Denver — Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019 — Today, Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera presented the 2019 Governor’s Service Awards. The awards are presented in recognition and appreciation to individuals, community and civic leaders for their outstanding contributions to volunteer service in Colorado.
“Service comes in many forms, and we thank all of today’s award recipients for their tireless service to our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera. “These Coloradans inspire us all to make a difference in our community.”
The Governor’s Service Awards are presented by Serve Colorado, the Governor’s Commission on Community Service. Serve Colorado promotes community service throughout the state to build a culture of citizenship, service, and individual responsibility. Colorado Governors, current and past, recognize the importance of all Coloradans in solving statewide issues, and for the past 20 years have honored volunteers who have made a profound impact in their communities. One of the ten recipients was “Hammer”, our very Maryhannah Throm of Rifle.
Tuesday she is out delivering meals on wheels and Wednesday she is at Rifle Heritage Museum recounting history in the classic “Maryhannah style” we have all come to know and love. Some might call it snarky…I call it authentic and real. Hammer herself embodies nine decades of volunteering and history and loves to talk about any of those eras. Locals call her Hammer because 92 year old Maryhannah Hansen Throm knows how to get things done. This year she has received the honor of the 2019 Governor’s Service Volunteer Award. Receiving that award at the Carriage House of the Governor’s Mansion, she thanked Grand River Meals on Wheels and the many for the part they play and said, “it makes me feel good to bring them a meal”
For over 28 years, Maryhannah has delivered for Grand River Meals on Wheels, even though she is older than 90% of the clients she delivers meals to. When asked why she still delivers meals, she says – with a wry smile, “Because I can!” Her spunky and pioneering spirit is an inspiration to me and many others, in fact “this is who I would like to be when I grow up”. Beyond her current commitment to Grand River Meals on Wheels, Maryhannah has been an inspiration to many with her 92 plus years of giving back to the western slope of Colorado from LIFTUP to Girl Scouts, 4-H, Rifle Historical Society, to the United Methodist/Presbyterian Church, as she still approaches life with the adage: “Because I Can”.
Now Maryhannah’s inspirational volunteer story extends to the state level where she received the 2019 Governor’s Service Volunteer Award Thursday, August 29th at an exciting ceremony, surrounded by the nine other volunteers of the year who ranged from Ameri- to Peace- to Senior -Corps throughout the great state of Colorado. For nearly a century, Maryhannah Throm continues to be an encouragement to many as she imparts and embodies her own volunteering advice: “do it when you can, do it with a smile, enjoy the people who are with you doing it and the people [you serve]”. The pioneering spirit of Maryhannah comes through even today in the twenty-first century. Now the “Hammer” strikes again as she brings home state accolades as well. Well done, Maryhannah!
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Photos by Dee Warwick:
1. Throm receiving 2019 Governor’s Service Award with Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera with share a light moment outside the Governor’s Carriage House.
2. Throm and Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera share a light moment outside the Governor’s Carriage House yesterday after the award ceremony.
For a complete press release of the Denver based event, see: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/servecolorado/2019-gsa-recipients
