VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION
CONGRATULATIONS to our recent 2024 Community Awards winners!
We were delighted to present several community members with our annual Community Awards. These awards were presented at our Kickoff Kitchen fundraiser event in April, and we could not be more thankful for everyone who attended, volunteered and donated to our auctions. Read more about our award winners below:
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Alicia Fields
This award is presented annually to a Mat-Su resident whose last 12 months of community service have impacted the Valley in lasting and meaningful ways.
Alicia is a fixture around the valley when it comes to events and activities for kids and families. She volunteers for Stuff the Bus, Thrive events, Youth 360 parent group gatherings, and Homeless Connect amongst other things. You can always count on her big smile, positive energy, and tireless efforts.
DOROTHY A. JONES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Dolores “Grandma Jo” Pendleton
This award is presented to a Mat-Su resident whose service to the community over the course of their lifetime has changed the Valley for the better.
“Grandma Jo” is a legend in the Mat Su for her commitment to community service, especially in the areas of emergency response, preparedness and education.
Grandma Jo is a previous nominee for our Volunteer of the Year Award and has since continued her dedicated service to the Upper Susitna and Willow regions of the Mat-Su, particularly as a lifelong, highly-trained member of the Willow CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). She volunteers every year at the Mat-Su Borough Emergency Preparedness Fair to help teach the community about safety and being prepared for a disaster. She was crowned the Queen of Willow at the 60th Annual Willow Winter Winter Carnival, after many years of selflessly giving, volunteering for and helping to run the Carnival activities.
Her own family, but also countless honorary grandchildren, can attest to her greatest achievement and impact being the selfless love she shares with everyone who is lucky to know her.
BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR: The Ellis Group
Our Business Partner of the Year is the local business whose contributions, whether via donations, volunteerism, or both, have helped us to accomplish our mission and vision most strongly over the past year.
The Ellis Group has been giving to United Way of Mat-Su for over 25 years, with each employee contributing significantly throughout the year. The dynamic staff at The Ellis Group are ingrained in the Mat-Su community, and contribute significantly to many Valley efforts from Palmer to Wasilla and beyond.