"Michigan's volunteer heroes give of their time and talent without thought of praise or recognition," Granholm said.  "The value of volunteers and their impact on local communities is highlighted by the willingness of Michigan's corporate leaders to step forward and sponsor this event.  We are grateful for the volunteers and the support of our sponsors."   

Governor Granholm and First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern will honor the finalists during an awards ceremony entitled, "A Night with the Stars," on Thursday, June 19, at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.  The 2008 Governor's Service Awards will be a theatre-style event highlighting award presentations and featuring performances by Michigan musical artists and performers, all paying tribute to the honorees.

In addition to recognizing the Governor's Service Award recipients in eight categories, Governor Granholm will also present the Carter Partnership Award, the Russell G. Mawby Award for Philanthropy, and the Community Foundation Award for Philanthropy.   

The Governor's Service Awards are an annual statewide recognition event acknowledging the contributions made by Michigan volunteers.  This celebration is made possible only through the generous contributions of its sponsors.  To date, the Ford Motor Company Fund is the Platinum Sponsor.  The W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Acheson Ventures are Premier Sponsors; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan/Accident Fund, Comcast, DTE Energy, and MASCO Corporation Foundation are Pacesetters; CMS Energy, Council of Michigan Foundations, Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, Lear Corporation, Meijer, and Michigan Nonprofit Association are Governor's Champions; and Comer Holdings, Comerica, FifthThird Bank, Health Alliance Plan, Hudson-Webber Foundation, and Mawby Family Fund are Governor's Heroes.   

The behind-the-scenes work for this prestigious event is managed by the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), which is chaired by First Gentleman Mulhern.  The MCSC is a state agency committed to building a culture of volunteer service to strengthen communities.  It is part of the Michigan Department of Human Services.

To purchase tickets to attend the event or for more information about the Governor's Service Awards, visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc or contact Kathie Vasilion Robinson at vasilionk@michigan.gov or (517) 373-4200.

The award finalists are:

Governor George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award

This award, the most prestigious of the Governor's Service Awards, honors an individual who has taken his or her volunteer service to the highest level - year after year.  It honors an individual, usually a senior citizen, who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to community involvement and volunteer service.  Individuals nominated in this category have made service a way of life for many, many years.  The finalists are:

• Leslie Algren of Grand Ledge
• Dr. Karl Gregory of Southfield
• Bill Heaton of Livonia
• Lois Herbage of Saginaw
• Howard King of Traverse City

Mentor of the Year Award

This award honors an individual who has made a significant difference in a child's life over time through mentoring.  For the purpose of this award, mentoring is defined as a structured and trusting relationship that brings a young person together with a caring individual who offers guidance, support, and encouragement aimed at developing the competence and character of the mentee.  The finalists are:

• Nathan Bender of Holland
• Cary Levy of Troy
• Kent and Laura Maurer of Jackson
• Cory Rowe of Negaunee
• Merianne Tappan of Comins

Outstanding Mentoring Program Award

Mentoring programs are responsible for developing and maintaining high-quality experiences for both the mentor and mentee.  Outstanding programs have systems in place for recruitment, retention, background checks, ongoing support, evaluation, and more as recommended by the Mentor Michigan Quality Program Standards.  The finalists are:

• The Art of Leadership Foundation (ALF) of Detroit
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit
• The Carson City-Crystal Mentoring Program
• The Michigan State University Extension Journey 4-H Youth Mentoring Program in Grand Haven
• The Oscoda County Michigan State University Extension Mentoring Program

Outstanding Volunteer Program Award

This award acknowledges the importance an organization or club makes in community life.  The nominees in this category strive to make communities better places to live through a variety of activities or by focusing on one issue of primary importance in their community.  Schools, faith-based organizations, national service programs, nonprofit organizations, and service clubs are potential nominees.  The finalists are:

• Brother Dan's Food Pantry of Petoskey
• City Mission of Detroit
• Detroit Executive Service Corps
• Medical Care Access Coalition of Marquette
• The Third Street Transition Center of Muskegon

Senior Volunteer of the Year

This category honors individuals who are age 65 or older.  These nominees may be involved with many activities or given significant time to one particular cause.  The finalists are:

• Sarah Brooks of Grand Rapids
• Jai Jaglan of Okemos
• Gerard Perry of Ionia
• Bill Sanford of Milan
• Robert Spencer of Battle Creek

Volunteer of the Year Award

This award is reserved for an individual who strives to improve the lives of neighbors, friends, community, or congregation.  Individuals nominated for this award could be adults, national service members, educators, and more.  The finalists are:

• Jonathan Adams of Southfield
• Dr. James Fahner of Grand Rapids
• Leon Judd of Northville
• Eleanor Miller of Cedar
• Terri Thomas of Kalamazoo

Corporate Community Leader Award

Corporations and businesses that excel in community involvement are honored with this award.  The commitment to serve is made by employees, both hourly and salaried, and can take many forms including, but not limited to, corporate volunteer programs, monetary contributions, in-kind gifts, and employee-driven volunteer service.  The finalists are:

• Compuware of Detroit
• Great Lakes Capital Fund, based in Lansing
• Huntington Bank - West Michigan of Grand Rapids
• Alticor, Incorporated of Ada
• Panera Bread of Detroit

Youth Volunteer of the Year Award

This category honors individuals who are 21 or younger.  These nominees may be involved with many activities or given significant time to one particular cause.  The finalists are:

• Jeanette DeVito of Crystal
• Kelly Doughman of Kingsford
• Adam Harris of Lathrup Village
• Katherine Johnson of Lake Orion
• Olivia Thomas of Kalamazoo

Click here to read full descriptions of the 2008 GSA Finalists.

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