Leadership Giving Donors
& Community Volunteers
Andrea Malakar
2020 Klamath Country Volunteer of the Year
Andrea Malakar was chosen the 2020 Klamath Country Volunteer of the Year among 31 candidates submitted. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions in place regarding gathering, there was no public luncheon reception this year. All 31 nominees received an award and a special four page publication was published in the Herald and News don April 24 during national volunteer week.
Andrea Malakar is a senior at Henley High School and for the past two years has served as the coordinator for the student-based Hunger: Not Impossible program. She has volunteered for three years on this program. As the coordinator, Miss Malakar recruited and trained 27 fellow students to assist with fund raising and distributing food.
In 2019, Andrea’s team served 349 meals to 64 participants. The program purchases food cards from local restaurants and provide those to needy students and their families. In 2019, Andrea volunteered about 300 hours coordinating this campaign. She also was very involved as a bilingual tutor for the Klamath County Schools migrant summer school program.
Andrea says volunteering is an excellent way to learn about yourself, discover your potential, practice your skills, and feel good about helping those in need. She credits her parents for teaching her about the importance of giving back to the community and helping others.
The finalists for the 2020 Klamath Country Volunteer of the Year included Louise Lyons, Kayla Sha, Frances Butler, Connie Willard, Andrea Malakar, Danniell Collins, and Kannah Greer. Other finalists included Sky Lakes Medical Center Volunteers, Sky Lakes Junior Volunteers, and the Klamath Village Volunteers.
Other nominees who received an award included: Alexander Holland, Fabio Rivera, Dena Solyst, Kyanna Rogers, Kenneth Goswick, Bernetta White, Cindy Camozzi, Richard & Betty Roberts, James & Penny Hamilton, Debra & Darrel Schofield, James and Sherry Grimes, Carol Darling, Carol Roberts, Earleen Lusby, Bernice Sharpe, Crystal Breeden, Exchange Club of Klamath Falls, Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Mature Volunteer Program, Ross Ragland Theater Guild, and the You Matter to Klamath Suicide Awareness Coalition .
The 2020 Klamath Country Volunteer of the Year event was modified due to the COVID-19 health crisis. There was NOT be a luncheon held to honor the volunteer nominees but rather a special Volunteer of the Year publication to recognize each nominee’s accomplishments was published on Friday, April 24th in the Herald and News. Everyone nominated received an award. Every nomination for Volunteer of the Year was judged by local media professionals: Lyle Ahrens, KOTI-TV; Rob Siems, Basin Mediactive; Bob Wynne, Wynne Broadcasting; and Danielle Jester with the Herald and News. Our sincere thanks to our judges for their time and commitment to this important annual program.
A special thanks to our financial partners of this event, The KMSB Foundation and the Wendt Family Foundation.
To view the 2020 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
Juan Maldonado
2020 Key Club Chairperson
The KEY Club is designed to recognize the extraordinary contribution by individuals to the United Way Community Campaign. In 2019, 107 members donated a total of $213,850 representing an average gift of $1,998. Sky Lakes Medical Center lead the way with 17 KEY Club donors. The following is a current roster of our 2019 members. While every gift is important, KEY Club gifts are vital to our overall success. The 2019 Leadership Giving KEY Club chairman was Mike Cheeseman.
Bronze KEY
(Gift of $1,000 to $1,499)
| Cec Amuchastegui |
| Kasie Anderson |
| Janice Arnold |
| Paul Arnold |
| Tim & Kris Bailey |
| Julie Bainbridge |
| James Baxter |
| William & Sharon Brandsness |
| Denise Britan |
| Stephanie Brown |
| Jessica Chastain |
| David & Beth Drew |
| Charles R. Dunbar |
| Alan & Carol Eberlein |
| Neal & Susan Eberlein |
| Mel & Renee Ferguson |
| Gerald and Susan Freschi |
| Erin Foley |
| Suzie Galloway |
| Michael & Laila Griffith |
| Mr. & Mrs. Vernon Haddeland |
| Denise Hard |
| Sheri Hargrave |
| James W. Harris |
| Kenneth Harris |
| Patricia E. Henderson |
| Thomas J. Hottman |
| Molly & Lauren Jespersen |
| Ron & Chuck Johnson |
| Chris & Susan Kandra |
| Kara S. Kaefring |
| Loren Lawrie |
| Juan Maldonado |
| Rick McGuffey |
| Steve Meng |
| Shay-lee Morris |
| Dr.’s Nagi & Kasturi Naganathan |
| John & Ann Novak |
| Jeffrey Pardy |
| Tom Powley & Vonnie Powley |
| Lenora Reinhard |
| Denise Rising |
| David & Kristin Sayles |
| Ken & Karen Simpson |
| Linda Stastny |
| Joan Staunton |
| Tim & Gloria Steiner |
| Mitch & Tammy Stokes |
| Greg & Janet Thede |
| Cheryl Westbrook |
| Michael Westbrook |
| Dorothy L. Winters |
| Mrs. Carolyn J. Woods |
| * Five anonymous donors |
Silver Key
(Gift of $1,500 to $1,999)
| Todd & Mindi Andres |
| Eric Baker |
| Dr. Beverly Bauman |
| Timothy Boozer |
| Frank Ganong |
| Faith Koepke |
| Mike Romtvedt |
| Tom & Sue Schiess |
| Brent Thomas |
| Patricia & Bud Wakefield |
| Wise & Company, LLP |
| *One anonymous donor |
Gold Key
(Gift of $2,000 to $3,499)
| Donnie Boyd |
| Leroy & Nora Cabral |
| George & Janice Calvert |
| Mike Cheeseman |
| Annette Cole |
| Ann Kellogg & Heather Emel-Kellogg |
| Daniel Earhart |
| Frank & Renee Hernandez |
| Rick & Susan Kreizenbeck |
| Dick & Chris Ledgerwood |
| Don & Kwanda McDonnell |
| Dr. Raul & Karri Mirande |
| Stan Neitling |
| Kent & Linda Pederson |
| Gary & Wanda Powless |
| Tom Powley & Vonnie Powley |
| Jay Schindler & Ruth Olsen |
| Erwin & Carol Ritter |
| Thomas J. & Barbara Shaw |
| Anne Weaver |
| * Six anonymous donors |
Platinum KEY
(Gift of $3,500 to $4,999)
| Marcella Bell, John & Kendall Bell |
| Drew & Betsy Honzel |
| . One anonymous donor |
Emerald KEY
(Gift of $5,000 to $ 7,499)
| Dan & Ann Cavanaugh |
| Glenn & Ursula Gailis |
| Larry & Maureen Jespersen |
| Nancy J. Wendt |
| *Two anonymous donors |
Diamond KEY
(Gift of $7,500 to $9,999)
| No donors at this level for 2019 |
United Way of America
Alexis de Tocqueville Society
(Gift of $10,000 and above)
| Mike Short Trust |
| Bob & Michelle Wynne |
Corporate & Business Leadership Giving
