thedrifter
05-19-09, 06:23 AM
Toys for Tots organizer gets top honor from Marines
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
By SUSAN FIELD
Clare Managing Editor
Lucinda Clark was a bit confused when a Toys for Tots coordinator from Houghton Lake called her Saturday to offer congratulations.
Clark, who is the local community organizer for Toys for Tots in Isabella County, didn’t have Internet service the day before, so she logged on to read the e-mail that the coordinator spoke of.
Confusion turned to shock when Clark, the daughter of local Toys for Tots founder Dick Barz, read the e-mail from Brian Murray, a retired U.S. Marine major and vice president of operations for Toys for Tots in Quantico, Va.
Clark was chosen as the campaign and coordinator of the year for 2008, based on her responsiveness to the foundation, responsiveness to local requests, accuracy in record keeping, timeliness in the deposit of donations and timeliness in the submission of supporting documentation for purchases.
In the e-mail announcing Clark and other winners across the country, Murray said the selection was very difficult.
“Without your commitment to excellence and service, there would be millions of disappointed children on Christmas Day,” Murray said in the e-mail.
Clark is still unbelieving that she received the award over hundreds of other non-Marine coordinators across the country.
Clark’s dedication to the campaign is evident in the home office of her family’s business, The Bathtub Boys, on East Airport Road in Chippewa Township.
Three-ring binders full of photographs of Toys for Tots distribution, fundraisers and other events rest on shelves in the office.
Clark also kept a giant card made by students in the Chippewa Hills school district, who had a pizza party fundraiser and brought the toys that children donated to her home.
Toys for Tots has been part of Clark’s life since her father started the effort locally more than 20 years ago.
A displaced worker who managed the Microtel Inn in Mt. Pleasant before being laid off in December 2007, Clark isn’t one to sit around.
“Why not get involved in the community and put your time to good use?” she said.
Clark, who was Microtel’s general manager of the year in 2003, when there were 260 motels in the chain, was stunned to find she won the national award, particularly after being considered for and ultimately not getting a regional award last year.
“I knew last year I was considered for regional local community organizer,” Clark said. “I didn’t know prior to our conference last year that I was one of the top three.”
Clark said winning the regional award would have been enough, and that she is honored and humbled to have been chosen for the national award.
She also said much credit goes to the key people who work with her to make Toys for Tots successful for the children it serves.
“We’ve got wonderful, wonderful people who have helped us over the years,” Clark said.
While the brunt of the work for Toys for Tots happens from September to December, there are always “little things” Clark is involved in to help bring more toys for children who would otherwise not experience that aspect of Christmas.
In December, Clark works “24-7” on Toys for Tots, with family members helping.
In the Clark home, Christmas is not traditional.
Clark and husband David’s sons, David Daniel Clark II and Skylar Clark, know that it’s time to pitch in with sorting and organizing toys when Christmas rolls around.
Clark’s positive attitude likely helps in her volunteer work with Toys for Tots.
When her mother, Jewell Cavender, died of cancer in March, Clark was devastated.
Then, two weeks ago, she watched David Daniel Clark II graduate from the Michigan State University Medical School two weeks ago.
“There’re good things tha happen,” she said.
Barz started the local Toys for Tots after attending a meeting of the Michigan chapter of the Chosin Few, a group of survivors of the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, after losing his wife and “dreading” the thought of Christmas, Clark said.
That first year, volunteers distributed 50 toys.
In 2008, 7,000 toys were distributed to 1,954 children, Clark said.
During her years with Toys for Tots, Clark has established relationships with businesses and has assisted people from near and far in donating toys.
“There’s nothing worse than leaving a box or cannister out,” she said. “If you’re going to do it, do it right.”
Ellie
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
By SUSAN FIELD
Clare Managing Editor
Lucinda Clark was a bit confused when a Toys for Tots coordinator from Houghton Lake called her Saturday to offer congratulations.
Clark, who is the local community organizer for Toys for Tots in Isabella County, didn’t have Internet service the day before, so she logged on to read the e-mail that the coordinator spoke of.
Confusion turned to shock when Clark, the daughter of local Toys for Tots founder Dick Barz, read the e-mail from Brian Murray, a retired U.S. Marine major and vice president of operations for Toys for Tots in Quantico, Va.
Clark was chosen as the campaign and coordinator of the year for 2008, based on her responsiveness to the foundation, responsiveness to local requests, accuracy in record keeping, timeliness in the deposit of donations and timeliness in the submission of supporting documentation for purchases.
In the e-mail announcing Clark and other winners across the country, Murray said the selection was very difficult.
“Without your commitment to excellence and service, there would be millions of disappointed children on Christmas Day,” Murray said in the e-mail.
Clark is still unbelieving that she received the award over hundreds of other non-Marine coordinators across the country.
Clark’s dedication to the campaign is evident in the home office of her family’s business, The Bathtub Boys, on East Airport Road in Chippewa Township.
Three-ring binders full of photographs of Toys for Tots distribution, fundraisers and other events rest on shelves in the office.
Clark also kept a giant card made by students in the Chippewa Hills school district, who had a pizza party fundraiser and brought the toys that children donated to her home.
Toys for Tots has been part of Clark’s life since her father started the effort locally more than 20 years ago.
A displaced worker who managed the Microtel Inn in Mt. Pleasant before being laid off in December 2007, Clark isn’t one to sit around.
“Why not get involved in the community and put your time to good use?” she said.
Clark, who was Microtel’s general manager of the year in 2003, when there were 260 motels in the chain, was stunned to find she won the national award, particularly after being considered for and ultimately not getting a regional award last year.
“I knew last year I was considered for regional local community organizer,” Clark said. “I didn’t know prior to our conference last year that I was one of the top three.”
Clark said winning the regional award would have been enough, and that she is honored and humbled to have been chosen for the national award.
She also said much credit goes to the key people who work with her to make Toys for Tots successful for the children it serves.
“We’ve got wonderful, wonderful people who have helped us over the years,” Clark said.
While the brunt of the work for Toys for Tots happens from September to December, there are always “little things” Clark is involved in to help bring more toys for children who would otherwise not experience that aspect of Christmas.
In December, Clark works “24-7” on Toys for Tots, with family members helping.
In the Clark home, Christmas is not traditional.
Clark and husband David’s sons, David Daniel Clark II and Skylar Clark, know that it’s time to pitch in with sorting and organizing toys when Christmas rolls around.
Clark’s positive attitude likely helps in her volunteer work with Toys for Tots.
When her mother, Jewell Cavender, died of cancer in March, Clark was devastated.
Then, two weeks ago, she watched David Daniel Clark II graduate from the Michigan State University Medical School two weeks ago.
“There’re good things tha happen,” she said.
Barz started the local Toys for Tots after attending a meeting of the Michigan chapter of the Chosin Few, a group of survivors of the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, after losing his wife and “dreading” the thought of Christmas, Clark said.
That first year, volunteers distributed 50 toys.
In 2008, 7,000 toys were distributed to 1,954 children, Clark said.
During her years with Toys for Tots, Clark has established relationships with businesses and has assisted people from near and far in donating toys.
“There’s nothing worse than leaving a box or cannister out,” she said. “If you’re going to do it, do it right.”
Ellie