By Madeline Daniels
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Instead of racing for a cure herself, multiple sclerosis sufferer Bonnie Wakefield races to register participants, serve food to volunteers and step in wherever and whenever she can at fundraisers.
In recognition of what St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman called “tireless dedication to the community,” the St. Paul police dispatcher was awarded the Karl Neid Community Involvement Award for city employees.
In the more than two decades Wakefield has been a city employee, the St. Paul native and Shoreview resident has dedicated days off to working for different causes and organizations and has never asked for anything in return, according to her sister Laura Wakefield.
“Bonnie does not highlight her services to others,” Laura Wakefield wrote when she nominated her sister for the award. “She volunteers her time and efforts quietly and without any expectation of award or recognition.”
Bonnie Wakefield has supported a child through Big Brothers Big Sisters, helped raise money for St. Jude’s Medical Center, built houses for Habitat for Humanity and staffed several events for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
“If that’s a way I can help, that’s what I’ll do,” Wakefield said. “A few hours a month over several years really does add up.”
Wakefield began working at the Emergency Communications Center in 1984, starting a career that has included talking three young siblings hiding in a closet through a burglary of their East Side home until police arrived.
Coleman said at the award ceremony Wednesday that Wakefield’s contribution to the community embodies “that St. Paul pride, that St. Paul spirit.”
The community involvement award has been given annually in honor of Karl Neid, a city council member and community volunteer, since his death in 1992.
When presented with the award, Wakefield told an audience of city employees, city council members, friends and relatives that “if everyone who is able volunteers some, so much gets done for the people who need our help.”
Copyright 2010 St. Paul Pioneer Press