The Heart of Gold award is given in the highest honor in recognition of an individual’s tireless efforts, extraordinary service, dedication, and compassion given to Ronald McDonald House Maine. Named after Karla Prouty, the longest-serving Ronald McDonald House Maine employee and dear friend to many, she truly exemplified what the Heart of Gold Award stands for.
Ronald McDonald House could not operate without the many volunteers who come through these doors day in and day out. Each year, we take on the difficult task of identifying just a few of the special volunteers of the House.
1995: Joseph R. Foley
1996: Betty Lewis
1999: Meredith Strang Burgess
2001: Rod Irish, Bruce Leddy, Susan B. Soule
2002: Richard McCoy
2004: Polly Larned, Maine Medical Center, Thomas Newman, Margaret Nygren
2005: Steve Goble; Relay Team Ride Group: Heather Carteton, Karl Geib, John Halpin, Lorraine Jordan, Dan Knight; Dean Mazziotti; Judy Ridge; Janine Roberts; Penny Ward, Tony Ward; Phil A. Rossignol
2006: Michael Curci, M.D., Sheila Peabody, Joan Roux
2007: Robert Horne, Jack Nygren, John Thaxter,
2008: John Messer
2009: Edie Lydick, George Lydick
2010: Patricia Grunwald, Peter Grunwald, Bob Usinger, Maxine Stenger
2011: Gary Eckmann, Kenny Mayne
2012: Betsy Hillman, Becky Neidetcher, Betsy Nygren
2013: Phyllis Hayes, Jane Norton, Linda Vickerson
2014: Libby Lemieux, Jane Francoeur, Cheryl Levasseur, Cathy Pride, Ellen Corrigan, K.C. Hughes, Fred Sexton, Tim Thomas, and Rita Thompson
2015: Kevin Riley, Scott Searway, Chris Woods, “The Brunch Bunch”, Maine Neonatology Associates
2016: The Napoli Group, Paul Thibodeau, Mary LaLumiere, and Systems Engineering
2017: Peter Benson, Gaye Littlefield, Daniel Thornton
2018: Kym & Jeannie Dorr and GenRe
2019: Portland Sea Dogs, Nicki Griffin, Robin Babino, Deloris Testa, Rachel Stamieszkin, Urban Garden Center
2022: TJ Troiano, Jeannette Ward, James Wall, Josh Kelton, Jane Williams, David Thibodeau, Marilee Pandiscio, Laura Trapletti, Star & Stephen Pelsue, Jane Norton, Amy Story, Suzanne & Pat Riley, Elaine Lundgren, Gail Berenson, Jo-Lynn Sturgeon, Christine Pollard, Mark Pollard, Danielle Morgan, C.J. Carver, Matt McDade, Amy Wilson
2023: Doug Quagliaroli, Karen Czubik, Paula Foley-Stelmack
2024: PSL Services STRIVE, Paul and Jill Hoyt
2025: Bruce Martin, Marty Eckmann, and Mia Bouchard
