persons with disabilies, youth, the infirm 

and even animals. People have learned to rely on 

the organizaon in mes of need. The thri store came 

into being aer several Lions Club members noced an 

overabundance of clothing and household items that 

could be recycled for a minimal expense. The store 

relies 100 percent on volunteers. 


Organizations 

Hospice Visions, Inc. Teen Volunteer 

Program — Twin Falls 

Recognizing the importance of serving community 

needs, Hospice Visions created a diverse teen volunteer 

program to carry out acvies to meet these 

needs. The program offers teens the opportunity 

to learn about the ever-growing health care profession, 

while gaining knowledge and experience as they 

perform provide hospice care. The teens spend me 

doing acvies with paents such as cras, playing 

memory games, reading, recording the paent’s life 

history, shoveling snow and sharing joy while easing 

burdens. These experiences are designed to help youth 

recognize that people are more than their professions 

and that everyone has a responsibility to the community, 

and especially to those experiencing life-liming 

illnesses. 

Icon Credit Union — Boise 

Icon Credit Union, formerly Idaho Credit Union, 

dedicates not only financial resources to charitable 

organizaons, but more importantly over 500 hours of 

volunteer me. Icon Credit Union has provided financial, 

in-kind support and/or educaonal assistance for 

organizaons such as the MS Walk, See Spot Walk, 

Habitat for Humanity, Beer Business Bureau Shred 

Instead, Ronald McDonald House, Youth Baseball, 

Youth Soccer, Junior Achievement, Children’s Miracle 

Network, Adopt-a-Highway, SHIP, Sustainable Futures, 

Silver Sage Girl Scouts, North Ada County Paramedics’ 

Teddy Bears for Kids program and more. 

Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics — 

Orofino 

Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics leads by example. 

Staff serve as advisors to the Health Occupa- 

ons Students 

of America. It 

has provided 

free immuniza- 

ons during 

April, Childhood 

Immunizaon 

Month, and 

free fecal occult 

blood test kits 

during March, 

Naonal Colorectal Cancer Month. The hospital financially 

sponsors the annual Kiwanis Lumberjack Days 

Fun Run in Orofino and the Camas Fesval in Weippe, 

provides two scholarships for graduang seniors from 

Timberline and Orofino high schools and hosts regular 

free HEALTH MATTERS public forums and screenings on 

health related topics, hosted by the hospital’s health 

care providers. 


Organizations 

Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors — 

Twin Falls 

and ensuring that each individual has a meaningful 

experience. Center staff educate the community about 

local issues and the way to take acon, build collabora- 

on with community stakeholders, create partnerships 

with organizaons promong community service and 

offer placements/referrals to families, rerees, students, 

the disabled, employee groups and others. 

Women’s and Children’s Alliance — Boise 

The Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors organizaon, 

both statewide and in south central Idaho, 

has been an advocate for Medicare beneficiaries 

since 1986. With 204 acve volunteers in all counes 

of south central Idaho, SHIBA offers seniors free and 

unbiased informaon, counseling and assistance with 

health insurance quesons. Working at 92 enrollment 

sites, volunteers help seniors understand the complexi- 

es of Medicare. Known for strong community educa- 

on and outreach, the south central Idaho SHIBA is 

acve with presentaons and help concerning Medicare 

at senior centers and health fairs in south central 

Idaho. 

United Way of Kootenai County Volunteer 

Center — Coeur d’Alene 

United Way of Kootenai Volunteer Center seeks to 

improve the lives of people through public service and 

volunteerism. The center is a resource that promotes 

volunteerism by connecng people to opportunies 

The Women’s and Children’s Alliance provides safety, 

healing and freedom to vicms of domesc abuse and 

sexual assault, operang secure shelters and transi- 

onal homes while providing professional counseling, 

legal advocacy, outreach and crisis services to women 

and children. The WCA is a membership organizaon 

with over 1,400 members. These members include donors, 

volunteers, clients, staff, companies and other organizaons. 

Next year the WCA will celebrate its 100th 

Anniversary. For an enre century, the WCA — formerly 

the YWCA —has served in the community providing 

safe shelter to women, and the last 30+ years have 

been devoted to providing healing to women in crisis. 


Schools 

Honorable Mention ~ ANSER Charter 

School — Garden City 

All ANSER Charter School teachers incorporate service 

learning in their curriculum – adding up to more than 

4,000 student 

hours donated 

to the community. 

