Scott Williams, swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Recognized with awards at Tuesday’s gala were, from left, Heather Jauquet, Elaine Diffor, Matty Mathison and Gabriela Krueger. Award winner Muffy Culhane who could not attend the event.
Leader Photo by Scott Williams About 150 people attended Tuesday’s event at The Gathering banquet hall to cheer the winners of this year’s Celebration of Giving awards.
A dark moment in Matty Mathison’s life gave her the inspiration to forever shine a light for others.
When her Shawano home was struck by a tornado in 1984, Mathison was impressed at how many neighbors turned out to help her recover.
It was a transformational experience that made Mathison into one of Shawano’s most active and beloved community volunteers.
“That is why I do what I do — because someone did that for me,” she said Tuesday. “That is what Shawano is all about.”
Mathison recounted her personal experience while accepting the Health Care Volunteer Award during the 2016 Celebration of Giving Awards presented by the Shawano Area Community Foundation.
The retired schoolteacher was among five award recipients honored before 150 people during the community foundation’s seventh annual Celebration of Giving gala, held at The Gathering banquet hall in Shawano.
Wendy Crawford, event co-chairman, applauded all of the award recipients as representing some of the Shawano area’s best examples of volunteerism and selfless community service.
“Whatever your reason for volunteering, this room is filled with like-minded people,” Crawford said. “People are watching, and your good work is being recognized.”
Other award recipients were honored for promoting the arts, teaching agriculture to children, launching a new homeless shelter and mentoring young people. Through sponsors, each award brings a $1,000 prize that is distributed to area nonprofits of the winner’s choosing.
Muffy Culhane, who led the drive to start Shawano’s first homeless shelter, was awarded the Shawano Community Service Award.
Unable to attend Tuesday’s banquet because she is on a medical mission in Haiti, Culhane expressed her gratitude to the crowd via a pre-recorded video played on a big screen. Describing the profound need of impoverished children in Haiti, Culhane compared their plight with that of some people living in Shawano.
“You don’t have to travel far to see people who are in need, who are suffering,” she said. “They’re right here in our community.”
Here is a complete list of all of Tuesday’s award recipients and their $1,000 donations:
• Shawano Community Service Award: Culhane, president of Shawano Area Matthew 25, was honored for her volunteer work with Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Red River Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding and in particular SAM 25’s leadership role in opening a new homeless shelter in Shawano in November. Culhane is splitting her $1,000 award between the SAM 25 shelter and Red River Riders.
• Health Care Volunteer Award: Mathison, a retired Shawano schoolteacher, was honored for her involvement in numerous activities and projects that impact public health in Shawano County, including the Community Health Action Team, Shawano Pathways and the Bike the Barn Quilts event. Mathison is directing her $1,000 award to Shawano Pathways.
• Youth Volunteer Award: Gabriela Krueger, a senior at Shawano Community High School, was honored for her volunteer activities in school and the community. She has participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Optimist Club, Shawano Hockey, Bridge to Success mentor program for incoming freshmen, Spanish Club, National Honor Society and others. Krueger is donating her $1,000 award to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
• Bill Mielke Volunteer Educator Award: Heather Jauquet was honored for her work as coach of the Shawano County Dairy Quiz Bowl team, which allows area children to compete on their knowledge of agriculture. Jauquet’s team last year finished second and fourth in national competitions. Jauquet is donating her $1,000 prize to the Shawano County Junior Holstein Association, another group that holds quiz bowl competitions.
• Robert D. Nueske Wittenberg Community Service Award: Elaine Diffor was honored for her involvement in Walls of Wittenberg, a community group that promotes the arts and other civic improvements. Diffor is a board member currently serving as vice president of the group and head of the Events Committee. Diffor is dividing her $1,000 prize between the Walls of Wittenberg and the Wittenberg Food Pantry.
The Shawano Area Community Foundation, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, holds 75 charitable funds with nearly $5 million in assets. The foundation’s mission is to preserve and improve the quality of life in the community, including serving those in need.
Since the Celebration of Giving began seven years ago, 44 volunteers have been honored with $44,000 awarded on their behalf to area nonprofit agencies.