Naomi Bloch represented Councilmember Trachtenberg at last evening’s 2010 Marriott Spirit to Serve Community Service Awards ceremony that took place at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center located at 5701 Marinelli Road in North Bethesda.
Each year, through the prestigious Marriott Spirit to Serve Community Service Awards, the Montgomery County Volunteer Center, under the offices of County Executive Isiah Leggett, honors remarkable individuals, groups, and schools that have significantly contributed to the community.
This year’s honorees are:
Ms. Cathy Henderson, of Silver Spring for creating a model for the Montgomery Blair High School Career Center that is meeting the needs of 30 to 60 students per day.
Mr. Larry Schulman, of Potomac a social entrepreneur for building bridges between the business community and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to engage thousands of students in vocational training. The foundations Mr. Schulman helped to start include the highly regarded Montgomery County Students Construction Trades Foundations, Inc. (CTF), Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation, Inc. (ATF) - the first program of its kind in the nation, the Montgomery County Students Information Technology Trades Foundation, Inc. (ITF).
KidzCare USA, Montgomery County Chapter a service learning program for kids ages 5-17. KidzCare participants completed 28 different projects contributing 909.5 hours of service in 2009. Some of their projects included boxing food for Manna Food Center; assembling goodie bags for children staying at The Children’s Inn at NIH; gave goats, ducks, seeds, etc. through World Vision’s Holiday Alternative Gift Market.
MoverMoms, of Bethesda, a home grown group of 150-plus dynamic mothers and their kids who are making a positive difference in Montgomery County by bringing service opportunities to the 4-12 age groups. The group began in 2007 and their many projects have included helping working at numerous men’s and women’s shelter; assisting the Manna Food Center, participating in charity events to raise funds for multiple sclerosis, breast cancer and juvenile diabetes.
Westover Elementary School, Silver Spring, where the school principal and student council work hand in hand to create successful outcomes for their many community service projects that have included collecting clothes for Goodwill Industries raising money for the Fannie Mae Walk for the Homeless to support the Stepping Stones Shelter. The school also did a three week penny drive to support The Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund with to the goal of exceeding the $493.29 that they collected for Katrina victims. And with the help of over 300 people they collected over 843,860 pennies – double their goal!
Carderock Springs Elementary, Bethesda, for their community service projects that they plan to coincide with the classroom lesson curriculum that is called “Pillar of the Month” (such as responsibility, cooperation, respect, etc.). The students come to learn how their actions make a real difference. The students have supported numerous local and international organizations including: Walter Reed Army Hospital; A Wider Circle; The Children’s Inn at NIH and Habitat for Humanity.
Rockville High School, Rockville, where a spirit of community service permeates all and their motto of “One School, One World, One Future” inspires them to engage in projects that support both local and global communities. One particularly creative project was “Empty Bowls” and event held for hungry families. Over 100 students made 200 ceramic bowls for a dinner that raised $1,260.00 for the Capital Area Food Bank.
Barrie School, located in northern Silver Spring, honored for their Pre-K through 5th service learning program and projects where the students themselves take personal ownership for the projects they perform. These projects range from volunteering at Great and Small, and organization that provides therapeutic horseback riding for people with disabilities to raising funds for Water for Life, an organization that brings water and hope to those in Niger, Africa.
Mr. Reed Dewey, Director of the Montgomery County Volunteer Center welcomed everyone and made introductions on behalf of this important annual event. Remarks were made Mari Snyder of Marriott International, Montgomery County Executive, Isiah Leggett and County Council President, Nancy Floreen.
For more information about the Montgomery County Volunteer Center: www.MontgomeryCountyMD.gov/Volunteer and how you can find help for a volunteer project or volunteer yourself.
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