91勛圖窪蹋厙 Announces 2010 Community Award of Distinction Winners

Post date

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10/6/2010

CONTACTS:

VANCOUVER,
Wash. Washington State University Vancouver presented two Community
Awards of Distinction Tuesday, Oct. 5 at its Scholarship and Service
Recognition Dinner. The award for Community Partnership was presented to
Peggy Hays for her service to the children of our community. The award
for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion was presented to YWCA Clark County
for its longstanding history of serving marginalized individuals in our
community.

Hays
was selected for the Community Award of Distinction for Community
Partnership for her contributions to the well-being of children in
Southwest Washington. She spearheads the Family-to-Family program for
the Division of Children and Family Services. Hays works to bring
together churches, schools, and private and nonprofit agencies in a
defined geographic area to serve the needs of that communitys children
and families.

Hays
began her efforts in Hazel Dell due to the number of children being
referred to DCFS with child protective issues and a need for more foster
homes in the area. She held meetings, coffee hours, pizza nights and
brainstorming sessions to create sustainable programs and activities for
the communitys families.

Hays
is now implementing the Family-to-Family model in the Rose Village and
Fourth Plain neighborhoods where she is experiencing enthusiastic
response to the program.

P梗眶眶聆
has been a social worker and program coordinator for more than 25
years. Her breadth of knowledge in community resources and contacts is
invaluable to our area. She is often sought out statewide for her
expertise and is highly regarded in her field. Her unending energy is
contagious and her focus on the needs of disadvantaged children is
admirable, said Karen Schriener Rankine, who nominated Hays for the
Community Award of Distinction.

The
Community Award of Distinction for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion was
presented to the YWCA Clark County. The 94 year-old organization serves
more than 11,000 community members each year through various advocacy,
educational and outreach programs, services and events. The YWCAs
programs support people in finding safety, independence, healing and
support.

The
YWCA is the only organization in Clark County that offers two programs
dedicated to victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault
with special advocacy and services for LGBTQ, youth, incarcerated women,
men, Spanish and Russian speakers, homeless and low-income children and
families.

The
YWCA partners with other groups and organizations to provide services
people rely on and wouldnt receive otherwise, including important
workshops and resources related to diversity and inclusion.

Jennifer
Werdel, YWCAs director of development and communications, also
nominated YWCA Clark County for the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
award. She was also first to learn that the YWCA had been selected for
the 2010 award.

濡喧
was a very exciting moment to be the first to know and to share with
our more than 90 staff and 550+ volunteers. They are the real heroes who
provide this work despite long work hours, budget cuts and our
faltering economy. They keep their spirits up, and this, in turn, keeps
light and hope alive for our program participants, said Werdel.

The
Community Award of Distinction was established in 2009 by H.A. Hal
Dengerink, chancellor, as part of Washington State University
Vancouvers 20th anniversary celebration. Chancellor
Dengerink believes strongly in the reciprocal relationship between the
university and the communitywhen one thrives, both prosper.

T堯梗莽梗
awards present an opportunity to call out parts of our community that
build community. Both award winners target efforts that fill cracks
here. They answer a real need, said Dengerink.

Nominations for the Community Award of Distinction were collected throughout the summer and winners were selected by committee.

Learn about 2009 Community Award of Distinction recipients by visiting .

WSU
Vancouvers Scholarship and Recognition Dinner brings together
scholarship donors and scholarship award winners for an evening of
celebration. This year $236,630 in scholarships were awarded to 147
students.

T堯勳莽
evening is about celebration, feeling good and raising money to support
student scholarships. Our ability to provide a quality educational
experience and enable cutting-edge research is made possible in large
part by the many supporters of 91勛圖窪蹋厙. We are truly thankful for
their generosity, said Jennifer Crooks, 91勛圖窪蹋厙s director of
development and alumni relations.

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