Minoru Yasui was most well-known for his courageous stand against military orders that resulted in the forced removal and imprisonment of over 110,000 persons of Japanese ancestry during World War II, but his entire life was committed to the defense of human and civil rights, and justice for all.
Eight recipients throughout the year receive the Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer award, due to their stellar contributions in the spirit of Minoru Yasui’s vision and commitment. Values include Vision, Integrity, Passion, Courge, Perseverance, Advocacy, Inclusion and Compassion.
A program of the Denver Foundation, the Minoru Yasui award recipients are honored each year-end with a presentation and celebration, which this year was at the Marriott Denver Tech Center on Monday, December 7.
The 2015 recipients are:
- January: Frank Doerger
- March: Sheila Benintendi
- April: Deana Lehman
- May: Vikki Stevens
- June: Dick Wisott
- August: Janis Mourer
- September: Gary VanderArk
- October: Abelardo “Abe” Herrera
The program was supplemented by some angelic songs by Denver’s First Lady Mary Louise Lee. Awards were bestowed on recipients by Derek Okubo, Minoru Yasui’s successor and Executive Director of the Human Rights & Community Partnerships for the City and County of Denver, and Committee Chair Jaclyn Wilmot.
Congratulations to all recipients and thanks to them for all of their volunteer work.
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- Jason Weston and Mary Ann Burdick
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- Cindy Piggott, Liz Kirkpatrick, honoree Janis Mourer, Joyce Coville, Susan Hale and Mary Sue Pleune
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- Committee Chair Jaclyn Wilmot and Jackie Norris
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- Committee members Sharon Bishop, left, Gerie Grimes, Sherrye Berger, Jean Kerr, Brenda Vasquez, Jaclyn Wilmot, Rebecca Peralta, Darlene Silver, Cherrelyn Napue, Marques Ivy and Debra Hindin-King
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- Betsy Carr, left, Jackie Norris and Cherrelyn Napue
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- Raymond King, Carol Lingenfelter, Becky Demcovitz, Bill Himmelmann and Jessie Holt
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- Naomi and Dick Wisott (honoree)
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- Mark Julian and honoree Deana Lehman
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- Honoree Frank Doerger shakes the hand of Laurence DeMuth, a past honoree
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- Mary Margaret Wright, left, Susan Hudson, LIza Kirkpatrick and Nancy Jacobson
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- Emma Diera, Julitza Herrera, Ivan Herrera, Brian Reyes Herrera, Avery Herrera and honoree Abe Herrera
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- Julie Gart and Brad Bawmann
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- Patricia Kelly, left, Jean Tutulo and Sandra Hall
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- Honoree Vikki Stevens, left, and Laurie Peterson
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- Tonya Davis and Mary Louise Lee
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- Darlene Silver and Liza Kirkpatrick
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- Gerie and Kenneth Grimes
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- Flor Marquez, left, and Melanie Sonseson
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- Gary Steck, left, and Dr. Roosevelt Price
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- Julie Gart, left, Shelly Landaal and Brad Bawmann
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- Steve Kennedy, left, and Eric Eversley
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- Alysha Burney, Daniel Sharkey and Nathan Church
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- Marques Ivey, left, and Todd Pruett
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- Alex Kister, left, Kristy Judd, Jennifer Watson, Elizabeth Norris, Zach Prutch, Jim Havey
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- Michael Vaux and Rosemary Evetts
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- Ellie Greenberg, left, and Kathy Boyle
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- Mary Louise Lee begins the program with “Wake Up Everybody”
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- Mary Louise Lee has an incredible voice
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- Committee Chair Jaclyn Wilmot greets everyone
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- Marriott GM Kathleen Bates thanks everyone for attending
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- Kathleen Bates talks about the Marriott renovation
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- Honoree Dick Wisott with Vonnie Wheeler, director of the Osher LIfelong Learning Institute
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- Derek Okubo talks about the Minoru Yasui history
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- Derek Okubo announced that President Obama will be bestowing the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Minoru Yasui posthumously
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- Derek Okubo, Rebecca Peralta and Jaclyn Wilmot before the awards
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- Frank Doerger joins Derek Okubo, Jaclyn Wilmot and Rebecca Peralta on stage
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- Derek Okubo, Frank Doerger and Jaclyn Wilmot
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- Sheila Benintendi joins Derek Okubo on stage
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- Derek Okubo, Sheila Benintendi and Jaclyn Wilmot
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- Deana Lehman listens to her bio with Derek Okubo
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- Derek Okubo, Deana Lehman and Jaclyn Wilmot
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- Vikki Steven and Derek Okubo on stage
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- Derek Okubo, Vikki Stevens and Jaclyn Wilmot
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- Dick Wisott greets Derek Okubo
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- Derek Okubo, Dick Wisott and Jaclyn Wilmot
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- Derek Okubo, Janis Mourer and Jaclyn Wilmot
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- Dr. Gary VanderArk and Derek Okubo on stage
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- Derek Okubo, Dr. Gary VanderArk and Jaclyn Wilmot
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- Abe Herrera and Derek Okubo before Abe’s award presentation
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- Derek Okubo, Abelardo “Abe” Herrera and Jaclyn Wilmot
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- Recipients are congratulated after their awards
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- Recipients receive applause
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- Cherrelyn Napue gives closing remarks
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- Chair Jaclyn Wilmot passes the torch to Marques Ivey as next year’s chair
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- Values of the Minoru Yasui awards
