UCM Heritage Circle Celebrates Generations of Service

United Community Ministries (UCM) recently welcomed two families to its UCM Heritage Circle, a new donor recognition category that honors families who for more than one generation have supported UCM in significant ways. Read the full UCM press release here at the UCM Newsroom >>

“The UCM Heritage Circle is our way to appreciate caring families in our community, who by their example inspire many other families to volunteer and to support UCM,” said UCM Deputy Executive Director Elizabeth McNally. "UCM is dedicated to empowering, educating, and uplifting people in need by connecting them with people who can help -- that's what our tag line “The Heart of Community’ is all about. We empower people both by providing our direct services to people who need them, and just as important, by providing people with an opportunity to help their neighbors who are struggling."

The 2016 UCM Heritage Circle families are:

The Krizek Family

(Left photo: At the June 5 ceremony, Addy and Gene Krizek (seated) are pictured with their son Paul Krizek (at right), with his daughter Khloe Krizek, and wife Tracey Navratil, along with UCM Board Vice Chair Janet Heddesheimer (in red).

Addy and Gene lived here in Mount Vernon in the Hollin Hills neighborhood raising their family and now reside at Montebello. After a career of distinguished military and government service in Washington and abroad, Gene co-founded the charity Christian Relief Services Charities (CRS), based in Alexandria, with his wife Addy in 1985. Their compassion for the disadvantaged and their zest for philanthropy extended to United Community Ministries. By that time in the 1980s Addy was working at UCM as Director of Development. Addy served on UCM’s Board of Directors in the mid 1990s through 2000. She continues to share her compassion and expertise as an active member of the UCM Emeritus Board of Directors.

The second generation of Krizeks have continued their parents’ legacy of service and compassion. For example, Paul Krizek – elected in 2015 to the Virginia State House as Delegate for the 44th District – is an advocate for his constituents in Richmond, including our most vulnerable community members, to improve the quality of life for all. The third generation of Krizeks includes Paul and Tracey’s daughter Khloe, now a rising sophomore at West Potomac High School. She is continuing the family tradition of service by, for example, volunteering this spring for the annual Mount Vernon “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” Food Drive.

The Shute Family

(Right Photo: UCM Board Vice Chair Janet Heddesheimer (in red) thanks the Bill and Zelda Shute family for their service. From left, Bill Shute, West Potomac High rising senior son Will, wife Zelda, college sophomore daughter Nina, and son Dean (who lives and works in Arizona).)

The Bill and Zelda Shute Family are active members at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where they first became more involved with UCM when their children were young, including volunteering with various Scout projects and with the UCM Holiday Gift Room.

The Shute family has volunteered with and supported UCM’s youth education and community development initiatives for many years. They have supported parents and children at the UCM Creekside Village Community Center, helping with enrichment and tutoring activities. From 5th grade through her senior year of high school, daughter Nina volunteered after school there, interacting with and helping our children with homework and other learning activities. For her Gold Scout Gold Award project in 2013, Nina created and taught the Creekside Village youth a special “Environmental Awareness” project.

For more than six years, Zelda has served on St. Luke’s Outreach Committee to advocate for and support vulnerable families and children. This has included coordinating the annual community Spaghetti Dinner and Rock Against Hunger events, which generate significant proceeds for charities including UCM. In 2010, seeing the need in our Mount Vernon community – especially families struggling to feed their hungry children – Zelda initiated the “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” Mount Vernon Food Drive. This now annual spring collection drive has evolved today to be coordinated by teens at the church with scores of volunteers and thousands of pounds of food and critical funds to stock our Food Pantry. Son Will is leading the 2016 effort. He is also planning his Eagle Scout project, which will benefit our youngest community members at the UCM Early Learning Center.

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United Community Ministries (www.ucmagency.org) mobilizes the power of community to equip, educate, and empower people to measurably improve their lives. For the past 46 years, UCM has provided a vital connection between people in need and the people committed to helping them thrive. Services include:

• Immediate Help. For families and individuals in crisis, UCM provides counseling, food, financial aid, and referrals to other resources.
• Children’s Programs. UCM provides the next generation with essential education and enriching experiences, including full-day early care and learning, new parent education, and after-school programs for youth leadership development and computer access.
• Adult Education. UCM helps immigrant adults integrate into the community and contribute to and share in its economic growth through financial literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL) and citizenship classes.

To learn how you can volunteer to help neighbors in need, visit our Volunteer Webpage -- then sign up for an orientation session! For questions, email Emily Griffin, UCM Volunteer Coordinator, at emily.griffin@ucmagency.org.

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