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 in 2020, nor will there be one in 2021. All 31 nominees received an award and a special four page publication was published in the Herald and News on April 24 during national volunteer week.
Andrea Malakar was a senior at Henley High School last year and served as the coordinator for the student-based Hunger: Not Impossible program for two years. She 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 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. The 2021 Volunteer of the Year event will also be modified because of COVID-19 and the social gathering regulations. There will 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 will be published on Friday, April 23, 2021 in the Herald and News.
The 2021 Klamath Country Volunteer of the Year event is now underway. Everyone nominated will receive an award. Every nomination for Volunteer of the Year will be judged by local media professionals. A special thanks to our financial partners of this event, The KMSB Foundation and the Wendt Family Foundation.
Nominations for the 2021 Klamath Country Volunteer of the Year are due by April 1st 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 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 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 & Renee 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
