Endless Energy Junior League Names Mari Clack Sustainer Of The Year For Her Work With Numerous Organizations

Mari Clack received the Sustainer of the Year Award from the Junior League of Spokane at its annual luncheon Friday at the Crescent Court Ballroom. The award is given to the Junior League member who has made extensive contributions to the community through volunteer activities.

Clack currently serves as a member of the University of Washington Board of Regents, chairwoman of the UW Academic and Student Affairs Committee, and a member of UW’s Visiting Committees of the Schools of Law and Medicine.

She is also a member of the Mothers Against Violence in America board of directors, the Governor’s Task Force on Higher Learning and participates in Partnership for Learning, a grassroots movement that works to ensure quality of the schools in Washington State.

Clack is also a past president and co-founder of the Women Helping Women Fund, which began in 1992. The fund is a nonprofit organization that raises money to help support programs that serve women and children in the Spokane area. The fund has raised more than $560,000 since its inception.

Clack also has served on the Governor’s Commission on Outdoor Recreation, the KPBX-FM Spokane Public Radio board of directors, the National Park and Recreation board of trustees, the Planned Parenthood of Spokane board of directors, the District 81 School Volunteer Aid Program board of directors, the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery board, and the YWCA board of trustees, just to name a few. Overall, Clack has been a member of 30 organizations and agencies during her 20 years of volunteering in the community since she became a sustainer.

Along the way she has been honored by the YWCA, the National Park and Recreation Association, and Volunteers of America. In 1995, the Seattle Times listed her as one of the 100 most influential people in Washington state.

One of the qualities that sets her apart from the other nominees is her seemingly endless energy, said Kristi Blake, Junior League president.

“I think what draws a lot of people to her is her energy and motivation,” said Blake.

“I think she stands out because she has shown the ability to take the training she received and use it in a wide variety of activities to benefit the city and the state,” she said.

Faris Charbonneau, Mary Joan Hahn, and Elinor Magnuson also commented on Clack’s energy in the letter they wrote nominating her for the sustainer award.

“She has been a catalyst for change in our community, bringing women to new levels of philanthropy and empowerment,” they wrote.

“The solutions she has set in motion will impact the community for years to come. Through her example, commitment, energy, resolve and ground-breaking leadership, we believe she has set a new standard of distinguished community service.”

Clack used some of that energy and leadership to start her own business - Mari Clack and Associates - a year ago. In her business, Clack uses customized training workshops to advise companies and organizations on ways to improve leadership, strategic planning, problem-solving, customer service, conflict resolution, fund-raising, and how to deal with the changing workplace.