United Way of Salt Lake Announces 2015 Celebration of Service
Award Honorees
SALT LAKE CITY — Today, United Way of Salt Lake announced Celebration of Service award honorees for 2015. United Way will honor Big Brothers Big Sisters and Latinos in Action as its Promise Partners of the Year, Mona Burton as Volunteer of the Year, Orbital ATK as Corporate Partner of the Year, Daniels Fund will be honored with the President’s Award for Excellence, and Allen Alexander has been named Compassionate Leader of the Year.
“It is an honor and privilege to have the continued support of these compassionate individuals and organizations,” said Deborah Bayle, president and CEO of United Way of Salt Lake. “They are our community’s visionaries and true leaders, and their steadfast commitment to United Way’s mission has been critical in helping us make enormous advances toward changing the odds for Utah children and families.”
Each of the following award winners has partnered with United Way of Salt Lake for projects, events, or essential funding that help fulfill United Way’s promise to change the odds so all children and their families, regardless of circumstances, have the same opportunity to succeed in school and in life.
Promise Partners of the Year
Big Brothers Big Sisters and Latinos in Action
As partners with United Way of Salt Lake Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) and other Donor Networks, these two organizations are being honored this year for connecting at-risk students with mentors who can lead them to a brighter future. By helping low-income high school kids prepare for post-secondary education and achieve their potential through education, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Latinos in Action are helping create lasting change. Through an innovative program called Mentor 2.0, students receive support that increases their chances of going to college and later, finding career success. Mentor 2.0 has had incredible success, with high levels of engagement and increased college aspirations among participants.
Volunteer of the Year
Mona Burton, Holland & Hart, LLP
Mona Burton is a former Chair of United Way of Salt Lake’s Board of Directors and has served as a board member since 2003. During her tenure, she has been a contributing member of 13 committees, including serving as chair of the Nominating Committee, Governance and Ethics Committee, Tocqueville Society, and others. Over the years, she’s provided legal counsel to United Way of Salt Lake. Most recently, Mona was instrumental in helping UWSL navigate the legal components of drafting the country’s first-ever Pay for Success partnership for early childhood education,
Corporate Partner of the Year
Orbital ATK
Since 1986, this strategic partner has contributed significantly to United Way of Salt Lake through employee fundraising campaigns, event sponsorships, and volunteer hours. Orbital ATK’s leadership has made it a priority to educate employees about the importance of its partnership with United Way of Salt Lake and to help build better communities for people to live and work. Providing employees with opportunities to give and get involved are just two of the many ways Orbital ATK demonstrates its commitment. Through its annual United Way employee campaign, Orbital ATK has raised more than $150,000 each year, and last year raised more than $175,000.
President’s Award for Excellence
Daniels Fund
Committed to fulfilling Bill Daniels’ vision to make life better for the people of Utah, this year, the Denver-based foundation made a $5 million investment in United Way of Salt Lake’s Promise Partnerships and Community Schools—helping to ensure every child succeeds every step of the way, from cradle to career. By aligning goals of both organizations to ensure the best possible impact when addressing the needs of our community, this investment in Utah’s future will make an impact on at-risk students, and their families, for years to come.
Compassionate Leader of the Year
Allen Alexander, Savage
As Chairman and CEO of Savage, Allen invests his passion and expertise to advance the mission of United Way of Salt Lake and to inspire his colleagues to share the vision of improving our community through meaningful and measurable change. Allen currently serves as Chair of United Way Salt Lake’s Board of Directors. He has served as a member of the Board and Executive Committee of UWSL for seven years, and also on several other committees within the organization. Allen is a steadfast supporter and key strategist of United Way of Salt Lake’s Collective Impact efforts. He was very instrumental in securing a million dollar gift that Savage made to the Changing the Odds Campaign. He and his wife, Denise, lead by example—making both a personal investment in the Changing the Odds campaign and volunteering directly in United Way of Salt Lake Promise Partnership communities.
United Way of Salt Lake will honor these outstanding organizations and individuals at the 16th annual Celebration of Service luncheon on May 27, 2015. For event and RSVP information please visit uw.org/celebration.
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United Way of Salt Lake is working to advance the education, income, and health of our neighborhoods and communities to ensure that every child succeeds, every step of the way, from cradle to career. We invite everyone to LIVE UNITED and be a part of the change. You can give, you can advocate, and you can volunteer. Join the conversation by visiting our blog at uwslhub.org, or find out more at uw.org.
