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Red Cross' Edwards Wins Gladys McCoy Award
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Kathleen Todd, Multnomah County
 
April 20, 2009
Antoinette Edwards is the fifteenth winner of the Gladys McCoy Award for lifetime volunteer achievement. Ms. Edwards has spent her lifetime engaged in community activism. The presentation of the award to Antoinette will be in conjunction with the 2009 Multnomah County Volunteer Awards scheduled for Monday, April 27th at 4:45 pm in the Multnomah County Commissioners’ Boardroom, 501 SE Hawthorne, Portland, Oregon.

“Ms. Edwards is a very worthy recipient of the Gladys McCoy Award,” said Brad McLean, Chair of the Multnomah County Citizen Involvement Committee (CIC), which makes the award each year to an outstanding nominee who has given exemplary time and service to the County community.

Antoinette is a tireless and passionate worker who has spent the past 20 years reaching out to the most vulnerable populations in our community. She typically has several projects going at any one time. Active is not a sufficient word to describe her commitment. Tenacious would be more appropriate. For example while stationed at Columbia Villa Resource Center she managed 21 on-site community groups aligning and coordinating services for low-income families. Antoinette also developed English as a second language classes to meet the needs of Russian, Asian, and Spanish speaking residents. Other projects include: the Jefferson Family Resource Center, Girls Empowerment Groups throughout NE Portland, the “Sister, I’m Sorry” discussion groups, and numerous Grandparent support groups to name a few.

Never shy or bashful, Ms. Edwards brings such enthusiasm and drive to succeed to each project she undertakes that one cannot help but admire her spirit to overcome any obstacle to succeed for low income and at risk families. This spirit was recognized in 2007 with her inclusion on the Women Making History in Portland Mural located on North Interstate. Antoinette is currently the Diversity Director for the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross and serves on numerous community boards.

The Gladys McCoy Award was established in 1994 to honor those who have given outstanding service in the area of community service and citizen involvement. Ms. Edwards certainly fits that criterion both through example and legacy. Antoinette’s name will appear on a plaque with past winners on permanent display in the Multnomah County Chair’s Office.