Thursday party to honor nonprofit professionals

CEDAR RAPIDS — Twelve nonprofit professionals will be honored Thursday with the Spirit of Minnie Rubek awards from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.

The awards will be presented at the Nonprofit Party at the Market, which runs 4:30 to 6 p.m. at NewBo City Market, 1100 Third St. SE. All nonprofit employees are invited and can RSVP at the foundation’s website.

Carrie Walker, nonprofit network manager at the Community Foundation, said the party is “a small token of our appreciation. It is a chance for nonprofit professionals to relax and connect with colleagues.”

The Spirit of Minnie Rubek awards are named after an early Community Foundation donor who had a quiet but lasting impact.

This year’s honorees, nominated by their employers, are:

Amy Brunner, director of community engagement, Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

Polly Draker, clinic supervisor, His Hands Free Clinic.

Alicia Faust, executive director, Willis Dady Homeless Services.

Leland Freie, nutrition specialist, Foundation 2 Crisis Services.

Rozana Garrison, women’s services recovery specialist, Catherine McAuley Center.

Katie Goedken-Fennell, site assistant, The Arc of East Central Iowa.

Jeff Hazzard, Helping Hands ministry program coordinator, Ecumenical Community Center Foundation.

Rhonda Martin, assistant to the athletic director, Mount Mercy University

Sandy Osborn, nutrition services manager, Horizons

Jessica Peel-Austin, curator of museum collections, Brucemore

Alice Silver, food service manager, Tanager.

Yer Vang, director of immigration legal services, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

For more information on the honorees and how they have impacted the community, go to the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation website.