2020-2021 President’s Award Recipients

R e c i p i e n ts 2020-2021 PRESIDENT’S AWARD & ALEX PERSON MICHELLE WALLACE

Each year the President gets to select someone who has been instrumental to her presidency. There have been so many people that have made this year possible—I could have easily given this award to countless members (and several non-members, as well… my patient and encouraging husband, my two understanding daughters, or my supportive business partner to name a few). But as I thought about this award, there were two members who repeatedly came to the forefront of my mind. This year I selected two women who are deserving of the President’s Award for not only their contribution to the League, but because of how they truly impacted my year as President.

By now, it is likely clear how important fundraising has been during this unprecedented year. I want to be clear in making note of this because it isn’t that fundraising is important simply in its own right, but rather it is essential to our operations in order to fund the community projects of the League and to provide opportunities for training our members in order to develop their potential. I say all of this as a way for introducing the first recipient of this year’s President’s Award, Alex Person. Alex is finishing up her term as Fund Development Vice President, and without her tireless work this year, our fundraising efforts would not have been as successful as they were. Beyond that, Alex has been one of the most reliable leaders of the 2020-2021 League year. So often her work has been behind the scenes, but I never doubted that I could count on her regardless of the task at hand. She is encouraging, kind, loyal, and HILARIOUS! (And goodness knows we all need a good belly laugh every now and then—especially when tensions start to run high and obstacles seem insurmountable.) Alex, thank you for being such a wonderful support system and leader this year. I am grateful for your service but more than anything, your friendship.

The second recipient of this year’s President’s Award is Michelle Wallace. Michelle currently serves as Treasurer to the League and will take on the important role of Executive Vice President next year. Michelle has helped us navigate so many financial hurdles this year—from starting the year with refunds for 2020 Designer Bag Bingo to befriending the Charitable Gaming Office so we could get firsthand guidance on how to proceed our 2021 event and everything in between. And she handled it all with grace and poise. Her sound wisdom, unmatched problemsolving, and creative thinking have been invaluable this year, and I am beyond thankful for how she kept us on track financially during a time when our financial health was critical to our daily operations. And the fact that she did most of this while her husband was deployed, and she worked full time while also being full-time mom AND working to get her Notary license—I am in awe of her capabilities. I truly could not have gotten through this year without Michelle’s help, and for that I am grateful. Saige W. Solomon Saige Solomon 2020-2021 President