The school’s 

culture encourages 

the whole 

community -- 

students, teachers 

and parents – to parcipate in making meaningful 

contribuons to local and worldwide communies. All 

programs such as community-based curriculum, sixth 

grade year of service program junior high elecves 

incorporate service to the community. 

Capital High School — Boise 

Capital High School students are encouraged to 

become involved with various organizaons throughout 

Boise by 

administrators 

and faculty that 

are commied 

to community involvement. 

Staff 

and students 

have organized 

a food bank 

for refugees, 

tutored children, started chess clubs at elementary 

schools, read aloud at rerement centers, held dance 

classes for rerees and provided “Make a Wish” endowments 

for children with cancer. 

Gooding School District Youth Advisory 

Council — Gooding 

The Youth Advisory Council is a group of volunteers 

ages 12-18 who work with their peers and adults organizaons 

within the city, county and state to increase 

awareness for community needs such as hunger, child 

abuse, public lands, youth government, water quality 

and Feed the Children, a worldwide non-profit 

organizaon. The council promotes good communica- 

on skills through acvies in which parcipants are 

encouraged to serve as facilitators, work cooperavely 

with adults and peers and present analyses and recommendaons 

in public forums preparing youth to be 

community leaders in the future. 

Honorable Mention ~ Highlands 

Elementary School — Boise 

With more than 250 students volunteering in the community 

Highlands Elementary School has contributed 

3,000 hours 

of service 

to the Boise 

community. 

The school’s 

curriculum 

incorporates 

various service 

projects for 

each grade level that include working with the Agency 

for New Americans, Special Olympics, wring leers 

to elderly and planng an edible garden. Highland Elementary 

began this program five years ago, and it has 

made a posive impact in the community, increased 

civic engagement and contributes to high academic 

achievement at the school. 

Lakeland High School — Rathdrum 

Staff and students at Lakeland High School excel in volunteerism 

with at-risk youth, people with disabilies, 


Schools 

terminally ill paents, elderly cizens, local environment, 

homelessness, the hungry, abandoned animals, 

the working poor and the abused. Over 500 staff and 

students served more than 5,000 hours last year and 

raised over $22,700. Lakeland High School’s goal was 

to promote success, well-being, and alleviaon of poverty 

and suffering — core values at the heart of service 

at Lakeland. 

Palouse Prairie School of Expeditionary 

Learning — Moscow 

“Service and Compassion” is one of the basic principles 

at Palouse Prairie School of Expedionary Learning. 

Each K-6 teacher 

strives to incorporate 

a service learning 

project into each 

interdisciplinary unit, 

which has included 

working with Heifer 

Internaonal, Hai 

Relief Funds and local 

environmental organizaons. 

School leaders 

have also created a community-led learning program, 

which involves parents and members of the community 

to complete local projects such as creang safe 

walking route maps for neighborhood kids and building 

Orff instruments for the school. 

Sagle Elementary — Sagle 

At Sagle Elementary, there is special aenon given to 

culvang a community where neighbors help neighbors 

to strengthen 

the whole community. 

With Penny 

Power project in 

April, the students 

collect pennies for 

six months and use 

the funds to shop for 

items to supply the 

local food bank. During 

the holidays the 

students perform Christmas carols for the local nursing 

home, the Panhandle Bank and the district central 

office. School faculty emphasize to their students that 

each individual has the power to impact the lives of 

everyone in the community. 

West Park Elementary — Moscow 

West Park Elementary has a culture of integrated volunteerism 

throughout the school. This culture benefits 

students, families, staff and the community by providing 

reading buddies, school maintenance/clean-up 

during Saturdays of Service, organizing blood drives 

and fundraising for Red Cross and Inland Empire Blood 

Bank. The school has an extensive volunteer corps represenng 

all aspects of Moscow’s community. 

Xavier Charter School, Twin Falls 

Xavier Charter School was founded with a purpose to 

promote volunteering and service to others, and have 

been making a difference in their school, community 

and the world ever since. Teachers and students 

have helped purchase shoes for an AIDS orphanage 

in Uganda, donated $750 for the Idaho Potatoes for 

Hai project for malnourished children and have made 

cards for hospice paents. They have also inspired the 

Modern Woodsmen of America to match the contribuons 

the students raised to purchase Wii gaming 

systems and other games for the pediatric unit of St. 

Luke’s Magic Valley Regional Medical Center. 


