Submitted by TOGETHER!
Twenty-four people from all points of Thurston County received Champions for Kids awards March 11 for the work or volunteering they do to support children and youth. Honorees ranged from lawyers to bankers, retired volunteers to teachers, service workers to public servants. About 300 people in attendance listened to the stories of the work of these individuals, some of whom have volunteered on behalf of children for decades.
The Champions for Kids Celebration is an annual event put on by TOGETHER!, a local nonprofit that works to advance the health, safety and success of young people in Thurston and Mason Counties. Over the 12-year history of the event, 296 people have received this award for their dedication and volunteerism. These heroes often go unsung, and their recognition is well-deserved.
This year’s honorees were: Harold Becker, Dan Beckley, Dan Bruner, Adam Cornwall, Jared Dance, Tad Earley, Karol Ebio, Shea Fitzgerald, David Ford, Monica Gockel, Lowell Gordon, Ed Hibbert, Nina Hoppe, Joe Jackson, Carolee Johnson, Helen Johnston, Beth Kemph, Carole Layton, Blue Peetz, Graeme Sackrison, Marion Smith, Shellica Trevino, Jennifer Williamson-Forster, and John Wright.
Nominations for the 2014 Champions for Kids will open this fall.
