Leadership Giving Donors
& Community Volunteers
Norma Jean Wilder
2021 Klamath Country Volunteer of the Year
Norma Jean Wilder was chosen the 2021 Klamath Country Volunteer of the Year among 37 candidates submitted. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions in place regarding gathering, there was no public luncheon reception in 2021. All 37 nominees received an award and a special eight page tabloid was published in the Herald and News on April 23rd during national volunteer week. View this special report on the publication section of this web site.
Norma started the “Blessing Pot” program 12 years ago at the Chiloquin Christian Center. Norma and her team of 21 volunteers cook and serve approximately 375 to 400 meals every Tuesday to Chiloquin area shut-ins and residents in need. Norma’s day starts at 5:15 a.m. mixing dough, baking dinner rolls, cutting up vegetables and meat, and preparing the “Blessing Pot” soup of the day. Every third Monday, Norma makes approximately 2,000 cookies. Meals are delivered to homes and a drive through option has been available during the COVID-19 pandemic. Norma and her team pull out all the stops to prepare a special feast at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and at the Blessing Pot Celebration.
The finalists for the 2021 Klamath Country Volunteer of the Year included Grace Berardino, Saira Blevins, Daniel McVay, Aurora Sanchez, Emma Tibay, Donna Marie Kness, and Norma Jean Wilder. Other finalists included Sky Lakes Medical Center Volunteers, SMART Reading, and the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue Unit (SAR).
The 2021 Klamath Country Volunteer of the Year event is presented each year by the United Way of the Klamath Basin in financial partnership with The KMSB Foundation and the Wendt Family Foundation. Our thanks also to the media judges who read and score all of the nominations each year: Rob Siems, Basin Mediactive; Bob Wynne, Wynne Broadcasting; Tim Trainor, Herald and News; and Natalie Postles, KOTI-TV.
The 2022 Klamath Country Volunteer of the Year event will be held on April 27th at 12 noon. Click the Nominate a Volunteer button to download a nomination form, or contact the United Way at 541-882-5558 to have one sent to you by email or by U.S. Postal service.
To view the 2021 Klamath Country Volunteers of Year Special Report go to publications page or click the following link
The Klamath Country Volunteer of the Year is selected
from the finalists within each of the five divisions.
(Youth, Adults, Seniors, Education and Public Safety/Public Service).
United Way Leadership Giving KEY Club
Mel & Renée Ferguson
2020 Key Club Chairperson’s
The KEY Club is designed to recognize the extraordinary contribution by individuals to the United Way Community Campaign. In 2020, 98 members donated a total of $202,545 representing an average gift of $2,067. Sky Lakes Medical Center lead the way with 12 KEY Club donors. The following is a current roster of our 2020 members. While every gift is important, KEY Club gifts are vital to our overall success. The 2020 Leadership Giving KEY Club chairman was Juan Maldonado, General Manager of Klamath Falls Toyota.
Bronze KEY
(Gift of $1,000 to $1,499)
| Cec Amuchastegui |
| Kasie Anderson |
| Janice Arnold |
| Paul Arnold |
| Tim & Kris Bailey |
| Eric Baker |
| James Baxter |
| William & Sharon Brandsness |
| Jeff Bullock |
| Jessica Chastain |
| David & Beth Drew |
| Nicholas Ealy |
| Alan & Carol Eberlein |
| Neal & Susan Eberlein |
| Mel & Renée Ferguson |
| Dr. & Mrs. Daniel Gailis |
| Michael & Laila Griffith |
| Denise Hard |
| Sheri Hargrave |
| James W. Harris |
| Kenneth Harris |
| Patricia E. Henderson |
| Molly & Lauren Jespersen |
| Faith Koepke |
| Avis & Bruce Kielsmeier |
| Loren Lawrie |
| Shirley Malaby |
| Rick McGuffey |
| Steve Meng |
| Drs. Nagi & Kasturi Naganathan |
| John & Ann Novak |
| Lenora Reinhard |
| David & Kristin Sayles |
| Rob Siems |
| Simon Smith |
| Joan Staunton |
| Sid & Tamara Staunton |
| Mitch & Tammy Stokes |
| Greg & Janet Thede |
| Barbara Thom |
| Bud Wakefield |
| Cheryl Westbrook |
| Michael Westbrook |
| Dorothy L. Winters |
| Carolyn Woods |
| * Six anonymous donors |
Silver Key
(Gift of $1,500 to $1,999)
| Todd & Mindi Andres |
| Frank Ganong |
| Christopher Hinklin |
| Chris & Susan Kandra |
| Brent Thomas |
| *Two anonymous donors |
Gold Key
(Gift of $2,000 to $3,499)
| Dr. Beverly Bauman |
| Timothy Boozer |
| Leroy & Nora Cabral |
| George & Janice Calvert |
| Mike Cheeseman |
| Charles R. Dunbar |
| Daniel Earhart |
| Gerald & Susan Freschi |
| Frank & Renee Hernandez |
| John & Jerri Hyde |
| Rick & Susan Kreizenbeck |
| Dick & Chris Ledgerwood |
| Juan Maldonado |
| Don & Kwanda McDonnell |
| Dr. Raul & Karri Mirande |
| Stan Neitling |
| Kent & Linda Pederson |
| Gary & Wanda Powless |
| Tom Powley & Vonnie Powley |
| Erwin & Carol Ritter |
| Mike & Donna Romtvedt |
| Jay Schindler & Ruth Olsen |
| Tom & Sue Schiess |
| Thomas J. & Barbara Shaw |
| Tim & Gloria Steiner |
| Anne Weaver |
| Nancy J. Wendt |
| * Six anonymous donors |
Platinum KEY
(Gift of $3,500 to $4,999)
| Marcella Bell, John & Kendall Bell |
| Drew & Betsy Honzel |
Emerald KEY
(Gift of $5,000 to $ 7,499)
| Dan & Ann Cavanaugh |
| Glenn & Ursula Gailis |
| Mike & Nora Hohman |
| Larry & Maureen Jespersen |
| William Walker |
| *Two anonymous donors |
Diamond KEY
(Gift of $7,500 to $9,999)
| Matthew & Denise Howard |
United Way of America
Alexis de Tocqueville Society
(Gift of $10,000 and above)
| Mike Short Trust |
| Bob & Michelle Wynne |
Corporate & Business Leadership Giving
