Rotary honors United Way leader
<p>Sherry Stevens, right, laughs as colleague Bill Hendricks speaks on her behalf during an award presentation Thursday. The Kalispell Rotary Club presented Stevens with a rare Rotary Community Service Award on Thursday to acknowledge her service work as longtime United Way director. (Brianna Loper/The Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Throughout her childhood, Sherry Stevens’ father always told her, “Leave everything a little bit better than you found it.” Even in adolescence, Stevens took those words to heart.
Now, as an adult, Stevens tries to live by her father’s words every day. She is the longtime director of the local United Way chapter and has been repeatedly acknowledged as a pivotal part of the valley’s service community.
On Thursday, the Kalispell Rotary Club saluted Stevens with the Rotary Community Service Award.
“We are very particular about the recipients for this award,” Rotary president Michael Hayes said. “It has to be someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty, and [Stevens] does just that every day.”
The club has not given the award out in over five years, but it was obvious that all members agreed with the choice to present it to Stevens.
“She provides dignity and respect to anyone who needs assistance,” said colleague Carol Nelson, who introduced Stevens during the presentation. “She is a wonderful model for leadership.”
As head of the United Way, Stevens, a Kalispell native, works to increase financial stability, improve education and promote healthy lives for people throughout the valley.
She served as department director, grants manager and fiscal officer at Northwest Montana Human Resources for 13 years before joining United Way, which ignited her passion in community service projects that bring a variety of agencies together for a common good.
“The best part about what I do is working with all the amazing volunteers I get to work with every day,” she said. “It’s great to know we’re touching lives in need.”
Throughout her time with United Way, Stevens has helped organize countless fundraisers for nonprofits and individuals in the community.
Most recently, she organized the first Winter Warm Up for homeless and low-income community members and coordinated numerous nonprofit agencies to create a one-stop place to provide food, entertainment, health and veterinary services to those in need.
Stevens accepted the award on behalf of all the service organizations in the area that strive to make the valley a better place, as well as the people she works with.
“I have a wonderful opportunity to meet people every day in our community who are hurting, and I’m going to accept this award on their behalf, and the people I meet every day in this job,” she said.
Reporter Brianna Loper may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at bloper@dailyinterlake.com.