Rita Clark, a mentor to children in the Brown County Human Services Department - Pals Program, today received the 2004 Green Bay Packers Community Quarterback Award. The Pals Program was presented a $10,000 grant on behalf of Clark.
The Pals Program matches children from low-income, troubled and special-needs families with an adult mentor to be a positive role model through weekly recreational or learning activities.
A volunteer to the program since 1987, Clark has worked with six different girls over the past 17 years, donating thousands of hours with her 'Pals.' She has provided a positive role model for girls without an adult female role model in their lives. Clark has assisted her 'Pals' in the areas of developing a healthy life style, including diet, exercise, grooming and hygiene, as well as helping the girls through awkward adolescent times through teaching sports, the arts and numerous other recreational and learning activities.
A licensed practical nurse and massage therapist and an accomplished marathon runner, Clark also has given time to Unity Hospice, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross, the Bellin Run and the Cellcom Marathon.
Clark is now eligible to receive the NFL's national Community Quarterback Award (to be announced in late December) and a $15,000 grant, presented to one of the league's 32 local winners and his/her charity.
Ten deserving finalists were present this morning at the event and honored for their work in the community. Each finalist received a $1,000 grant, to be donated to his/her non-profit group.
The finalists for the award and their affiliations:
Mary Bohman - ASPIRO, Inc., Green Bay
Jan Allan - The Back to School Store, Green Bay
Rita Clark - Brown County Human Services Department - Pals Program, Green Bay
Jim Golembeski - Family Violence Center, Green Bay
Wayne Stoflet - Kimberly Area Soccer Association (KASA), Combined Locks, Wis.
Paul Chaffee - Racine Explorer Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, Racine, Wis.
Mary Brechlin - Reach Counseling Services, Menasha, Wis.
Mark Ellis - Youth Go, Inc., Neenah, Wis.
Pat Armbruster - Special Olympics Ozaukee County, Cedarburg, Wis.
Daniel Williams - Green Bay West Lions Club, Green Bay
Funded by the NFL, the Green Bay Packers Community Quarterback Award recognizes community and youth volunteers who demonstrate leadership, dedication and a commitment to bettering their communities. The nomination process is fulfilled by charitable organizations that nominate their distinguished volunteers, and a selection committee then is appointed by each NFL team to select its finalists and winner.
