Thank You for the Des Moines Register Aurora Award

Dear friends, supporters, volunteers, and partners,

You’ve probably heard already that DMARC has been awarded the Des Moines Register’s Aurora Award for 2010. I’m so pleased for all of you that our work together is being recognized.

Because of you, the Des Moines Area Religious Council has been able to help meet basic needs of people in Des Moines, even in the midst of an historic recession.

It is a privilege to learn from amazing leaders–from each of you, from people of differing faith traditions, from preceding staff and board, from present stakeholders–who had the wisdom and insight to create such an amazing organization, and who maintain the commitment to raise DMARC to its next level of excellence.

I am so glad that the Register has chosen to recognize your dedication as well as theirs by honoring us with the Aurora Award.

I would like to share with you the words of our board president John Ayers from his acceptance speech: “Without all of those folks who stepped forward to help those who need a little help from time to time, this wouldn’t be possible.” I echo John’s words to all of you.

The purpose of the Des Moines Register Aurora Award is to recognize a non-profit organization in central Iowa that:

• identifies a need in the community and works to fill it,
• works to promote unity, self-empowerment and self-sufficiency for all within our community, without regard to race, gender or age,
• gives back to the community as much as it takes and works unselfishly to make central Iowa the best it can be, and
• makes a measurable difference in the community without thought to awards or public recognition.

We are especially honored to have been chosen from such a distinquished group of community service leaders including Central Iowa Honor Flight Committee, Hope Ministries, United Way of Central Iowa and Youth Emergency Services & Shelter of Iowa.

You are all just awesome!

Sincerely yours,
Sarai Schnucker Rice
DMARC Executive Director

DMARC Board and Staff members attend a reception on February 9, 2011, where DMARC was named the 2010 Aurora Award recipient by The Des Moines Register. L to R: Chuck Kuba, John Ayers, Julie Kaufman, Elisabeth Ballstadt, Lee Schott, Trudy Holman, and Linda Harvey. Not pictured: Brendan Comito, Kristine Frakes and special DMARC guests David Hurd and Matt McGarvey