Over 450 people attended the 2023 Difference Makers banquet Thursday night, eager to applaud 10 outstanding local volunteers and raise funds for the Boys & Girls Club of the Heartland.
Volunteering is “the lifeblood of the community,” explained Lucas Edington of Mossy Oak Properties. This was his first year attending Difference Makers.
“Any opportunity we get to come together and support the community... I think that’s a great opportunity,” he said.
Rhonda Hillis of Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home recalled her positive first impressions of the event last year, which were matched by this year’s celebration.
“I was very impressed with the volunteers and the work that they’re doing,” she recalled. “I just think it’s great the Daily American Republic sponsors this, and that the Boys & Girls Club is a great avenue for this year.”
“I think that Difference Makers is such an uplifting event,” added Shannon Midyett, director of the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library. “It’s wonderful to get such positive news. It’s so hard to find good news in the world today, and so being a part of this is always very uplifting for me.”
The 10 finalists were narrowed down from 60 nominations, and from that pool, a winner was chosen. The 2023 Difference Maker of the Year award was presented to Jennie Randolph for her above-and-beyond support of Poplar Bluff students. A full article about her is featured in today’s edition.
Before the award was announced, Randolph expressed her gratitude.
“In our house, we work with so many different programs and community endeavors, and I am so appreciative to be recognized for that work here,” she said.
“Humbled” and “honored” were common sentiments among the other finalists, who had the following words to say about their nominations.
LaDonna Waggoner: “I feel really honored and blessed. God makes all the difference.”
Tasha Buckhanan: “I’m highly honored. I didn’t feel like I deserved it. I feel like I’m just trying to make a difference in the community like anyone else.”
Stacy Barker: “It’s quite the honor and it’s very humbling.”
Greg Gilberto: “I’m just humbled to stand among the winners. Everyone here is a difference maker... I could just cry.”
Bridget Epps: “It’s overwhelming and I’m thankful for opportunities, for all the open doors I get to serve in.”
Cassie King: “It’s awesome. I never thought in a million years I’d be doing something like this. I just wanted to serve the community.”
Donna Gray: “This is one of the happiest days of my life.”
Marc Roderick: “It was just very humbling, and it’s just awesome to be included in this group.”
Patricia Wright: “I feel honored, blessed... It’s a pleasure just to know somebody does recognize (your efforts), especially when it’s your own children (who nominated you.)”
Alongside its community partners, the DAR raised over $7,600 for the Boys & Girls Club of the Heartland through campaign donations, a silent auction, raffles and a 50/50 drawing.
The Boys & Girls Club of the Heartland is an after-school program serving Butler, Stoddard and Ripley counties. Earlier this year the organization announced its expansion into Dunklin and New Madrid counties, as well as the planned construction of a regional teen center in Poplar Bluff.
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