2010 Look Who’s Getting it Done Winner – Elizabeth DeRuvo

This year, I received 5 nominations, all of which were outstanding. One stood out as exemplifying the kind of spirit mixed with compassion and selflessness that will get us through hard times. The 2010 winner of the Look Who's Getting It Done Award is Elizabeth DeRuvo.

Elizabeth is a second grader at Pleasant Valley School. Last year she asked her mother what homeless people do to keep warm. Her mother replied that if they're lucky they can find a shelter, but if not, they have to sleep outside.

The next morning Elizabeth went through the hall closets and gathered a dozen extra blankets and passed them out to homeless people in Novato. She was particularly inspired when she later she saw a woman keeping warm with one of the blankets they handed out draped over her shoulders.

This year, Elizabeth has expanded her program by asking friends, family, classmates and neighbors to donate items to what she has named: Operation Warm Winter. She mailed requests letters to friends and family and donations came in from as far away as Sacramento.

A "sorting" party was held at the DeRuvo's house. Volunteers assembled 25 personal care packages, each containing a blanket, socks, hat, gloves and a scarf. Elizabeth and her family personally delivered the care packages to homeless people they saw while driving around Novato, as well as bundles of care packages to local organizations helping the homeless. Their efforts have not ended there. They are always are sure to keep a basket in the back of their car with warm items that they can continue to distribute as they see people in need.

Elizabeth's efforts have been recognized by a national non-profit called "Kids Are Heroes", http://www.kidsareheroes.org where she was selected as one of 150 world-wide child heroes. In addition, a national talk show, the Nate Berkus show, heard about Elizabeth's Operation Warm Winter project and she and her mother are flying to New York where Elizabeth will be featured on the show.

I invited Elizabeth to a Board of Supervisors Meeting on January 4 to introduce her to my colleagues and the County family - and to present her with the award. (You can watch the video on the County website, http://www.co.marin.ca.us. Look in the Meeting Archive on the Board of Supervisor's webpage). When presented with the award, Elizabeth replied, "I am proud of myself!" We are proud of you too Elizabeth. Keep up the good work!

If you want to make a donation or help with Operation Warm Winter, e-mail Julie DeRuvo at operationwarmwinter@gmail.com.

Congratulations Elizabeth for being such a wonderful example of the season of giving, and the resolution to do better for the less fortunate in our community in the New Year.