ST. GEORGE — A Cedar City resident and two Southern Utah-based organizations were recognized by Gov. Spencer Cox during the second annual Governor’s Spirit of Service Awards at the Utah State Capital on Thursday morning.
The winners of this year’s awards were selected from hundreds of nominations submitted to the Governor’s Office earlier this year. Recipients include four individuals and four groups from across the state who Cox called “amazing examples of why Utah leads the nation in volunteerism and service.”
Among those honored by the governor were Mary Ann Anderson of Cedar City and Washington County-based nonprofits Switchpoint Community Resource Center and Friends of Snow Canyon.
“I am honored to pay them tribute and recognize the good they are doing in our great state,” Cox said.
For those attending the event, short videos were played that detailed the service an individual or group had provided to the community. For those recipients unable to attend the award ceremony, Cox read a short statement detailing their background and why they were being honored.
While Anderson and representatives for the Friends of Snow Canyon were among those unable to attend the ceremony in person, Carol Hollowell, the CEO and founder of Switchpoint, was present and received the award on behalf of the resource center.
“(The) Switchpoint Community Resource Center is a stepping stone for individuals experiencing homelessness,” a statement from the Governor’s Office reads. “Switchpoint CEO Carol Hollowell created Switchpoint eight years ago, collaborating with the city of St. George, to open a 24/7 homeless shelter. Since then, Switchpoint services have expanded from Washington County to Tooele and Salt Lake counties.”
A short video of Hollowell explaining the origins and growth of Switchpoint was then played.
“The main goal is ending poverty,” Hollowell said. “And you can do that in all kinds of ways. We’re really good at identifying gaps and then figuring out a way to solve that gap.”
Switchpoint was designed to be a one-stop shop of sorts for the homeless and those in need by bringing together several state agencies and nonprofits under one roof. Since its opening, Switchpoint has also expanded to create businesses that help train and support resource center clients, while also helping fund the nonprofit’s various programs. It has also created affordable housing space for those in need in the St. George area.
The Friends of Snow Canyon is a nonprofit established in 2011 to support the mission of Snow Canyon State Park.
The Friends contributed over 2,700 volunteer hours to the state park through various projects. Among those are education programs and monitoring the park’s 38-plus miles of trails through its Trail Stewards program. They also have engaged in trail restoration, the control of invasive species and graffiti removal.
“As recreation continues to blossom throughout the state, Friends of Snow Canyon recognizes the value of protecting and promoting outdoor spaces and the connection between healthy, accessible landscapes and spending time outdoors,” the governor said.
Anderson was recognized for her devotion to building the arts community in Cedar City. She has chaired the Cedar City Arts Council mini-grant committee for 15 years, while also chairing the Arts Council’s Literary Book Group. She has also taught piano to countless students at Southern Utah University and in the community, serves on the Cedar City Musical Arts Board and writes a column for the Iron County Today.
“Her service involves countless hours and dedication to making the arts flourish in Cedar City,” Cox said.
Other recipients of the Governor’s Spirit of Service Award include:
Jared Quan
Quan is a writer, mentor and advocate who has served as a volunteer for numerous events and organizations including the president of the League of Utah Writers, board member of the Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan, grants director of the Eagle Mountain Arts Alliance, executive director of Big World Network, chair of the West Jordan Arts Council, member of the Utah Poet Laureate Selection Committee, recruiting chair of the Association of IT Professional Utah Chapter and others.
Jill Anderson
Anderson, the CEO of Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse, has dedicated her career to providing vital support and resources to survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse in northern Utah. Under her leadership, CAPSA has grown from a small one-home shelter to the leading domestic violence and sexual abuse support center in the state.
Stephanie Benally
As the Native American specialist for Utah Foster Care, Benally led the development of Utah’s first statewide Native American foster care recruitment and retention plan. In addition, she launched the Cedar Project, a resource available for Native children in foster care to receive cultural information and support. She works with local and national media outlets to increase awareness about maintaining cultural connectivity for foster kids in the Native American community.
Alianza Venezolana de Utah
This organization was formed in 2018 to help Venezuelan immigrants resettle in Utah. They provide humanitarian help, develop programs for Venezuelans arriving in Utah, and have networked with local and federal leaders to help Venezuelans be law-abiding residents and find opportunities for them to achieve the American dream.
Wasatch Wanderers Animal Rescue
This nonprofit actively rescues farm animals that have been abandoned, neglected, and abused. There are limited resources for many domestic farm animals such as geese and ducks.
St. George News reporter CHRIS REED contributed to this story.
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