Voice
of UW radiothon honored with media service award
By KATHERINE CUMMINS
The Fulton Sun
 |
|
After 21
years of donating -- as he would say -- his time, talent
and treasure to the United Way, Diedriech was honored
with the Kevin Ryan Memorial Award on Oct. 9th.
(KATHERINE CUMMINS/Fulton Sun photo) |
|
His voice is familiar to
anyone who has listened to the Callaway County United Way Radiothon for
the past 10 years, but not many know that most of Dan Diedriech's work
is done behind the scenes.
After 21 years of donating -- as
he would say -- his time, talent and treasure to the United Way,
Diedriech was honored with the Kevin Ryan Memorial Award on Oct. 9th.
"Dan has been on the United Way board for longer than I've been
director, he's always done the majority of our public relations pieces,
he's been the voice of the radiothon for 10 years," said Callaway United
Way Executive Director Kathy Richey Liddle. "We decided it was time he
be recognized for his efforts."
Diedriech, who has announced the winners of the Kevin Ryan Memorial
Award -- Ryan, a dedicated United Way volunteer, died of scleroderma in
July 2005 -- in the past had no idea he was this year's recipient.
"They kept it a secret quite well --they told me it was someone else,"
Diedriech said. "I noticed (the day of the radiothon) they had changed
the format on me, and when they said, 'This person was born in 1955,' I
thought I didn't think this person was that old.
"Then they said, 'This person was a graduate of the University of
Missouri and worked at Channel 12,' and I thought, 'Well, I should know
this person.'"
Once he realized he did indeed know who that person was, Diedriech said
he was shocked.
With the list of ways he has
been involved with the organization over the past two decades in both
Jefferson City and Callaway County, perhaps he should not have been.
Diedriech has done everything from volunteering on the communications
committee to delivering meals to serving as president for the Callaway
County United Way board.
He said he has enjoyed the opportunity to make an impact in so many
different ways.
"I get to interact with so many different people," Diedriech said. "For
example, I've talked to so many battered women who talk about how much
the Coalition Against Rape and Domestic Violence has helped them, I've
met homeless people who have been helped by Wiley House, I've delivered
meals, I've seen all these wonderful things United Way does."
Asked why he has devoted so much of his own time and resources to the
organization, he cited that broad range of influence.
"For me, it means so much more when you can donate your time, talent and
treasure to one organization that cuts such a wide swath through the
community," Diedriech said. "They reach so many people."
He said he also likes that United Way gets area youth actively involved
in community service.
"Every year, my favorite part is the penny drive at the five county
schools -- they raise $10,000 a year," Diedriech said. "Not only are
they raising money for a good cause, you're developing within them a
sense of caring and giving."
Although he was honored to receive the award, Diedriech said he gets
more out of his work with United Way than he puts into it.
"It's tremendously rewarding," he said. "I benefit far more than the
people I'm helping." |
