The afternoon of Sunday, October 26, was filled with awards, honors and passion as Help End Abuse for Life (HEAL) held their annual Heroes with Heart Awards Gala at the old Mt. Annie’s (the new Foot of the Cross Church). Each award ceremony honors those who have gone above and beyond to make a difference throughout Lincoln County & Mescalero. The heroes were nominated by fellow community members who have seen their work first hand.
HEAL board president Julie Gilliland began the event with a heartfelt prayer and acknowledgement of veterans who are each heroes to our country. Harvey Twite, radio personality from KEDU radio station, served as master of ceremonies for this popular annual event.
Fifteen recipients were awarded a framed letter of congratulations penned by New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez and a hand-crafted HEAL Hero medal made by Hondo artist, Alice Warder Seely.
This year’s heroes were: Lee Ann Myers, a primary school teacher, Judith Howard, a volunteer for the Nest, Suzanne Dennehy, local Certified Nurse Practitioner, Jerry Salas, Feed America advocate, Dr. Leslie Sagara-Keller, volunteer with Ruidoso Municipal schools, the Rotary Club of Ruidoso, Bobbie Brister, community helper, Frank Cannella, retired educator and disaster relief volunteer, Tonya Huber, owner of Coyote Howling and Feed the Starving Children advocate, Gary and Dana Woodward, locals who provide housing for those in need, Josie Powell, all around community volunteer, Arthur Hoopes, long-time volunteer of On Scene Support Services to several fire departments and fire fighters and Tim Coughlin, Boys and Girls Club Executive Director.
The ceremony concluded with three special awards given to HEAL staff members.
Nest advocate Corina Montoya won the 2014 HEAL Advocate Hero with Heart award for the second year in a row. Montoya’s award was chosen based on nominations given by her peers at the shelter and Sweet Charity. According to Montoya, “I feel honored to work with our clients and I love the people I work with. The most rewarding part is seeing clients have their hopes and dreams come true with their hard work. I am blessed to be a part of that process.”
The HEAL Board of Directors through its’ Treasurer, Rick Hutchison, ended the awards gala with a surprise award to two very special employees, Kathryn Walker and Marcia King, who have worked with HEAL, The Nest and Sweet Charity since the Fall of 2007.
The Heroes mingled after the event, taking pictures with their families. Tonya Huber said she was honored and thanked those who have helped her with her cause. “I would be unjust in not honoring the now thousands of people who have been engaged in the Coyote Howling Feed My Starving Children Mobile Pack mission,” Huber said. “The award is both a challenge to live up to and an opportunity to shout out some of the amazing aspects of a mission that now envelopes life-sustaining meals for children,” Huber said. “I have the privilege to work with an extraordinary core leadership team of volunteers.”
Tim Coughlin said his award was a surprise. “Just as with the rest of the recipients, we do it from the heart and don’t expect the award. My passion is the children. It lets me show those children that even though I came from a divorced family without a lot of money, with hard work and perseverance anyone can succeed. Hopefully the work I do along with the rest of the staff at the Boys & Girls Club will make a difference in their lives,” Coughlin said.
HEAL extends congratulations to these outstanding individuals who make our community a better place to live.