Out of 200 nominees and organizations, one stood out--University Place's Peace Out, Inc.
The non-profit teen volunteer group was awarded a big check for $5,000 last night from Brotherton Cadillac in Renton when CEO Michelle McLean was voted Community Champion of the Year. Way to go!
Peace Out, Inc. was selected from a pool of 200 nominees to be featured in a 10-minute documentary film profiling their group, with the help of a volunteer professional screenwriter-- a special contest affiliated with the Seattle International Film Festival. (Read previous coverage on UP Patch.) KOMO News streamed 12 videos on their website and viewers voted Peace Out's video as one of the top three.
Last night, the three finalists were invited to a special SIFF screening event at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center, where Brotherton Cadillac announced the winner--Peace Out!
McLean, the group's CEO, is proud of her brood of teens making a huge impact in the community. She told Patch that the organization plans to donate $1,000 of the $5,000 prize to the Billy Ray Shirley III Foundation, honoring the 17 year-old young Peace Out volunteer and homicide victim stolen from the community too soon.
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