The Salvation Army Celebrates Metro Detroiters Doing the Most Good
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (Sept. 27, 2019) – The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit highlighted some of the area’s most distinguished businesses and volunteers who demonstrated notable resolve throughout 2019. The nonprofit recently hosted its annual Metro Detroit Advisory Board Civic Awards Dinner which recognized a number of recipients, all of whom are community partners who have volunteered and served metro Detroit through innovation, ingenuity and dedication.
Longtime Salvation Army supporter and Metro Detroit Advisory Board member Sandra Vanover received the nonprofit’s highest honor, the William Booth Award, for being a true advocate for the disadvantaged and acting as a leader for empowering other women on the board into leadership roles.
Vanover was the Advisory Board’s Chair from 2011 to 2013, and under her leadership, board giving tripled. She has served on the Advisory Board’s planned giving committee and is a member of the Detroit Conner Creek Advisory Council. Vanover also volunteers as a red kettle bell ringer every Christmas season, as well as serves food on the Bed & Bread trucks in Detroit.
The William Booth Award, named after The Salvation Army’s founder, is the highest award the nonprofit bestows on an individual. Recipients are chosen for their dedication to The Salvation Army’s goal of service; outstanding service to the community through donation of time, expertise and energy; outstanding humanitarian effort within the community and substantial contributions to the work of The Salvation Army in offering time, talent and resources.
This year’s Others Award, presented to those who live selflessly, was awarded to Julie Fisher Cummings, trustee for the Max M. & Marjorie Fisher Foundation. Fisher Cummings advocates for responsible policies on health, education and philanthropy on behalf of underserved and marginalized children and families. Bridging academia, public service, and policy reform, Fisher Cummings has dedicated more than 40 years to civic leadership locally and nationally through her positions at numerous organizations and nonprofits. She is also the co-founder and Chair of Lovelight Foundation, which focuses on domestic child sex trafficking, undeserved women and girls and early childhood education and care.
The Salvation Army also presented three Doing the Most Good Awards at the Civic Awards Dinner, given to individuals and organizations that exemplify an extraordinary spirit of service and collaboration with The Salvation Army in times of need. Doing the Most Good Awards were presented to:
- Hollywood Markets for its outstanding commitment in the fight against hunger and providing community support to those in need. With five locations throughout Oakland County, Hollywood Markets has served the area since 1924. Hollywood Markets also offers its stores for volunteers to ring bells during the annual Red Kettle Campaign.
- John Brock and New Hope Church for their longtime support of the Bed & Bread Club program, the Bed & Bread Club Radiothon and Service Extension in East Tawas, Michigan. Brock has served as the senior and teaching pastor at New Hope Church in East Tawas since 2008, and for more than 40 years has been part of numerous Christian, nonprofit ministries such as Compassion International and The United Christian Broadcasters in the U.K.
The Salvation Army’s Volunteer of the Year and Corporate Volunteer of the Year awards were also presented during the annual Metro Detroit Advisory Board Civic Awards Dinner.
Faith McDevitt, a teenager from Howell, Michigan, was presented the nonprofit’s Volunteer of the Year Award. McDevitt has been volunteering with The Salvation Army for 10 years, starting in the third grade as a bell ringer during the annual Red Kettle Campaign. She also gifts toys at the Livingston Corps Community Center, helps fundraise at local events and participates in her school’s S.T.E.M. program, where she maintains a 4.0 grade point average.
Quicken Loans was awarded The Salvation Army’s Corporate Volunteer of the Year Award for its consistent commitment to the community over a 13-year partnership with The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit. The company has clocked in more than 1,000 volunteer hours preparing meals in the Detroit Harbor Light kitchen and serving those in need on the Bed & Bread trucks every Friday. Quicken Loans is a prime example of corporate care and citizenship.
To make a tax deductible contribution to The Salvation Army:
- Visit www.salmich.org
- Call 877-SAL-MICH
- Send a check made payable to The Salvation Army, to: 16130 Northland Dr., Southfield, MI 48075
About The Salvation Army
Founded by William and Catherine Booth in London, England in 1865, The Salvation Army is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to serving people in need without discrimination. This past year, The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit was involved in providing 2,577,524 meals and 622,610 nights of shelter for the homeless. The Salvation Army uses $.87 of every dollar raised to provide direct services to people in need each and every day of the year. For more information about The Salvation Army, please call 877-SAL-MICH, or visit us at www.salmich.org.
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