The eighth annual Caring Heart Award winners have been announced by Innovative Services NW. The awards recognize people and organizations that work to improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities and social disadvantages.
Winners will be celebrated at a Caring Heart Awards Dinner and Celebration, March 13 at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver. Tickets are $75.
The event is Innovative Services NW’s major annual fundraiser, with corporate sponsorships, donations and a silent auction. Auction items include a “suiteheart” package at the lodge, a round of golf for two at Camas Meadows Golf Club and season passes to the Vancouver Symphony. This year there’s also a $5,000 challenge match from an anonymous donor.
Here are this year’s winners:
o Jeanne Mack, a veteran public and private school teacher and administrator, gets the Children’s Award. Mack has been involved with children’s mental health and education initiatives and is the former director of Innovative Services’ Pediatric Therapy Center.
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o Darla Helt, manager of the Clark County Parent Coalition, won the Community Advocacy Award. The coalition helps parents and guardians become effective advocates for family members with developmental disabilities. Helt has been a major advocate for the state Children’s Intensive In-Home Behavioral program, which helps children with developmental disabilities and challenging behaviors live at home.
o What: Caring Heart Awards Dinner and silent auction for people or organizations who help those with disabilities.
o When: 6 p.m. March 13; program and dinner at 7 p.m.
o Where: Heathman Lodge, 7801 N.E. Greenwood Drive, Vancouver.
o Kevin Myles won the EveAnn Classen Leadership Award. Myles is clinical manager of Hospice Southwest, a branch of Southwest Washington Medical Center, and has served on the board of Innovative Services NW for many years. He is a “healer and peacemaker who quietly makes life better for many people on a daily basis,” according to a statement from Innovative Services.
o Gloria Campbell is the recipient of the Development Award for her efforts to grow Innovative Services NW by chairing silent auctions, making gift baskets, coordinating golf tournaments and volunteering in many other ways.
o Whole Foods Market gets the Employment Award. The upscale supermarket, with eight stores employing 830 people in the Vancouver-Portland region, has donated more than $60,000 since 2008 to local charities and nonprofit groups — including the Ft. Vancouver Regional Library Foundation, Loaves and Fishes, Camas Roots Garden and more. The Whole Foods market on Mill Plain is a partner with Innovative Services NW’s Employment Services program.
o Jeanne Firstenburg has won the Chairman of the Board Award thanks to her business practices as CEO of First Independent Bank. The bank and the Firstenburg family have invested more than $26 million in local hospitals, nonprofit agencies and universities; Firstenburg also started the bank’s Helping Hands program, encouraging employees to donate their time and talents to the community.
o Dick James won the Board of Directors Award. A former corporate CEO, he now teaches at Washington State University Vancouver and Clark College and offers free consulting services to numerous nonprofit organizations, including Innovative Services NW.
o What: Caring Heart Awards Dinner and silent auction for people or organizations who help those with disabilities.
o When: 6 p.m. March 13; program and dinner at 7 p.m.
o Where: Heathman Lodge, 7801 N.E. Greenwood Drive, Vancouver.
o Matt and Val Hadwin and McDonald’s Clark County get the Vancouver USA Hometown Award for their support of foster children and children’s charities. The couple own 15 McDonald’s restaurants in Clark County and Kelso; they provide free meals to foster children who come in with their social workers.
