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Announcing the 2009 HERO Award Winners!

The 8th annual Columbia Daily Tribune HERO Awards reception was held on Thursday, April 23, recognizing all 27 individuals and groups nominated for the awards, and announcing the three winners for 2009!

The winner in the Group Category was the Aktion Club, whose members are clients of Woodhaven Learning Center working under the guidance of local Kiwanis organizations. The Aktion Club has made Columbia a more beautiful place by contributing many hours to Cleanup Columbia Day and the Adopt-a-Spot Beautification Program. Its members have also volunteered for the Salvation Army, Columbia Head Start, and other groups in Columbia. Aktion Club members show great dedication and enthusiasm for every task they undertake.

The winner in the Youth Category is Karis Ann Crosby. Over the past five years, Karis has given hundreds of hours of time to TRYPS, positively impacting the lives of thousands of children. She has used her theatrical talents to enrich others' lives by bringing characters to life in plays, educational skits, and workshops, teaching children in theater classes, and organizing fundraisers. Karis' volunteer efforts also extend to other groups, including a K-Life Youth Group, Turkey Hill Bible Ranch Camp, and the Ronald McDonald Kids Cure Cancer Club. Karis has given endlessly of her time, effort, and compassion for others and developed a strong foundation for a lifetime of volunteerism.

The winner in the Individual Category was Max Lewis. As an attorney, Max provides legal representation pro bono for people unable to afford attorneys, and advocates for people with disabilities in local and state government. Max's quadriplegia has given him an uncommon empathy for people facing physical challenges, but has never been a barrier to his efforts to help people in need. He also serves on the boards for Services for Independent Living, Boone County Family Resources, the Columbia Housing Authority, and Mid-Missouri Legal Services, and developed and teaches an adapted gymnastics program for children with disabilities, helping build their strength and confidence. Max has displayed great strength and wide-ranging talents in his acts of heroism in our community.

Congratulations to all the 2009 HERO award nominees and winners!










To see all of VAC's pictures from this event, visit our fan page on Facebook!

Posted at 4/29/2009 VAC Annual Report

VAC's 2008 Annual Report was posted on the Documents and Publications page of our website last month, and we hope you've had a chance to check it out!

This document is VAC's comprehensive report to the community on exactly what it is that we do all year. It provides information on all of our programs throughout the year, including interesting statistics on each program, such as the fact that VAC provided 39,431 units of basic and essential services to 9,377 low-income persons in 2008!

Posted at 4/06/2009 VAC Newsletter

VAC's April/May Newsletter is now available on the Documents and Publications page of our website. This edition includes information on VAC's upcoming Spring Into Action fundrasier, the HERO Awards reception, the Earth Day festival, Tiger Treasures rummage sale, volunteer opportunites throughout Columbia, and much more.

Posted at 4/06/2009 Benefit Concert

The Rotary Club of Columbia and The Blue Note are sponsoring the Third Annual Show-Me A Cappella Concert on Friday, April 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. Mizzou's premiere all-men's group, Add9, will headline the evening's performance, and will be joined by two other MU groups: the Naturelles, an all-women's choir, and Mizzou Forte, a mixed choir. Special guests for the evening will be Kirksville's True Men, an all-men's group from Truman State University, and A Cub Bella, Missouri State University's all-women's choir.

Admission for the concert is $5 for students and $10 for the general public, with proceeds benefiting five area agencies, including the Voluntary Action Center. Tickets are available at the Blue Note Box Office, MSA/GPC Box Office, or any Ticketmaster location.

Join us on Friday night for a great show, and support VAC!

Posted at 4/01/2009 May 2007 June 2007 October 2007 January 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 December 2009 January 2010