Heifer Foundation Announces 2004 Dan West Fellow Award
Throughout his life and as Heifer International's founder, Dan West maintained a deep commitment to helping the poor, hungry and those in the margin of the world. His vision guides this organization and speaks to the simplest and most basic principle of charity - helping people to help themselves.
In his honor, Heifer Foundation has
established the Dan West Fellow Award to honor those
who have given of themselves to help the less fortunate
of the world. Each year, the Foundation's Trustee
Emeriti choose one outstanding leader to be recognized
as a Dan West Fellow. It is my honor to announce the
2004 Dan West Fellow Award, Marvel Lund.
Whenever Marvel Lund sends a card or letter, she always
signs her name with a heart. This isn't so unusual
for someone who puts her heart in everything she does.
Marvel not only has heart, she also has energy and
enthusiasm for helping others that marks her as one
of Heifer's greatest allies.
Marvel served on the Foundation's Board of Trustees
for six years and is a member of the
Sacramento Heifer Committee. Marvel's husband, Hal,
owner of his own automotive business and Indianapolis
500 mechanic, was one of the Heifer cowboys who delivered
livestock by boat to various countries. He also participated
in the last shipment of heifers to Korea.
The Lunds have always been a great resource for new ideas to raise awareness and support for Heifer. Having been a long-time member of the Ben Ali Shriner's Temple, Hal was a contributor to the Shriner's One Hundred Million Dollar Club, which funds the many Shriner children's hospitals. The idea behind such a club is that anyone can join at any giving level to build the funds to $100,000,000. Hal and Marvel decided that Heifer Foundation would benefit from a similar program to increase its endowment, which undergirds the work of Heifer International. As Marvel likes to say, "A little added to a little makes a lot."
Heifer Foundation's Board of Trustees recently set
a goal to increase the total Foundation assets to
$100 million by 2010. As a tribute to Hal Lund, who
passed away in 1995, Heifer Foundation
has introduced its own One Hundred Million Dollar
Club. The club was officially launched last November
with a generous gift from Marvel Lund. She and Heifer
Foundation hope that, not only will the club be a
means to reach the 2010 goal of $100 million, but
it will also enable everyone to help in the fight
to end hunger and poverty worldwide. Marvel is very
active in recruiting new members for, and honoring
friends and acquaintances with membership in to the
club. With supporters like Marvel, the Foundation
will reach, and hopefully exceed, its 2010 goal. In just more than a year, this club has grown over 1,000+
members and totals almost $700,000. Thank you Marvel
for all you have done and your continued love and
support!
In honor of Marvel, $1,000 will be added to the Dan
West Education Endowment, which is used to educate
the public about the root causes of hunger and poverty.
It was my honor to present Marvel with a special plaque
at the January 20 meeting of the Trustee Emeriti Meeting
in Sacramento. Her name will be placed on the Dan
West Fellow Roster displayed at Heifer Foundation headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas.
To be named a Dan West Fellow is to be recognized
for contributing to a better world through humanitarian
efforts.
