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GRACE WELLMAN
Community Service
1989
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Grace Wellman gave her time over and over to influence
issues meaningful to the community. Her involvement and leadership
were varied. She ran the Civil Defense for Kentfield during World
War II. She coordinated the volunteer program, speaker's bureau and
other programs for the Marin American Red Cross. She played a
leadership role with both the Marin Garden Club and the Marin Outdoor Art
Club. In addition, Mrs. Wellman's volunteer support to the
Marin Conservation League lasted over forty years, as she served as its
President and in numerous other capacities.
Mrs. Wellman was instrumental in saving the
Bolinas lagoon as well as many other open space areas. She described
much of her work in conservation as learning "when to play Paul
Revere" including when to sound the alarm, who to call, and where to
go. In 1982, she was awarded the Green Award, the highest award of
the Marin Conservation League in recognition of her years of excellence in
the environmental field. She attributed her success to the fact that
she enjoyed people and she could organize them and they could have fun.
Read Grace Wellman's extended biography
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MAE
WYGANT
Community Service
1988
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Mae
Wygant is an artist with vision. It is her ability to carry her
vision to fruition that has benefited thousands of elderly Bay Area
residents. An ordained elder at her church, Mae spoke with
fellow church members gathered at her kitchen table about the unmet
needs of older Marinites. Many were passing their days without
any visitors or companionship except attending medical
personnel. Enlisting the support of friends, neighbors and
others willing to volunteer, Mae founded "Love Is The
Answer" (LITA) in 1975. LITA is an agency which makes
friendship connections between residents of convalescent homes and
volunteers. Through her persistence and commitment to service,
agencies have been established over the years in Sonoma, Alameda and
Contra Costa counties. LITA continues to grow; in 1996, a LITA
was formed in Napa County.
Mae now faces the challenges of living with a chronic neuro-muscular
disease. Over the past decade, she has experienced problems
with her vision, muscle coordination and the daily consciousness of
living "less able". But while Mae has had to slow
down her busy schedule, she continues with her successful painting
career and with her LITA involvement. She serves as an advisor
to LITA in Sonoma, and recently volunteered as a LITA coordinator in
a local hospital. Mae also financially supports LITA by
donating some of her artwork to be sold at LITA fund-raisers.
Her plans for the future include LITA, exhibiting new artworks and
writing more poetry.
Read Mae Wygant's extended biography
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ALICE
YARISH
Business & Professions
1990
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Alice Yarish has always loved to write. She wrote for various
publications throughout high school, college and law school.
During the Olympic Games held in Los Angeles in the summer of 1932,
Alice reported on the women's competitive events. Eventually
moving to Marin, she began to cover the courts, prisons and other
aspects of the criminal justice system. Writing about some of
the most famous Marin trials in recent history, Alice distinguished
herself as a champion for social justice and a talented investigative
reporter.
Earning the trust of many San Quentin inmates,
she was able to explain to the reading public the trouble that some
prisoners faced and what life was really like inside a maximum security
prison. Her advocacy on their behalf continued to build her
reputation as a fighter for social justice. Alice also wrote
about the local political scene, the policies of local law enforcement
departments and was responsible for uncovering questionable practices.
Her trademark was to "stick up for the people who couldn't
speak up for themselves". Her life has had many rewards,
among them meeting several U.S. President, diplomats, famous artists
and musicians. She is also the proud founder of Marin Advocates
for Justice. She has served on many boards of local organizations
and was on the county's Adult Criminal Justice Commission for two
terms.
Read Alice Yarish's extended biography
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