Salvation Army Presents "Making a Difference Community Service Award" to Bill Costello
The Salvation Army's Major Kevin Cedervall presented Columbia's Bill Costello with the "Making a Difference Community Service Award", given to people who exemplify the spirit of giving back to the community, setting an example to follow.
We provide the information below so Columbia can get to know this amazing person a little better.
Employer: The Bank of Missouri
Position: Senior Relationship Manager
Current Community Activities:
- Treasurer and Board Director at Services for Independent Living
- Board Director The City Club of Columbia
- Board Director MU Children’s Hospital Advisory Board
- Columbia Chamber of Commerce TRC committee member
- Columbia Metro Rotary Member
- Volunteer at The Crossing church
- How would you describe yourself to a new friend?
Helpful, supportive, and authentic. I genuinely enjoy meeting new people and thrive on forming new relationships. I moved around a lot as a kid, and I think that forced me at an early age to make connections quickly and develop strong, lasting relationships.
- What is something you would like people to know about you?
One of my greatest joys in life is connecting people or helping them meet a need. If I don’t have the answer you’re looking for, or the solution to a problem you have, there is a very good chance I know someone who does. Spending 40+ years of my life in Columbia has connected me with many amazing people who are very good at the specialized things they do. Nothing is more satisfying to me than helping someone resolve a need through a connection I helped make.
- What is a community issue you especially care about?
Gainful, productive employment. The first non-profit board I served on 20 years ago was Advent Enterprises, now known as JobPoint. Their motto at the time was “Dignity Through Employment”, and that really hit home for me. When you are gainfully employed—providing for yourself, your family, and contributing to the greater good—there is a sense of self-worth and pride that naturally comes with that. It’s aspirational. It’s empowering. I believe that to my core.
- What is something fun on your bucket list that you want to make sure you do?
Skydive. As long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to launch myself out of a perfectly good airplane at least once. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen, right?
- What are you good at that might surprise people?
Juggling. (No, seriously.) In the fourth grade, I had a music teacher who took it upon herself to teach all her students how to juggle. She would bring out a giant box of tennis balls at the end of every class, and we’d all spend 15 minutes practicing juggling. We all thought she was crazy (it’s very possible she was), but she knew what she was doing. She successfully taught a roomful of hyperactive 10-year-olds focus, concentration, and how to use the simple act of juggling tennis balls to calm and distract our minds when we were anxious, worried or amped up. 43 years later, that muscle memory stuck, and I’ll sometimes juggle to clear my head or when I need a creative distraction. Interestingly enough, I never advanced to juggling knives or chainsaws, though. Probably for the best.
- What kind of kind of kid were you?
Curious, adventurous, and a bit of a risk taker. I never hesitated to explore new places or things on my bike or skateboard. I grew up idolizing Evel Knievel and Tony Hawk, and I always pushed the boundaries of safety as a kid. The result was plenty of stitches and a few broken bones along the way, but I wouldn’t trade a single childhood experience and the fond memories of sketchy wooden ramps and backyard halfpipes.
- Who is a personal hero of yours?
Two people I truly admire—I would call them heroes, for sure—are Warren and Shelly Mayer. For over two decades, this amazing couple has faithfully lived Christ-like lives of service to the community and through our home church, The Crossing. From leading addiction-recovery ministries to spearheading the city-wide volunteer day of service known as “ForColumbia”, Warren and Shelly are unwavering examples of selfless love and service to those in need.
- What is something you would change about Columbia?
It may seem trivial, and I know there are bigger challenges that Columbia faces, but one thing I would change is the beautification efforts of our city, particularly along the highways and main roadways. There are bright spots for sure, including the many “Adopt-A-Spots” that are wonderfully cared for—but what’s just as noticeable are the pockets of abandoned and rundown storefronts and crumbling streets and infrastructure. As residents of the town, I think we’ve gotten used to seeing this every day. But I do wonder what impressions these visuals leave in the minds of the many visitors to our wonderful city.
- What is a guilty pleasure for you?
This one is easy: late-night snacking. I’ve been known to crush a package of Oreos, a container of ice cream, or an entire bag of chips in the wee hours of the morning. I’m not proud of it. We refer to it as “racooning” when I raid the pantry after hours, and the only thing that washes away the shame of a half-eaten box of Lucky Charms next to the bed is downing the rest of the chocolate milk I told myself I wasn’t going to drink.
- What do you wish you knew how to do?
There are two things I wish I knew how to do. 1.) Play the drums, and 2.) Home repairs. Unfortunately, I lack the talent or ability to do either. My son, however, is a phenomenal, professionally-trained percussionist who has played the drums since he was two, and my dad is a retired carpenter who built his own house. So I have that going for me. I refer to this phenomenon as “skilled by association”, and I have learned to accept my limitations at this point in life.