Leona Martens honored at The 2009 Celebrating Women Gala
October 24, 2009 - Leona Martens’ innovative approach to food banking, and heroic spirit continues to battle the growing hunger needs in Weld County. Her devotion and hard work have earned her respect, on a local, state and national level as a lobbyist for hunger-relief. As the executive director of the Weld Food Bank she works tirelessly with America’s Second Harvest and legislators, to seek out commodities and much needed resources. Leona, with her devoted staff and volunteers work to coordinate service to 118 agency non-profit partners engaged in the fight against hunger.
Local food solicitor named 2008 Hunger Champion
January 20th, 2008 - Rick Cramer, food solicitor for Weld Food Bank, received the 2008 Hunger Champion Award presented by the Colorado Anti-hunger Network (CAN) Friday morning in Denver. This award is presented to individuals/organizations because they have exemplified outstanding leadership in alleviating hunger or have made a significant impact in the fight against hunger and its roots causes.
Cramer has worked as the food solicitor for Weld Food Bank for nearly three years. During this time he has steeply increased the amount of nutritious food coming into Weld Food Bank and into the statewide food bank network.
Rick worked with Colorado Premium and acquired seven semi loads of frozen corned beef brisket. The 276,844 pounds of quality meat was shared within the Colorado Food Bank Association and was available to agencies statewide. In addition several loads were also shared with food banks in Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey.
With the high cost of diesel fuel and the value added charges being placed on donations, the cost of bringing in fresh produce was getting prohibitive. Cramer worked with local producers, Feeding America and a cluster of food banks (Care & Share; Community Food Share; Food Bank for Larimer County; Weld Food Bank) and was able acquire 173,066 pounds of produce to be shared. This creative work resulted in 80,000 pounds of carrots; 61,600 pounds of cabbage; 20,000 pounds of onions and 11,466 pounds of green beans that were made available to partner agencies and individual families throughout a large portion of Colorado.
Cramer has also increased the amount of meat donated to Weld Food Bank. He worked with local ranchers to donate whole animals which are then processed and we are able to distribute nutritious protein through our 119 agency partners.
Since starting in this position Cramer has had tremendous success at food donor acquisition and retention. With the huge decrease in non-perishable foods being available, the hungry of Colorado are benefiting from his creativity and hard work.
Masons Honor Community Leaders for Contributions
October 3rd, 2008 -Greeley Tribune - Brian Lessman, Hope Cassidy and Leona Martens have been named winners of the Occidental Lodge No. 20 AF&AM 10th annual Community Awards, which were presented recently at the Greeley Masonic Temple.
Lessman was given the annual Impact Award for his role as chairman of the Windsor Community Foundation, which distributed more than $550,000 in tornado relief efforts to residents and businesses. Cassidy and Martens were honored with Lifetime Community Service Awards.
The awards were started in 1999 to recognize annually outstanding residents who have had a significant impact on the community and county.
Lessman was a public educator for 31 years in Nebraska and Colorado. He retired in 2005, having been superintendent of the Weld County School District Re-4 in Windsor since 1993. Since then, he has been active in many roles, such as a facilitator for Weld County Partnerships; as chairman and member of the board of the Windsor Community Foundation; and as chairman of the "Dream Team" of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Collins. He is presently an adjunct faculty member and student teaching supervisor at Colorado Christian University.
Martens and Cassidy have been very active in many community activities and functions for several decades.
Martens came from Nebraska to Colorado in 1986 and served as the executive director of the Weld County Chapter of American Red Cross. In 1990, she became executive director of the Weld Food Bank and remains in that capacity today.
As a result of her innovative approach to food banking, the Weld Food Bank now has 118 agency nonprofit partners engaged in the fight against hunger. Last year, the bank's children's programs provided more than 17,000 hot meals and snacks, as well as 7,000 backpacks of food to children at risk.
Known nationally as an advocate for hunger issues, Martens is a past president of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program Association; served on the national board of directors for the American Second Harvest Network; and is a sitting director of the Colorado Food Bank Association.
Cassidy has been the executive director of Greeley Center for Independence, Inc./North Colorado Therapy Center since 1977.
During this period, she has been its single strongest advocate for the disabled and how to make their daily lives more pleasant. Among her contributions to their cause has been organization of the Patient Advocacy Team; organized Hospice of Weld County; organized Eldergarden Adult Day Program for seniors; developed and operated the Downtown Service Center to provide jobs for people with disabilities; and more recently in 2006, she went to Mozambique to work with La Polana Rotary equipping workshops for students and adults.
She was Weld County Citizen of the Year in 1983; received the Chamber of Commerce Leann Anderson Community Care Award in 2004; and received the Rural Housing Now Eagle Award in 2007, among several other awards.
Nicole Hurt Declared Public Health Champion
April 3rd, 2007 - The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment recognized Nicole Hurt, Weld Food Bank Agency Relations and Child Programs Manager, as a community member making strides toward a healthier community. Nicole was awarded the title Public Health Champion for her efforts involved with the Weld Food Bank BackPack program for local school children. "I really see her as a public health champion, especially for our children," said Melissa Martin, Greeley-Evans School District 6 health coordinator.
