Congratulations to one of our very own, Maria Koh from the Community Leaders Program class of 2008, for receiving the 2012 Washington State Jefferson Awards.
Maria’s distinguished career at the University of Washington Medical Center as a hospital and clinic nutritionist led to the development of cutting-edge education for health providers and consumers. Early on, she began to extend the reach of her workplace into volunteer work and has made an important difference for children, elderly and new immigrants to this community. Maria has worked with organizations including the NW Kidney Center, Chinese Information Service Center, REACH, Kin-On Nursing Home and the American Diabetes Association. Her many contributions include but are not limited to coordinating other volunteers, advocating for appropriate and culturally relevant outreach in at risk communities, and raising money to build facilities and start or maintain underfunded programs. She has also developed special programs to reach Asian immigrants through her volunteer work with the Seattle School Board, and the Seattle Public Library. For more than 35 years, she has quietly but aggressively helped shape the Seattle community. Her contributions have made a positive difference to the health and well-being of individuals and communities.
The 2012 Washington State Jefferson Awards winners will be featured on KING 5’s Evening Magazine on March 12. Be sure to tune in or stream online at KING5.com and vote for who you think should represent our state at the National Jefferson Awards. Washington State residents can vote online March 12-16 at KING5.com.