The MAR Good Neighbor Award – Heart of the Community had its celebration luncheon on October 10, 2019 at Oak Ridge where 10 organizations and their MAR Realtor® volunteers were honored. Thank you for your service to these organizations! Find more information on each of the nominees and the organizations below.
Nominees
Dana Arrigo
Hanover Area Food Shelf helps to put food on the table for families who need it in the Hanover Area.
MAR Realtor® Dana Arrigo and her 7-year-old son have had their own food drive for the past 3 years. A mailing is sent to 300 homes and Dana and her son go door to door collecting the food.
Thank you for your volunteerism, Dana!
Lindsay Bacigalupo
Special Olympics is a global movement of people creating a new world of inclusion and community. They aim to build a culture that accepts and welcomes every single person regardless of ability or disability.
MAR Realtor® Lindsay Bacigalupo leads her company to organize events that will financially benefit the Special Olympics of Minnesota. Over the past 3.5 years, Lindsay and her team have used their organized efforts to raise more than $75,000 for the Special Olympics Minnesota!
Thank you for your volunteerism, Lindsay!
Susannah Dodge
Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to address hunger. It is organized as a 100% volunteer-driven effort in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District with 100% of all proceeds raised going towards hunger causes.
MAR Realtor® Susannah Dodge is one of the lead organizers for their community and fundraising event. Over 1000 people attend the annual event. She recruits and organizes all of the soup donations (over 40 restaurants!), she coordinates volunteers, she facilitates the “pottery lottery”, and she actively promotes the event through social media and other means.
Thank you for your volunteerism, Susannah, and congratulations on being named a recipient of the MAR Good Neighbor Award!
Steve Havig
Simpson Housing Services‘ mission is to house, support, and advocate for people experiencing homelessness.
Steve has organized several dinners each year to feed the homeless at the shelter. Additionally, he is one of the main sponsors for their main fundraiser, Art for Shelter.
Thank you for your volunteerism, Steve, and congratulations on being named a recipient of the MAR Good Neighbor Award!
Michelle Lundeen
Recycled Lives is dedicated to bettering the lives of people living in poverty through facilitating access to resources that are physical, spiritual and/or financial in nature.
MAR Realtor® Michelle Lundeen and her Team were able to raise the funds to build the Castillo family a home. She recognized that this is something that they can do on a yearly basis and continues to partner with Recycled Lives and home building challenges.
Thank you for your volunteerism, Michelle!
Sheila Mitchell
Alzheimer’s Association aims to help people with Alzheimer’s and their families find hope, medical care and information combines with research to help find a cure.
Their mission is especially close to Sheila as her Mother, Grandmother and Grandfather have all died from the disease. It is such a long and painful disease the affects our most vulnerable.
MAR Realtor® Sheila Mitchell serves on the Board of Directors which plans and organizes numerous fundraisers including the Gala, Walk, and Longest Day.
Thank you for your volunteerism, Sheila, and congratulations on being named a recipient of the MAR Good Neighbor Award!
Dawn Peterson
Living Hope International’s mission is to provide for the emotional, physical, educational, and social needs of at-risk children, youth, and families, as well as to equip, support, and send leaders to provide similar services throughout the world.
As a professional Dental Hygienist, Dawn is committed to her community and serving the needs of all people, both inside and outside the private practice dental setting.
Recently, Dawn provided over 120 dental cleanings and fluoride treatments, taking over 200 radiographs, placing over 150 sealants and aided placing anesthetic for dentists.
Thank you for your volunteerism, Dawn Peterson!
Dave Philp
Launch Ministry provides housing for homeless 18-25-year old’s in the Chaska community.
MAR Realtor® Dave Philp has worked for many years leading fundraising efforts. Recently, Dave led a fundraising event which raised $4,500.00!
Thank you for your volunteerism, Dave, and congratulations on being named a recipient of the MAR Good Neighbor Award!
Jason Schmidt
MAR Realtor® Jason Schmidt has gone on many mission trips to Haiti and this last one he was a group leader. He inspires everyone with his passion of helping. He has more people interested in going and supporting the mission of Healing Haiti.
Each trip he helps bring water from water trucks to the people in villages. He taught some of the youth how to play basketball, he goes to the facility for sick and dying babies and holds kids who have no one and helps kids in school as well through healing Haiti. They also bring supplies down, that the people of Haiti need through donations of supplies or money.
Thank you for your volunteerism, Jason!
Al Tachovsky
The MS Birdie Bash raises awareness and money each year to help fight Multiple Sclerosis. Proceeds from the event are used to cover the costs associated with equipment, medicine, therapy and doctor visits.
The original inspiration for the MS Birdie Bash & Dinner Event was to help Al’s friend in need. Rick Ebner has been living with MS for more than 25 years.
MAR Realtor® Al Tachovsky is the President and Owner / Committee Chairman for the MS Birdie Bash. The MS Birdie Bash has raised over $390,000 in the last 7 years. Donations and sponsorship amount have increased every year.
Thank you for your volunteerism, Al, and congratulations on being named a recipient of the MAR Good Neighbor Award!