Students 

Janelle de Weerd — Meridian 

Janelle de Weerd’s volunteerism has benefited the 

Buddy Walk, the Inclusion Revoluon and Special 

Olympics. She 

has coordinated 

food drives 

for the Meridian 

Food Bank 

and Backpack 

for Kids 

program. She 

parcipates in 

volunteer ac- 

vies organized by Supporng Teens Against Nicone 

Dependency and is a leader in the Meridian Mayor’s 

Youth Advisory Council, which plans fundraising events 

for Habitat for Humanity, the Idaho Meth Project and 

Meridian Food Bank. Janelle also acvely parcipates 

in projects and programs of the Meridian An-Drug 

Coalion, including educaonal town hall meengs. 

Austin Dobbs — Twin Falls 

Ausn has been acvely involved with volunteering for 

the past eight years. This year he has given over 100 

hours of community 

service 

assisng with the 

Migrant Summer 

School program, 

prepared the 

reading booklets 

for Twin Falls 

School District 

Open Court 

reading sessions 

Brothers Dylan Dobbs, left. and 

Austin Dobbs. 

and supported 

the Helping Hands 

Project. Ausn’s 

commitment to community service shines through and 

inspires those around him to become involved. 

Dylan Dobbs — Twin Falls 

Dylan is a passionate athlete who has acvely assisted 

an athlec director in the Twin Falls School district 

provide physical acvies to youth in the Magic Valley. 

Dylan has provided over 100 hours of exceponal service 

to various programs including tutoring elementary 

migrant students, picking up trash during the Helping 

Hands Project and collecng money for the Salvaon 

Army during the O’Leary Junior High Fesval of Giving. 

Kylie Gish — Nampa 

Kylie is raising and training a service dog for Canine 

Companions for Independence that will one day help 

someone with a disability. She loves using her dog to 

educate her 

peers and the 

community 

about service 

dogs and 

people with 

disabilies. 

Kylie also 

sews hats, 

scarves and 

blankets to 

raise money for Canine Companions for Independence. 

She takes her dog to school and into elementary classrooms 

to talk to children about good behavior around 

service dogs, and she has inspired other teens to raise 

dogs for the organizaon. 

Brock Heath — Cottonwood 

Brock Heath formulated and then followed through 

with the idea of a school chess club. And though it 

wasn’t the original intent to use this club as an anbullying 

program, it 

has become a safe 

place for students 

to interact and play 

chess with students 

they would not 

normally associate 

with and it offers an 

opportunity to experience 

and appreciate 

diversity. Last year, as 

president of PAVE, a high school community service 

group, Brock organized and parcipated in acvies 

that reached out to help the community, including collecng 

hats, miens and food for the food baskets and 

serving at benefit funcons. 


Students 

Honorable Mention ~ Ashton Lupton — 

Hailey 

Ashton Lupton has used voluntary public service to 

bring people from different groups together. Aer 

compleng her 

term as one 

of two volunteer 

youth 

members on 

the Girl Scout 

Board of Directors, 

Ashton 

founded and 

became the 

charter president 

of the first 

Kiwanis Key Club in the community. Beginning with 21 

members, the club logged over 500 hours of service in 

its first three months. 

Honorable Mention ~ David Massengale 

— Nampa 

For the last eight years, David has served the Boy 

Scouts of America first as a cub master of Pack 230. 

David built the pack from a small number of families 

to a unit now serving 62 boys and their families. He is 

now scoutmaster of Troop 116, and a commissioner, 

connuing to mentor the cub pack. He has used his 

experiences in finance, communicaons and organiza- 

on to become a leader who is respected by fellow 

volunteers in scoung. The pack and troop, under his 

leadership, led in food donaons over the past three 

years. David has maintained a 4.0 GPA and was recently 

recognized as a Disnguished Student for the Class 

of 2010 at Stevens-Henager College. 

Grayson Stone — Moscow 

Grayson has been acvely volunteering since age 3 

focusing on helping homeless children and the elderly 

not only in his own community but also in India and 

the Dominican Republic. He has taken the iniave to 

recruit, organize and encourage people to join him on 

his humanitarian trips abroad to help people in need. 

Currently Grayson is developing a community service 

program for the College of Southern Idaho. 


The Idaho Department of Labor is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider. We are commied to 

providing employment services and programs and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, 

naonal origin, religion, polical affiliaon or belief, sex, age or disability.

2010 - Serve Idaho

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