Dorn Honored During Red Feather Dinner

By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director


Richard Dorn was presented with the United Way’s Red Feather Award during a dinner Thursday night.

"I know that in this area there a lot of people who have done a heck of lot more than I have done or will do,” Dorn said, “so I’m here, maybe, as their representative more than for myself.”

Dorn then went on to tell the community members what they have done in the past 14 years, as documented by the Sunshine Report which was his brainchild.

“You have offered nearly 47,000 nights of safe, free shelter to the homeless. … You have offered over 15,000 days and nights of protection to those who have been abused within or outside their homes. You have counseled over 7,000 people in crisis who needed help to change their situation and resume their lives,” he said.

The community has also provided more than half a million hot meals – free – to people who needed them, and has delivered more than five tons of groceries, Dorn added.

He also mentioned the free therapy offered by CARE for Children, free breast cancer screenings and the employment opportunities offered by Futures Rehabilitation Center.

“So this is what we have done, and will continue to do tomorrow and all the days to follow,” he said. “This, after all, is who we are.”

Also Thursday, Futures Director of Operations Pat was presented with the Excellence in Representation Award.

Last year’s recipient, CARE for Children Executive Director Tina Martin, introduced Ryan but said she wanted to clear something up first.

“Pat is not following in my footsteps with this award,” Martin said. “It is I, and probably everybody in the non-profit community in Bradford, that follows in Pat’s footsteps. … And that’s a tough job sometimes.”

She talked about Ryan’s work at Futures, his passion for the Special Olympics, and many of the volunteer positions he’s taken on for the United way and said, “Pat embodies the qualities that everyone can admire and everyone should emulate – dedication, a desire to do good works and a willingness to go the extra mile for what he believes in.”

Martin went on to say that Ryan is a true advocate for one of the most vulnerable populations in the community.

“I can think of no greater gift than empowering people to believe in their potential and to encourage them to be a productive part of the community,” Martin said.

Also Thursday, the United Way announced that Steve Cotillion, Chris Wilson-Minich and Karen Costello-Pecht will be the 2011 campaign chairs.

In making the announcement about this year’s Live United campaign, Community Relations and Marketing Specialist Megan Minich used a phrase the national United Way organization has embraced: When we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all.

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