Portland Trail Blazers & Hands on Greater Portland

Created 11 years ago by the Portland Trail Blazers, Heart of the Community Awards, in partnership with Hands on Greater Portland, recognize outstanding volunteers and volunteer programs. They highlight everyday volunteers, some well-known and some not, who embody the spirit of service.

Hands on Greater Portland will help you make a meaningful difference in your community in a way that fits your life, time capacity, passions and interests. Hands On Greater Portland connects you with a volunteer opportunity that makes a rewarding local change. Build a house. Tutor a child. Care for abandoned pets. Build hiking trails. Lead a volunteer group. Join a nonprofit board.

Whether you are working, parenting, in school or retired, Hands On Greater Portland offers you a variety of ways to get involved while meeting your schedule and interests. Volunteer for a one-time project. Volunteer for a few weeks. Volunteer after work or on the weekends. Volunteer alone, with family, friends or co-workers.

Join people from all backgrounds and experiences, explore and learn about issues that shape our community and develop leadership and job skills. Get connected and have fun. It is in this spirit that the Portland Trail Blazers and Hands on Greater Portland use the Heart of the Community Awards to share stories, inspire others and honor the many people who dedicate countless hours of love and compassion to help others in need.

This year’s event takes place Tuesday, Feb.7th, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Governor Hotel in Portland. For this year’s 11th anniversary event, the Portland Trail Blazers and Hands on Portland are honoring some amazing people. Brief profiles of some of the winners below inspire us to think about what we can do in our lives to help others and “make it better.” Ultimately, isn’t that the point? For more information about the event, winners and how to make it better in your community, go to www.handsonportland.org.

Heart of the Community Award

In loving memory of Rob Ingram, community leader, father, advocate. For Rob, supporting young people and helping them find alternatives to gang involvement was more than a job. It was his life’s work.

Corporate Volunteer Program

Oregon Health Science University is not only among the region’s top employers; OHSU leads the way in encouraging its thousands of employees to give back to the community.

Hands On Greater Portland Volunteer Award

Terry Clelen is considered the Godmother of Employee Volunteering through her efforts at PGE and in sharing her successes with dozens of other employers.

Individual Volunteer Award

Terrance Harris astonishes us with the seemingly boundless energy he has for building strong families through his own volunteering and connecting others with service.

Volunteer Innovation Award

Community Volunteer Corps (a Central City Concern program) engages formerly homeless people in meaningful, mentored volunteer opportunities as an interim step towards employment and therapeutic activity that supports a healthy lifestyle.

Nathan Sibell Youth Leadership Award

Milo Lopez is a student, leader, activist, and above all a caring young man. His passion is bringing youth into the conversation about health care. With his ambition, strength, compassion and self-determination, Milo will bring great benefits to his own life and our community.

Category: 2012_February, Sports