Volunteer Awards
Celebrating the Impact of Our Volunteers
Courage Center’s community is so grateful for the significant impact that our 2,500 annual volunteers make that recognition is a part of our everyday culture at Courage Center. We also have several ways to formally recognize volunteers.
Annette Pantel Award
This award was established to honor Annette Pantel, licensed clinical social worker at Courage Center for almost 30 years and who retired in January 2002. Annette began the volunteer Social Service Assistant program which provides case management assistance for clients and their families in Medical Rehabilitation. Annette’s creativity, innovation, nurturing and spirit of fun are all celebrated with this award. It is meant to honor staff who in their supervision of volunteers demonstrates outstanding teaming and partnering and who guide, lead and develop volunteers. To nominate someone, for this award, click here.
Bergstrand Award (Duluth only)
This annual award was created in memory of a long-time volunteer Claude Bergstrand, who passed away in 2006, to recognize a volunteer's outstanding dedication and initiative in one or more programs.
1. Recipient will have made a significant contribution of time to Courage Duluth’s programs, services and consumers.
2. Recipient has taken the initiative to assume a leadership position in the program.
3. Contribution must have been “sustained” over a period of time or been of “overwhelming” importance it if was a one-time activity.
4. The contribution must have served as a “Symbol of Unselfishness” to inspire other volunteers.
Fichtner Spirit Award (Duluth only)
This ski award was created in 2009 in recognition of active ski volunteers, Katie and Dick Fichtner, who have been and continue to be the backbone of the Courage Center Duluth ski program since its inception in 1979. Their commitment to youth and adults who have physical disabilities is tremendous. This award is to recognize a ski volunteer for their outstanding contributions to the ski program and their ability to follow in the Fichtner Spirit by touching the lives of countless volunteers and children with disabilities as a teacher, mentor and friend.
Milestone Recognition Event
Formal individual recognition occurs as volunteers reach milestones of 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000 and 10,000 hours. Volunteers receive a replica of artwork created by one of our very own volunteer artists. When they reach the 250-hour level and above they also attend a volunteer reception in their honor where they are recognized for their level of service.
Malcolm MacKay Tree of Life Award
Given in honor of Courage Center volunteer Malcolm MacKay, the Tree of Life recognizes volunteers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and loyalty to Courage Center, have contributed a minimum of 750 hours of service, have volunteered for at least 15 years, and have the same welcoming presence that Malcolm brought to his volunteer role.
Pearl Hall Award
Given in honor of Courage Center volunteer, Pearl Hall. The recipient of this award will have made a significant contribution of time to Courage Center’s Programs, Services and Clients. They will have made a contribution that has been “sustained” over a period of time or been of “overwhelming” importance if it was a one-time activity. Their contribution must have been served as a “Symbol of Unselfishness” to inspire other volunteers.