Trio to Receive Excellence In Representation Award

Futures Rehabilitation Center clients Tom Miller, Ashley Peterson and Mike Walter have been selected as the United Way of the Bradford Area’s 2014 Excellence in Representation honorees.

The trio were part of the Speaker’s Bureau for the 2013 campaign, but have long-been volunteers and advocates for the local United Way.

“I am so happy to be able to recognize my three friends with this honor,” said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “Between them, they spoke at 25% of our workplace presentations, and were able to tell their personal stories to more than 300 people.

“Everyone to whom they spoke walked away with a better understanding of not only the relationship between Futures and the United Way, but the importance of continuing to give to the annual campaign to ensure that they and their peers could continue their jobs at the workshop.”

Tom, who is a Bradford native, has been at Futures for 44 years, and has been a member of the Speaker’s Bureau for the past five. “A favorite memory of mine was going to Control Chief Corporation, and seeing that giant Indian headdress that hangs on the wall,” he said. “That thing blew my mind!”

For her part, Ashley says she enjoys public speaking, and it’s something she’s been good at for quite some time. She is currently a resident of Lewis Run, and has worked at Futures for nearly six years. “I’ve been giving speeches since I was in high school, so this is a lot of fun for me,” she said.

Mike, also a Bradford native, has been at Futures for 25 years, and has been a member of the Speaker’s Bureau for the past 18 years. “I’m very proud to be part of the United Way and to go out and give the message about Futures and the importance of having a place like this for people with disabilities to go out and earn a dollar.”

The Excellence in Representation award was created to recognize an outstanding agency representative who best exemplifies United Way’s mission within their own organization, who participates in the annual campaign, and possesses a working knowledge of United Way and how it benefits the various programs and services in the community.

The Excellence in Representation award will be given at the United Way’s annual Red Feather Volunteer recognition luncheon on May 1st. Reservations may be made by calling the United Way office.

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