MPRB Announces 2015 Volunteer of the Year Awards

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is pleased to recognize outstanding volunteers for their work in 2015. Last year, more than 11,000 people volunteered with the Minneapolis Park system. Whether coaching, maintaining a garden, mentoring youth, assisting visitors at park facilities, or helping with special events, volunteers bring a wealth of talent and experience to the system. The Volunteer of the Year Awards recognize these outstanding efforts, and signify the importance of every volunteer to the success of the MPRB.

The award recipients were honored during a ceremony and reception at the April 20, Board of Commissioners meeting.

Six individuals and two groups received the Remarkable Volunteer Service Award. Each honoree and group received a framed certificate of their award and a donation of $500 will be made to their park program. The funds will be used to enhance programming or purchase needed materials and supplies.

One individual was honored with the Youth Rising Star Award. The honoree of the Youth Rising Star Award has brought enthusiasm and leadership to the parks they serve. A framed certificate of their award and a donation of $500 will be made to their park program.

Staff members, Commissioners and the community were invited to nominate outstanding volunteers for these awards.

Thank you to all of our volunteers!

Remarkable Volunteer Service Awards

Below are excerpts from the submitted nominations.

Maria Gilleece

“Maria has been a McRae Park volunteer for eight years. She began at McRae as a soccer coach. Maria is very passionate about soccer and she brings that passion to her games and practices every week. Maria is the type of coach that sets high expectations for her players and encourages them to be the best that they can be.

Maria’s organizational skills, enthusiasm, and compassion shine through her work on the board of the “McRae Area Recreational Council”. Whether she is coaching a close soccer game or scrambling eggs at the Holiday Brunch, it is clear to everyone who encounters Maria at McRae that she truly enjoys volunteering there. Because of Maria’s hard work and dedication McRae Park is a more wonderful place! Maria you are appreciated.”

Back Row: Commissioners Scott Vreeland, Steffanie Musich, John Olson, President Liz Wielinski, Superintendent Jayne Miller, Commissioners Anita Tabb, Meg Forney

Carleton Perry

“Carleton Perry is gearing up for his fifth year as coach of the Lyndale Farmstead Track and Field team. He teaches young athletes about the sport and guides them through their participation at the meets, distributing uniforms, checking them in, and helping them choose the events in which they will participate. Carleton sends positive, encouraging emails to families to update them about children’s growth and improvement, and when the numbers of participants grew, Carleton recruited more coaches to help out.

Each year, Carleton submits a grant application to his employer, Microsoft, for funds to match his volunteer hours. In 2015, the amount came to $1,125 which was used to buy equipment and uniforms for the team, and helped keep fees affordable for all who wanted to participate. Because of his friendly, supportive coaching style, flexibility and organizational skills, the number of track and field participants has grown each year that Carleton has coached. The Lyndale Farmstead neighborhood has benefited greatly from his involvement in the track program.”

Back Row: Commissioners Scott Vreeland, Steffanie Musich, John Olson, President Liz Wielinski, Superintendent Jayne Miller, Commissioners Anita Tabb, Meg Forney

M’Angelo Harris

“M’Angelo Harris has donated his time and talents to coaching Track and Field, Football, and Basketball at Corcoran, Powderhorn and Creekview Parks. The Corcoran track team has grown under his leadership and is one of the MPRB’s strongest and most organized teams. His knowledge and excitement make him a great help to the Youth Sports staff and to other coaches.

M’Angelo is an amazing coach and a positive role model that young athletes look up to. Along with teaching sports techniques, he teaches many life skills that the children will use in the future. The kids and parents really enjoy having him as a coach. He supports and cares about the children, showing up to games that he isn’t coaching, just to cheer on all of the athletes.”

Back Row: Commissioners Scott Vreeland, Steffanie Musich, John Olson, President Liz Wielinski, Superintendent Jayne Miller, Commissioners Anita Tabb, Meg Forney

Kathy and Ron Buhta

“Kathy and Ron have volunteered with the Friends of Lake Nokomis at Lake Nokomis Regional Park since the inception of the “friends” organization in 2010. Their dedication to enhancing the park is evidenced by their yearly and seasonal commitment to springtime Earth Day Clean Up and Garlic Mustard Pulls, fall Buckthorn Busts, and the ongoing University of MN/MPRB ‘tree tube stewardship’ community science project.

No clean-up, garlic mustard pull, planting or buckthorn bust project is ever missed by this dynamic duo. In addition to their infectious smiles and enthusiasm, they also bring creativity and resourcefulness to their projects. An example of this is the ingenious “litter rake” that Ron created to extend his reach in order to gather “floating litter” in the marshy soils around the storm water ponds at Lake Nokomis. This unique tools ensures that the park’s avian visitors have maximum access to “litter free” open water.

