Our community really has heart. I witnessed that first hand recently at the Heart of The Community awards.
The event is sponsored by "Hands on Greater Portland" and the "Portland Trail Blazers".
It recognizes volunteering excellence and serves to inspire us all to volunteer. I was honored to be the event's Emcee for the fifth year.

(below Laural and "Hands on Greater Portland" Excecutive Director, Andy Nelson)

The greater Portland area is a community of many volunteers who are committed to making our region a better place to live.
This year alone, "Hands on Greater Portland" will connect 14,000 volunteers with opportunities in partnership with 300 different organizations.
If you're interested in finding out more about them and looking for a volunteer opportunity...check out their website at:
www.handsonportland.org

This year's awards went to:

Volunteer Innovation Award
Store to Door

Corporate Volunteer Award
Wells Fargo

Individual Volunteer Award
Carlos Perez

Nathan Sibell Youth Leadership Award
Tucker Walker

Heart of the Community Award
Dan Wieden

(Tucker Walker accepts his award)

I tried my hand at taking pictures for this blog, but professional photgrapher, Andie Petkus, had much better pictures. My thanks to her for sharing these for this blog.

(Laural taking a picture of award winner, "Store to Door")

Congratulations to this year's Heart of The Community award winners.

Thanks to Hands on Greater Portland, and to the Portland Trail Blazers for supporting this uplifting event.

Most of all thanks to all of you who volunteer, for you truly are the heart of our community.

Laural