ANDERSON, Ind. — Keynote speaker Felix Chow and volunteer award recipient Michelle Cook evoked history — in very different ways — Wednesday night at the United Way of Madison County’s annual meeting at the Paramount Theatre.
While Chow, the new Anderson schools superintendent, spoke of the legends of philosophers Socrates and Confucius, Cook drew a much more recent parallel to the spirit of community service.
“My mom passed away last week,” she said, “and since then I’ve done a lot of looking back at her life. She was always a giver and passed that down to me.”
Cook received the 2010 Volunteer of the Year Award for her organization of United Way fundraising efforts at Community Hospital, where she works. Her mother, she said, set the example for giving in small ways, such as contributing to charity collections at checkout counters.
“She gave more on a personal level,” Cook explained. “Once at CVS (Pharmacy) in the winter she saw a lady without a coat. They got to talking, and mom said, ‘Follow me home.’ She gave her a coat and boots.”
Cook’s mother, Linda Fields, died March 2 at St. Vincent-Mercy Hospital in Elwood after a long but unexplained illness. Fields was just 57 years old. She had worked as a beautician in Fairmount and Summitville, then had stayed home to baby-sit Cook’s two children, who are now grown.
After Cook received her award Wednesday, Hoosier Park Racing & Casino was honored by the United Way as the 2010 Business of the Year. Local United Way Vice President Nancy Anderson noted that employees of the racino nearly doubled their United Way giving total from 2008 and that 36 percent of about 1,000 Hoosier Park employees had contributed financially to the 2009 United Way campaign. The racino raised about $6,000 through special events for employees, including a chili cook-off, a talent show and an employee rummage sale.
“It’s been a rough week,” said Jim Brown, general manager of gaming for Hoosier Park, alluding to the parent company of the racino filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. “But Hoosier Park is very successful and will be here for a long, long time to come. Five years from now, I’ll be here at this meeting delivering that same message.”
In his keynote address, Chow noted that future generations would judge the Anderson area not by the material wealth of its residents but by their spirit of giving.
“In the year 3050, some historian will be looking at Anderson in the year 2010,” said Chow. He predicted that the current era will be remembered for people who were determined to make a positive difference in the community.
Contact Scott Underwood: scott.underwood@heraldbulletin.com, 640-4845.