Kathy and Ron prove that reaching retirement does not mean a cessation of “work” or contributing to community, instead Kathy and Ron demonstrate by example – as role models for their contemporaries and future generations.”

Back Row: Commissioners Scott Vreeland, Steffanie Musich, John Olson, President Liz Wielinski, Superintendent Jayne Miller, Commissioners Anita Tabb, Meg Forney

Ede Holmen

“Ede Holmen has been involved with the Friends of Loring Park since the inception of the organization in 1997…I’ll do the math for you….that’s 19 years! Since the mid-90’s, Ede has been a vocal advocate for her park and her community – from the development of the park’s master plan, the design and implementation of the Garden of the Seasons, to her current duty serving as secretary on the Friends Board of Directors. If you want to get something done, Ede is the “go-to gal” of the Friends organization.

Her dedication to Loring Park is demonstrated by her high level of volunteer commitments: need someone to help plan the WinterFest and Pre-Aquatennial Celebrations, just ask Ede…need someone to attend a park or downtown planning meeting, just ask Ede… looking for a volunteer to man the Pride or Art Festival booth, again…ask Ede. And you can add to that list Loring garden volunteer extraordinaire. Ede plans and coordinates refreshments for the annual garden season kick off brunch and the monthly community garden workdays, and in addition, she plants, weeds, deadheads, and keeps an artistic eye on the Park gardens. Ede is not just a “work horse”; Ede is fun! 

It’s clear that Ede is an inspiration to her community and a valuable asset to Loring Park; her energy, devotion, and “friendship” is greatly appreciated!”

Back Row: Commissioners Scott Vreeland, Steffanie Musich, John Olson, President Liz Wielinski, Superintendent Jayne Miller, Commissioners Anita Tabb, Meg Forney

Luxton Book Exchange

“Luxton Park’s Book Exchange is a volunteer led program that serves Luxton Park and the surrounding community. The program helps to connect community members to the park through reading and sharing of books. The book exchange takes donations and is able to offer free books for children and adults.

The Luxton Book Exchange volunteers play a great role in keeping the Book Exchange organized and running smoothly. Their important work makes the mini library at Luxton a delightful amenity for all to use. They are a genuinely dedicated group and they are a pleasure to have at the park. Between all of the members, they have served for over 25 years.”

Back Row: Commissioners Scott Vreeland, Steffanie Musich, John Olson, President Liz Wielinski, Superintendent Jayne Miller, Commissioners Anita Tabb, Meg Forney

Nokomis Naturescape Gardeneers

“The Nokomis Naturescape Gardeners Group have been active garden planters, planners, weeders, and native plant advocates at the Lake Nokomis Naturescape wildflower garden for over 18 years.

The group prefers the moniker Naturescape “Gardeneers”, which is a fusion of pioneer and gardener, because they feel the name “gardeneers” more actively describes their purpose: to be native plant advocates and garden educators and innovators.

To keep a tidy garden, these Minneapolis Park Stewards, the Naturescape “Gardeneers”, meet 2–4 times monthly from April through October. The group also hosts a monthly maintenance session with Wells Fargo Green Team corporate volunteers. The “Gardeneers” have been integral in the development of many community outreach programs, such as the Grow Monarch Habitat Workshop and the Milkweed for Monarch Workshop. The garden serves as a beautiful demonstration garden for the annual Minneapolis Monarch Festival. The works of the Naturescape “Gardeneers” have made sure that their garden is a “happening place” for volunteers, community members, native plants, and monarchs and all kinds of pollinators. Nokomis Naturescape “Gardeneers”, thank you, we are grateful for you.”

Back Row: Commissioners Scott Vreeland, Steffanie Musich, John Olson, President Liz Wielinski, Superintendent Jayne Miller, Commissioners Anita Tabb, Meg Forney

Youth Rising Star Award

Below is an excerpt from the submitted nomination.

Ibrahim Arale

“Last year, Ibrahim volunteered more than 105 hours in the Village Parks Youth Development Program. That’s 75 more hours than required for the Village Parks program. But, the really remarkable thing is how, as a busy high school student, Ibrahim used his time as a volunteer to positively impact the lives of younger children who participate in Minneapolis Park programming.

And how did he do this? By participating in the Bryant Square Park’s Earth Day clean-up activities, at one-on-one reading sessions with fourth grade students at the Walker Library, and serving as a youth mentor to Whitter Park’s Language Culture Camp as well as being a positive presence on the Whittier basketball court.

As a role model and leader, Ibrahim’s volunteer work made a tremendous impact on the lives of dozens of children. He leads by example, with kindness, patience, cultural respect, and a welcoming attitude. Ibrahim, you are great.”