From the Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE – A member of the Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club has received a prestigious award from Rotary International.
Mary Sanspree won Rotary International’s (RI) “Service Above Self” award. The award recognizes Rotarians who demonstrate their motto of “service above self” by volunteering to help others. The award is internationally competitive and is granted to no more than 150 Rotarians worldwide annually.
Sanspree was the second woman in the district to become a district governor (DG). Afterwards, she served in all other past DG roles within the district.
She has been very active in the District’s Boiling ‘n Bragging, a district-wide fundraising event and has served as chair or co-chair of the event since 2016. Since 2009, over $1.3M has been raised by the event.
Sanspree served as District 6860’s representative on Rotary’s council on legislation from 2018-21. She chaired the Rotary Interact committee from 2009 to 2018 and oversaw the significant growth and vitality of the Interact program. Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills.
Sanspress was the district grants coordinator from 2002 to 2006. She was instrumental in her local club in establishing a joint club interest in assessing and serving the people of Jamaica, which resulted in an award-winning service project over a 5-year period of educating hundreds of visually-impaired adults and children and the delivery of over 150 Braillers for Jamaican people.
Other areas of Sanpree’s service include: Helen Keller Birthplace Foundation Board, Shelby Council Arts Council Board President, Project Headstart of Alabama,United Methodist Church of North Alabama Conference, Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church and the UAB School of Optometry Dean’s Strategic Advisory Board.