CHAMBER TO HONOR THE LATE BILL MASHAW

The Durango Chamber of Commerce announced today that they will be renaming their annual Volunteer of the Year Award to the BILL MASHAW VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD in recognition of the late Bill Mashaw.

“Bill Mashaw was the epitome of volunteerism, so it is with great pleasure we name this award in his honor” explained Jack Llewellyn, Executive Director of the Durango Chamber of Commerce.  “Bill was a supporter of the Durango Chamber of Commerce and a past winner of the Citizen of the Year award.  He moved to Durango and set the bar extremely high when it came to volunteering.  We are proud to keep Bill’s spirit of volunteerism alive in Durango by honoring a recipient each year with the newly named Bill Mashaw Volunteer of the Year Award.”

Bill Mashaw moved to Durango in 1984 after his retirement as the managing director of the International Hardware Association.  Shortly after his arrival, he founded Big Brothers/Big Sisters which has serviced 2,800 children and families since its founding.  Bill not only was involved in many non profits, but got others involved as well. Durango is a better place because of Bill Mashaw.   Organizations such as the Kiwanis Club of Durango, Adaptive Sports Association, Affordable Housing Task Force, Community Emergency Assistance Coalition, Durango Cowboy Gathering, Fort Lewis College Foundation, FLC Boosters, Habitat for Humanity of La Plata County, It’s About Kids, Volunteers of America Southwest Safehouse and Community Shelter, United Way of Southwest Colorado and Leadership La Plata have all benefited from Bill Mashaw’s leadership.

The Chamber’s Awards Event will be held Thursday, January 14, 2010 at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.