The 2010 White Rose Award honorees are:

• Ursula Bacon, Wilsonville
• Judie Hammerstad, Lake Oswego
• Bonnie Jepsen, Damascus
• Janie Johnson, Roseburg
• Barbara Rice, Portland
• Bianca Paul, Centennial High School – Youth Achievement Award

 Ursula Bacon
Ursula Bacon’s gift is her life story and how she now teaches others how to live life to its fullest despite hardship. Currently best known as the author of Shanghai Diary, a true story about her childhood as a refugee from Nazi Germany, Ursula is an author and inspiring speaker. Ursula and her parents fled Germany in 1939 and landed in Shanghai, China, along with 18,000 other Middle European Jews, before coming to America in 1947.

Judie Hammerstad
Judie Hammerstad served two consecutive terms as Mayor of Lake Oswego beginning in 2001. Credited with revitalizing the city she led for eight years, Judie has shepherded a variety of projects enlivening Lake Oswego’s downtown, parks, streets, neighborhoods, commercial districts and public spaces. She was a founding member of the National Community Streetcar Coalition, member and chair of the Metropolitan Policy Advisory Committee and serves on Oregon’s Task Force on Land Use (Big Look).

Bonnie Jepsen
Bonnie Jepsen’s volunteer activities are extraordinary for their sheer breadth and longevity. The organizations benefiting from Bonnie’s dedication and selflessness include, but are not limited to: Friends of Multnomah Falls (20 years), Friends of the Vista House (23 years) Gresham Historical Society (38 years), Portland Center for the Performing Arts (10 years), Oregon Convention Center (15 years), Fred Meyer Challenge Golf Tournament (7 years), and Western Oregon State Collete (5 years). In addition to this long list, Bonnie was a teacher, guidance counselor, mother of two and grandmother of two.

Janie Johnson
Janie Johnson is a fabulous example of a woman who cares deeply about the community and all of our children. During her 17 years as a middle school counselor she provided students with alarm clocks to get to school on time, warm jackets in winter, shoes, meals, clothing and even rides home. She’s a CASA case worker and also volunteers at Family Development Center, FISH, Mercy Foundation and Fremont Middle School. At 71 years of age she doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.

Barbara Rice
Barbara Rice’s volunteer efforts began in 1964 and have never stopped. For 19 years she’s been dedicated to helping children deal with grief at The Dougy Center by facilitating groups (weekly for 15 years and bi-weekly for 4 years) for children ages 6 -12 who have lost a family member to suicide or murder. For 23 years Barbara’s volunteered time at Hopewell House Hospice helping people of all ages who are terminally ill.

Bianca Paul
Bianca Paul has the honor of being the first to receive the Youth Achievement Award. An honors student at Centennial High School, Bianca’s leadership and community involvement lists are long. She has chaired or co-chaired fundraising and awareness events for March of Dimes, Habitat for Humanity and Make-A-Wish; as well as contributing to efforts for blood drives, clothing drives and more.  

These exceptional women will be honored by the Greater Oregon Chapter of March of Dimes at the White Rose Luncheon on May 27, 2010.  This salute to Oregon’s women of achievement will be held at the Portland Marriott Downtown, 1401 SW Naito Parkway, at noon.  Individual seats are $75 each and tables are available. For more information or to make reservations click here  or call Jill Brown at 503.222.9434 or email jbrown@marchofdimes.com.