A 93-year old American war hero who was instrumental in founding the Lest We Forget organization that promotes patriotism in remarkable ways every year has been named the winner of the coveted 2017 Margaret B. Upton Volunteer Leadership Award from United Way of Southwest Michigan. Arden Pridgeon was revealed as the winner in ceremonies in Benton Harbor tonight, and earns $3,500 from the Upton Foundation which he can donate to the non-profit organization of his choice.
Also identified tonight at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center were the winners for United Way’s Live United youth scholarships, and Emerging and Sustaining Awards.
The Margaret B. Upton Volunteer Leadership Award is presented to one volunteer in Berrien County who demonstrates a long-standing history of volunteer contributions, diversity of volunteer experience with multiple organizations, and teamwork and leadership experience.
Pridgeon was one of the original 15 members of Lest We Forget, the organization with a goal of promoting patriotism within the community. During World War II, Arden was in the Pacific Theater assigned to the 96th Infantry Division. For 17 months he directed an 11-man squad in combat and during that period he received 2 Purple Hearts and 3 awards of the Bronze Star for heroism.
Pridgeon is an active member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Joseph Lions Club, and the St. Joseph Senior Center. He has served as a volunteer with Forgotten Man Ministries at the Berrien County Jail for the last twenty-five years, and is also involved with the Hospice for Veterans Program that honors veterans who are in hospice.
Pridgeon was one of three nominees recognized for this great honor. The other nominees were:
Jerry Flenar
Nominated by Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce and Buchanan Lions Club, Jerry Flenar is the epitome of an outstanding volunteer and contributor. He has a life long history of dedicating his time and service to our community. Jerry has been recognized as Buchanan’s Volunteer of the year twice since 1968. Additionally he has received the prestigious “Buchanan’s Lifetime Achievement Award” not once but twice. Jerry is the only citizen of his community that has received both of those awards, as well as the only citizen that has received the lifetime achievement award more than once.
Hilda Banyon
Nominated by Caring Circle, Hilda has been a long-standing member of the board of Hospice at Home/Caring Circle. She wears many hats within her volunteer work as a board member, a fundraiser, and a person who knows how to hold someone’s hand and listen. As a volunteer, she serves as an advocate for both patients and staff to ensure that both are well cared for. Hilda has also served as a board member for Lory’s Place since 2005 and has been a volunteer with United Way in every aspect of the Community Campaign, from the Allocations Committee to the Campaign Chair.
The LIVE UNITED Youth Scholarships are presented to high school seniors, one each from Berrien and Cass Counties, who demonstrate a commitment to volunteerism through innovation, dedication, and advocacy for community improvement. A $1,000 scholarship is awarded to each, made out to their college on their behalf.
These are the LIVE UNITED Youth Scholarship Winners:
Berrien County Winner
Taylor Huie — St. Joseph High School
Taylor Huie has promoted the importance of community service by encouraging students at St. Joseph High School to donate their time to their community and the world. She has helped lead the first two Southwest Michigan Rotary Sponsored Interact Club medical mission trips to the Dominican Republic to provide medical help to sugar cane field workers. Taylor helped start Reading with Countryside, where Interact members read with first grade students at Countryside Academy in Benton Harbor. Her efforts to increase membership in the Interact Club during her junior year were phenomenal. She increased the membership from 20 students to 100 due to her relentless communication efforts. In addition, she initiated an Interact Club at the middle school level to bring the St. Joseph Public Schools Interact club membership to over 200 members. Taylor has volunteered in the emergency room at Lakeland Hospital and combined her passions for medicine and singing by performing as Disney princesses at children’s hospitals. She also led a student-organized fashion show and silent auction for Lory’s Place called “Fashion with Compassion,” raising $3,141 for the organization. She will be attending Duke University in the fall.
Cass County Winner
Joseph Hess III — Edwardsburg High School
Joseph gives his weekends delivering food to needy families, building homes with Habitat for Humanity and volunteers to keep US-12 looking great by organizing trash pick-ups. In addition to his service in his community, he spends time conducting original research that was recently presented at the Michigan High School Research Symposium. His research involved creating a new type of hybrid drug and studying the anti-cancer effects that it exhibits and found that some modifications of the drug can actually kill breast cancer cells. The most fulfilling moment in Joseph’s time volunteering was when his NHS team sponsored ‘Operation Christmas.’ The goal of that event is to raise money to help support local families in need during the holidays. They solicited local businesses able to raise $30,000 dollars. His team provided 60 families with a special Christmas. Joseph’s desire to help people has led him to a service oriented career path as a physician’s assistant and has been accepted into an accelerated program at Valparaiso University.
The Sustaining and Emerging Volunteer Awards recognize volunteers from Berrien or Cass County who show a commitment to United Way’s goals in the areas of Education, Income, Health or Basic Needs. These volunteers are those that elevate their organization to new levels.
Emerging Volunteer Award Winner
Debbie Schmidt
Nominated by The Pokagon Fund, Debbie helped lead sustainable, long-term financial management efforts for the Pokagon and helps move families in her community from poverty to stability.
Other nominee:
Salena Jonjevic
Nominated by HOPE Resources, Salena led structuring this newly formed non-profit to streamlining services. She also reaches out to families to help provide basic needs during Christmas.
Sustaining Volunteer Award Winners
Leslie Kroeze
Nominated by Well of GRACE Ministries, Leslie has led the board as well as poured her heart into helping thousands of teens and woman through Bridgman club H20.
Sue Willming
Nominated by Gast Manufacturing, every Christmas Sue becomes Santa for the men, women and children in local shelter. She also inspires others to volunteer with her enthusiasm.
Other nominees:
Carole Sternaman
Nominated by HOPE Resources, Carole has served as lead coordinator for North Berrien Food Pantry for over eight years. She secures funding and helps all the families.
Victor Wright
Nominated by CARES, Victor has volunteered for over 10 years organizing support groups, cooking meals, and providing transportation to doctors appointments for people with HIV.
Linda Fay
Nominated by Caring Circle, Linda makes a difference by providing terminally ill adults and children with beautiful hand sewn gowns to make them feel happy and special.
Rodrick Church
Nominated by Berrien County Cancer Service, Roderick will volunteer for any task needed. Whether marking a 100K route, setting up events or raking leave, he always helps.
United Way of Southwest Michigan fights for the Health, Education, and Financial Stability of every person in every community. They do this by LIVING UNITED. By forging unlikely partnerships. By finding new solutions to old problems. And by mobilizing the best resources. To join the fight, please visit www.uwsm.org.
The photo accompanying this story at Moody on the Market.com shows Arden Pridgeon accepting the award, flanked on the left by Congressman Fred Upton’s District Representative Mike Ryan and on the right by Priscilla Byrns from the Upton Foundation. The photo is courtesy of professional photographer Bill Langbehn.
