United Way of Becker County Honors Local Heroes

Mackenzie Hamm accepts the Community Spirit Award at the 2021 United Way of Becker County Celebration of Heroes Event

DETROIT LAKES (KDLM) – Local heroes were honored, Thursday during the United Way of Becker County’s Celebration of Heroes event at the Holmes Ballroom.

After cancelling 2020s event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 event honored ‘Everyday Heroes’ that display selfless acts of kindness, compassion and dedication.

“Heroes are the backbone of every hometown and represent the essence of the United Way. Everyday Heroes touch our lives each day; making us feel safe, making us feel proud; making our lives better in so many ways,” said, Luann Porter United Way of Becker County Executive Director.

This year’s heroes included:

Mackenzie Hamm, Community Spirit Award

While working in her office at First Lutheran Church on a late Wednesday morning in March 2019 their longtime cook, Dave Johnson, collapsed. He had lost consciousness and wasn’t breathing. Trained in CPR, she took control of the situation and started doing chest compressions on Johnson. She revived him before the ambulance arrived. Because of her actions, Johnson is alive and well today. For her life saving efforts she was awarded the Red Cross Lifesaving Award Certificate of Merit, signed by President Donald Trump. The Certificate of Merit is the highest award given by the American Red Cross. She has since trained her coworkers so they would know what to do in this type of situation.

White Earth Tribal Home Health, Community Spirit Award

White Earth Tribal Home Health is directly responsible for the high vaccination rates in the counties where people were given access to the vaccine. So far 16,548 people have been vaccinated at their clinics.

Terry Eiter, Everyday Hero

Terry helped spearhead reconstruction efforts of Detroit Lakes’ youth baseball facilities to be competitive with those in surrounding communities.

Sydney Porter, Youth Everyday Hero

From the time she was old enough to bake she thought of others. Others who may not have enough food to eat. She decided bake sales and lemonade stands would be a good way to raise money to help feed the hungry. Year after year she raised funds this way and donated the money to organizations such as No Kid Hungry or Food 4 Thought Backpack Program

She has been an inspiration to all around her. She actively seeks out opportunities to help people. She is mature beyond her years and has a heart of gold. She will always be a shining example of unselfishness, humility with a spirit and drive to help others

Dr. Tom Seaworth, Bob & Michelle Harris Memorial Award

He served our country with the 1st Armored Division during Operation Desert Storm as a commissioned 2nd Lt in the US Army. For his efforts, he was awarded the Bronze Star for Heroic and Meritorious achievement. He served on the Detroit Lakes School board for 20 years serving as the board president or vice chair for many years.

He has been the team physician for Laker sports for years. He was integral in helping establish the Sports Medicine program at Detroit Lakes High School.

Those nominating him for this award state “Since moving to Detroit Lakes in 1991 he has shown an endless commitment to this community. He epitomizes the traits of this award -community, compassion and service combined with extraordinary leadership”.