NEW ULM - A pair of busy New Ulm residents - Annette Perry and Doug Ladd - received the 2012 Outstanding Senior Citizen Awards Thursday at a Senior Citizens Day program in the New Ulm Civic Center.
Annette Perry
Cited for benefiting the needy in the community and far beyond through the Community and Seniors Together (CAST), Perry was described by Bob Apitz as "helping others in whatever way possible."
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Annette Perry and Doug Ladd received the 2012 Outstanding Senior Citizen Awards Thursday at a Senior Citizens Day program in the New Ulm Civic Center.
Perry solicited donations and recruited people who made dresses and shorts from pillowcases, donated fabrics and notions. The completed clothing was sent to Haiti, Jamaica, India, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and the needy in other countries.
Perry and other volunteers have sewn and distributed hundreds of quilts for Brown County Family Services, Brown County Public Health, hospitals, day care facilities, fire victims, newborns, families in crisis and military personnel deployed in Iraq.
Last year, Perry and her cohorts received the Minnesota Community Education Department Outstanding Project Award for their Little Dresses for Africa and quilting projects.
In an effort to ensure children were not left out, she raised money to pay for milk and juice for needy students who couldn't otherwise pay for it. If she learned of children needing winter clothing, she has raised money to provide it.
Perry worked with the New Ulm Park & Recreation Puppet Wagon, helped provide items to the New Ulm MRCI bargain store, became a People Reaching Out (PRO) mentor and always displayed a bubbly personality, Apitz said.
"She is a fun-loving person that always makes people smile," he added. "She's unselfish, optimistic, compassionate and caring."
Perry said she's had a fun time volunteering and said it created less stress for her too.
Doug Ladd
The first Charter President of the Optimist Club of New Ulm, Ladd was called a mentor for all members. He also offers a wealth of knowledge for the total organization.
The new ideas and programs he introduced include a cheese curd stand that raised more than $9,000 to benefit youth programs last year. A ring toss stand was another project for the club's many fund-raising efforts, Apitz said.
Ladd was cited for his volunteer help with the New Ulm Retail Association Home & Self Improvement Show. He was named the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce 2011 Volunteer of the Year.
"He's not afraid to ask someone if they'd consider getting involved in projects," said Apitz. "He continues to be a promoter to benefit others."
"Many others have helped me achieve what I have," Ladd said. "I've enjoyed the things I've done."
He thanked his late wife Winnie for her support and encouragement. The couple was married for nearly 57 years before she died in June.
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Bert Hammerschmidt received the 2012 Distinguished Service Award for his volunteer work at the Senior Citizens Center.
Brown County Century Farms recognized are operated by James and Cindy Hillesheim, Steve and Kerry Hoffman and Myron and Maria Mohr. The Mohr farm received 150-year status.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).