Five community service organizations and individuals who have made exemplary contributions to area volunteer efforts were recognized at the United Way of Salt Lake's annual Celebration of Service luncheon Tuesday.
Bruce Reese, president and chief executive officer of Bonneville International, was named Compassionate Leader of the Year. Reese was recognized for committing both corporate and personal resources to advance United Way, in particular co-chairing a special working group that helped frame issues now being studied by a legislative task force on health-care system reform.
Lane Summerhays, president and CEO of the state Workers Compensation Fund, received the United Way's President's Award for Excellence. He has been chairman of the United Way of Salt Lake's Financial Stability Council and was selected for his "vital" leadership in involving diverse representatives from state government, private business, education and religious community services efforts in various volunteer programs.
Mark Miller Dealerships and The Mark and Kathie Miller Foundation were selected as the Corporate Partner of the Year. They were recognized for taking community service and volunteering personally, generating through example a 93 percent participation rate in United Way among employees.
Becky Potts, president and CEO of Morris Murdock Travel, is Outstanding Volunteer of the Year. A member of the United Way's governing board for six years, she has grown the Women's Philanthropic Network to 100 members and raised $300,000, half of which was from first-time contributors to the United Way.
Dental Select was named Outstanding Partner for Community Change. In less than six months Dental Select is delivering oral health screening, dental sealants and oral health education to second- to sixth-grade students in each of the 55 low-income elementary schools in United Way's service area.
E-mail: jthalman@desnews.com