United Way honors generous spirits in county who help those in need

It's called Annie's Kitchen. Each Wednesday, the fellowship hall at Edmonds Lutheran Church opens its doors to host a hot dinner. All are welcome -- homeless and hungry people, church members and neighbors.

The dinners are organized by Annie Fortnum. Since 2004, the Lynnwood woman has overseen the cooking and serving of hearty meals. Those dinners wouldn't be possible without the help of Bob Snyder. He runs a gleaning program that gathers thousands of pounds of food from area grocers each week.

Fortnum and Snyder were among several community-minded people and organizations honored Friday at the United Way's Spirit of Snohomish County Breakfast.

The 80-year-old Fortnum said Friday that it takes almost 40 volunteers to put on a dinner. About 125 people come for dinner each Wednesday. "With the gleaning, we don't buy much of anything," she said, crediting Snyder for also helping area food banks.

Winners of the Spirit Awards, presented annually by United Way of Snohomish County, were announced at the Tulalip Resort Casino. Friday's breakfast included a keynote speech by Manuel Scott. His experience as a once "unteachable" teen is part of the plot in the 2007 movie "Freedom Writers."

Below are the awards presented Friday:

Spirit of Snohomish County Adult Awards: Annie Fortnum, organizer of Annie's Kitchen, and Bob Snyder, whose gleaning program provides food for the Edmonds meal program.

Reeves/Sievers Founders' Award: Matt Reinhard, whose former business Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. (now AMT, a Division of Senior Operations, LLC) began a United Way campaign that has grown to contribute more than $100,000 annually.

Reinhard was chairman of United Way's 2009 fundraising campaign, has been a United Way board chairman, and now holds the title of Tocqueville chair. He has also led the YMCA of Snohomish County's Invest in Youth Campaign. The award is named for J.A. Reeves and Roy Sievers. In 1940, they led the formation of the Everett Community Chest, a predecessor of United Way of Snohomish County.

Spirit of Snohomish County Youth Award: Courtney Creech, 19, a Kamiak High School graduate and freshman at University of Idaho, volunteered on the United Way's Kids Matter Vision Council for four years. She helped United Way launch a Marysville Kids Matter initiative. The Mukilteo teen has been a peer mentor and a member of Cascade Youth Symphony.

Spirit of Labor Award: Christopher Louie, an employee of the Boeing Co. and of IAM 751, volunteered more than 300 hours in the past year. He recently received a President's Service Award. He has helped the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound, Books and Backpacks, the mail carrier food drive, United Way's Days of Caring and many other organizations.

Spirit of Snohomish County Community Partner Awards: The YMCA of Snohomish County and Philips Healthcare.

Scott Washburn is president and CEO of the Y, which was recognized with a partnership award for joining with Catholic Community Services and United Way to bring young people together for volunteer projects on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

Conrad Smits is general manager of Philips Healthcare, recognized for its employees' many hours of volunteering. In the past year, more than 375 Philips Healthcare workers have been given time off to help at Cocoon House, Sherwood Community Services, the YWCA, Housing Hope and other nonprofit agencies.

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; muhlstein@heraldnet.com.