Bellevue Councilman Chelminiak, Other Volunteers Honored by Local Nonprofit Alliance

The Alliance of Eastside Agencies (AEA), a professional membership organization of
human service providers, honored five individuals and two organizations at its seventh annual awards luncheon held June 15 at Bear Creek Country Club in Woodinville.

Award recipients in six categories were chosen from several nominated by Eastside human service providers. Each has made outstanding contributions to health and human services in East King County. The keynote speaker was Adrienne Quinn, executive director of the Medina Foundation, which focuses on improving lives by funding human service organizations.

Elected official of the Year

John Chelminiak, Bellevue City Councilmember

In a time when King County and many cities are cutting human services funding, Councilmember Chelminiak fought hard to add $100,000 to Bellevue’s budget to ensure critical basic needs in the face of the economic recession—even in the midst of his own health crisis. He is Liaison to the Bellevue Human Services Commission, a representative on the Eastside Human Services Forum, the Mental Health Drug Dependency Oversight Committee (MIDD), and on the Governing Board of the Committee to End Homelessness.

Youth Volunteer of the Year

Andrea Molina, Youth Eastside Services (YES)

Despite her own struggles, Molina has become involved in supporting the Kirkland Teen Union Building (KTUB). She has spoken to the Kirkland City Council several time on behalf of YES and youth in her community. In the process, she has resolved her own crisis with the help of a YES counselor and become a confident young woman who stands up for what she believes and is admired by her peers.

Volunteer of the Year

Annie Parks, Kindering Center

Parks is an adult with Down Syndrome and herself a graduate of Kindering Center (then Merrywood School). She returned to the center over 10 years ago to volunteer and is a faithful presence in the preschool, greeting each child by name, relating to their experiences, engaging them in play and making each a special homemade birthday card. She also helps with daily maintenance and laundry.

Volunteer of the Year

Angela Bosse, Eastside Domestic Violence Prevention (EDVP)

Bosse works with children who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence, creating thoughtful lesson plans and a safe place where kids feel at ease and can begin to heal and learn. She facilitates a children’s support group and serves as a crisis line volunteer, offering support, kindness and comfort.

Non-profit Staff of the Year

Joan Campbell, President and CEO, Friends of Youth

Campbell has served Friends of Youth for 20 years, as director of community services, vice president and chief operating officer, and today as president and chief executive officer. Her dedication and unwavering passion for serving youth and young adults is an inspiration.

Community Partner

Habitat for Humanity East King County

Habitat for Humanity of East King County does a lot of work providing shelter to low-income families. They were nominated as a community partner specifically for their work renovating the My Friend’s Place, a transitional shelter for survivors of domestic violence run by EDVP. More than 100 people worked for a month, transforming two buildings that are safe havens for hundreds of women and children each year.

Business of the Year

Seattle Times Fund for the Needy

For many years, the Seattle Times Fund for the Needy has helped raise awareness of the work health and human service agencies provide while also raising needed funds. Their stories are told with great sensitivity and compassion and help people understand the needs of people all over Puget Sound. In the midst of the recession and difficult economic times for the paper, they remain committed to this effort, dedicating staff and reporter time, giving the stories prominent placement in the paper and raising record amounts.

"The AEA is pleased to honor members of the community who have played a significant role in supporting human services in East King County. This event highlights the work of those in the community who make the Eastside a better place for all of us to live and work," said AEA Chair David Downing, who is also Associate Director at Youth Eastside Services.

The Alliance of Eastside Agencies is a 40 plus member alliance of human service non-profits with the mission of strengthening human services infrastructure in East King County to build healthy communities through a strong human services network.

--- Information from Alliance of Eastside Agencies