By Staff
Michigan's Children's Trust Fund Board of Directors chose Mark Herman, administrator of Cass County Probable/Family Court, and long time advocate for children, as "Volunteer of the Year" for 2003.
Mark was honored at the Michigan Children's Trust Fund annual Recognition Luncheon and celebration Oct. 13 in Traverse City.
The Trust Fund honors one citizen each year.
Ruth Andrews, a member of the Cass Cass County Youth Council, nominated Mark for this award, stating, "For our council Mark is a volunteer without equal."
Mark has served the cause of children for years and has been president of the Cass County Youth Council and is still a board member.
He was on the Girl Scouts board from 1993 to 1997 and has been a Rotary member since 1993.
He also started the "Christmas is for Children" drive which collects food for needy families and was instrumental in assisting Friends of Child Abuse Prevention (FOCAP) set up its first roof-sit to help stop child abuse.
He has worked with Southwestern Michigan College to set up a matching scholarship fund for recipients of the Youth Council scholarship.
In the 1990s Mark helped secure funding for a teen mother program in the Volinia Alternative Education Program which provided cribs, a refrigerator, changing tables and other supplies so teen mothers could go to school and bring their children with them.
Mark is a relentless volunteer for the community and has participated in every Relay for Life in Cass County since its inception.
His dedication to the cause of children is commendable and his award is well-deserved.