The winner of the 2024 Anne Banning Leadership Award… our dear friend
Cindy Stone
The Anne Banning Leadership Award is named for the founder of Assistance League who promoted the growth of effective volunteerism through leadership and education. This award recognizes the importance and value of leadership and dedication to Assistance League chapters and is given periodically and only when a strong candidate becomes apparent. It’s actually only been given twice in the history of our chapter.
This award recognizes members who have:
- Served in major leadership roles.
- Led in the creation of a new chapter program or initiative and or in the significant modification of a current chapter program or initiative.
- Demonstrated sustained enthusiasm, guidance and participation in chapter programs and activities.
- Modeled personal commitment to the mission and values of the chapter.
- Represented the chapter mission and values in the community.
In her twenty-two years as a member volunteer of Assistance League of Minneapolis/St. Paul Cindy has been an outstanding leader, handling many challenging situations with grace and skill. She has been committed, involved and demonstrated strong leadership.
She has chaired numerous Philanthropic and Administrative Committees, served on the Thrift Shop Team, been VP Member Development, VP Marketing/Communications, President Elect and President. In addition, she served on the National AL Strategic Planning Committee.
For as long as I can remember she’s served on the Clothes for Kids Committee helping reimagine the leadership team, inventory management and delivery models when needs have changed. Most recently she’s been an important voice in the SPACE Committee putting us on the path to successfully consolidating our operations at Penn SPACE.
In 2022 she stepped up to initiate the Online Thrift Shop and as co-manager worked tirelessly and enthusiastically through many difficult challenges to develop it and to lead us to today’s success story.
She is an excellent communicator and ensures that everyone’s voice is heard and that their contributions are valued. She is a strong motivator recognizing strengths in others and encouraging them to take on new challenges, always in a moment of strength!
Her enthusiasm for Assistance League never flags. She has inspired members, her extended family and her multitalented husband to get involved ensuring that the mission of our chapter is accomplished. She calls attention to our successes and emphasizes the positive.
Cindy has spent countless hours promoting our Chapter and Mission and personally sets an example for others to follow. She demonstrates strategic and critical thinking skills. She is well-spoken, and communicates our mission succinctly as demonstrated by her campaign to have us all memorize and utilize her Assistance League Elevator Speech.
Congratulations, Cindy!