Every child should have the opportunity to come to school ready to learn on Monday morning. But some students, especially those who rely on free and reduced lunch programs during the week, may come to school hungry, complaining of dizziness and stomach aches. This can make learning very difficult. That is why Weld Food Bank, in partnership with the Greeley Dream Team, provides over 500 back packs per week to Weld County students. These back packs are filled with nutritious, easy to prepare food, that the kids can take home and eat over the weekend.
If you would like more information on the BackPack Program, or to find out how you can help, contact Nicole at 356-2199 x302.
Food Bank Director Given National Award
March 1, 2004 – On Sunday, February 22, 2004, in Washington D.C. Leona Martens, Executive Director of the Weld Food Bank was awarded the Dick Goebel Public Service Award from America’s Second Harvest, the nations largest hunger relief organization. This national award was created in 2001 in honor of Mr. Goebel and his many years of public service. The award is given to individuals who exemplify public service to their communities, extensive public policy advocacy, and tireless energy and creativity in developing solutions to help reach increasing numbers of hungry people in their service area.
“Leona Martens personifies the spirit of public service,” said Douglas O’Brien, Vice President of Public Policy and Research at America’s Second Harvest. “Not only has Leona been a leader in local efforts to end hunger in Weld County, but she has been a tireless advocate on behalf of national policies that help low-income, needy individuals and families. Her enthusiasm, kindness and generosity of spirit have been great assets for America’s Second Harvest and for hungry people across the country.”
Mrs. Martens, originally from Nebraska, moved to Windsor in 1986 and served as the Executive Director of the Weld County Chapter of the American Red Cross before assuming her role at the Weld Food Bank in 1990. Mrs. Martens graduated from the University of Nebraska, and has done graduate work and is a published author. Leona has served on the national Board of Directors for America’s Second Harvest, the past president of the National (CSFP) Commodity Supplemental Food Program Association, serves on the legislative committee for ACDA (American Commodities Distribution Association and is active with the Colorado Food Bank Association.
Weld Food Bank Honored for Excellence in Colorado
December 6, 2002 - The El Pomar Foundation Awards for Excellence presentation honored 33 outstanding nonprofits, of which the Weld Food Bank was named as winner of the R.J. Montgomery Award for Human Services – Self Sufficiency. William J. Hybl, Chairman and C.E.O. of El Pomar Foundation, announced the winners and finalists to an audience of over 1,000 Colorado community leaders on December 4th 2002, at The Broadmoor Hotel International Center in Colorado Springs, CO.
El Pomar Awards for Excellence is a unique program designed to recognize and reward excellent organizations that are affecting positive changes in the state of Colorado. Established by El Pomar Foundation in 1989 in order to honor the outstanding achievements of Colorado’s nonprofits. Each year a winner and two finalists are selected in eleven categories that reflect specific areas of service in the nonprofit sector. These categories include Arts & Humanities, Community, Education, Environment, Health Care- Large Facility, Health Care- Small Facility, Human Services- Seniors, Human Services- Self-Sufficiency, Special Projects, Sports & Recreation, and Youth Development.
Organizations are nominated by and voted upon by the Awards for Excellence Selection Commission.
The commission consists of 16 distinguished Coloradoans, each of whom holds a position of leadership in their respective communities. The members are appointed by the Trustees of the El Pomar Foundation and are chosen from throughout Colorado to insure that all areas of the state are represented in the nomination process.
After an organization is nominated, the organization sends specific information to the Awards for Excellence staff, who then prepare the information for the Selection Commission voting meetings, which occur each spring and summer. With all information in hand, the Selection Commission evaluates the nominated organization according to the following criteria:
- The organization’s community impact
- Effective use of resources
- Commitment to their mission
- Degree of success with program implementation
- Overall Excellence of the organization
One organization, Project Angel Heart from Denver, was named Most Outstanding Nonprofit, and received $25,000 along with the Julie and Spencer Penrose Award. Project Angel Heart serves the greater Denver community by providing nutrition, care and compassion to individuals with life-threatening diseases.
Each year, in addition to honoring excellence in organizations, Awards for Excellence honors three exceptional individuals in the state of Colorado. Presented earlier this year, the winner of the Wendelken Special Trustees’ Award, which recognizes a spirit of giving and service to the community, is Tom Collins of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The 2002 winner of the Shrine of the Sun Award for the outstanding nonprofit professional is Roger Goodwin with Saint Joseph’s Hospital Foundation in Denver. Walter and Georgia Imhoff, from Denver, are this year’s winners of the Russell T. Tutt Award for their excellence in leadership.
This year, we are proud to introduce the Governor John A. Love Award to recognize those businesses that improve the quality of life for Coloradans through a commitment to the nonprofit sector. The 2002 winner of the Governor John A. Love Award is PRACO, Public Relations and Advertising Company, from Colorado Springs. The owners, Jim and Nechie Hall and George Olson will donate their $5,000 award to the Steven Stearman House at Penrose Hospital.
El Pomar Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the Rocky Mountain West with assets totaling more than $450 million dollars. Each year, El Pomar contributes approximately $20 million through direct grants and operating programs to support Colorado nonprofit organizations involved in the arts and humanities, health, education, civic and community issues, and human services. El Pomar Foundation was founded by Spencer and Julie Penrose in 1937.
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