Eleven Who Care honorees announced for 2011

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - The Eleven Who Care program was created 27 years ago to recognize the outstanding volunteers that serve our community.

Each year hundreds of volunteers are nominated for the award and the Eleven Who Care Board of Governors select the eleven to be honored. The honorees represent the variety of opportunities available in our community. They truly exemplify the belief that one person can make a difference.

The 2011 Eleven Who Care honorees are:

• Tony Caponi - Founder and Artistic Director of Caponi Art Park and Learning Center in Eagan.
• Ben Christenson - Mentor through Big Brother Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities.
• Joan Donner - Co-founder of F.I.S.H. (Friends in Service to Humanity) and volunteer coordinator at the Mora Food Bank.
• Karen Good - Director of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue.
• Kathy Hult - Volunteer with the ALS Association & Helping Paws.
• Jeff Matt - Key supporter of Free to Be, Inc. in Anoka County. 
• Susie Miller - Founder of Minnesota Special Hockey.
• Richard Proudfit - Founder of Kids Against Hunger. 
• Father Bernard Reiser - Created Reiser Relief, Inc. to help the people of Haiti. 
• Margie Sborov - Founder of Angel Foundation.
• Irene Thiele - Known at the Minnesota Teen Challenge as "the Cookie Lady."

Viewers will have the opportunity to meet a different Eleven Who Care honoree each month on various KARE 11 News programs and on kare11.com.

The members of the 2011 Board of Governors are:

• Brad Hewitt - President & CEO; Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
• Bill Lentsch - Sr. Vice President, Minnesota Operations; Delta Air Lines, Inc.
• John Remes - President & General Manager; KARE 11
• Kristen Schurrer - Executive Director; Hands On Twin Cities
• Michael Tattersfield - President & CEO; Caribou Coffee
• Mandy Whiteside - Community Relations; KARE 11

Nominations are being accepted for the 2012 group of Eleven Who Care honorees. If you know of an outstanding volunteer, consider nominating them for this award. Download the nomination form today.

(Copyright 2011 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)