Marianne received the 2001 USC Good Neighbor Volunteer Award by the University of Southern California 2001.
It was presented to Ms. Muellerleile as the Outstanding Community Resident by the USC External Ralations Department "For making a difference in our Community." April 11, 2001
The following nomination was submitted by Los Angeles Police Department Senior Lead Officer Raymond Marquez.
2001 USC GOOD NEIGHBOR VOLUNTEER AWARDS
It is with great honor that I nominate the president of the Adams-Normandie Neighborhood Association (ANNA), Marianne Muellerleile, for the 2001 USC Good Neighbor Volunteer Awards. Marianne and her husband came to the Historic West Adams Area in 1988. An actress by profession and actively involved in her community by interest, she soon began attending the monthly ANNA meetings.
Being proactive by inclination, Marianne realized that these meetings had the potential of evolving from a social-gripe session to a powerful tool for implementing change. Within a year, she had developed a written set of operating procedures and given a sense of direction to all the groups' efforts.
Under Ms. Muellerleile's leadership, ANNA soon achieved nonprofit status. Her immediate attention focused on writing and receiving two grants to improve neighborhood safety and beautification. Over the years her grant writing efforts have brought more than $50,000 to her community for such varied issues as medical needs for undeserved youth, safety lighting, computers and printers, security fencing, children's school books and clothing allowances.
During her 12 year presidency, Marianne has established many annual ANNA events: Membership Drive, Election Day Drawings, Volunteer Appreciation Night, Black History & Women's History Month Celebrations, Cinco de Mayo Celebration, National Night Out on Crime, Garage Sale, Police Appreciation Day, Neighborhood Halloween Party, Thanksgiving Baskets for the Needy, Holiday Baking for our Civil Servants and a Holiday Party. ANNA members have become established representatives to other community and political groups, (i.e., Community Redevelopment Agency, Project Area Committee, 8th District Empowerment Congress, Community Coalition, Zoning Board, Community Police Advisory Board, West Adams Heritage Association, etc.) allowing ANNA's influence to grow and affect every arena of city and county government that interact with our community, at even the lowest level.
Marianne helped establish and operate an after-school program at her home for fifty-five at-risk neighborhood youth. This program, the ANNA Resource Center (ARC) received local and national media coverage throughout its five-year history. During this period Marianne's fund raising efforts yielded more than $30,000 used to support the ARC's various programs. The balance of those monies is still being used today for school supplies, enrichment scholarships, college entrance fees, tuition, sports equipment, monthly networked Internet usage for our children, etc.
Ms. Muellerleile also initiated contact with the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) at USC. Together they developed a Community Earthquake Preparedness Program that, over a year, provided a well-documented educational effort that can be used to educate other neighborhoods throughout the nation. Marianne's booklet, "How to Bring Earthquake Preparedness to your Community" is currently being published by SCEC. The final event of this program, an Earthquake Safety Fair, provided information to 1,250 individuals on earthquake awareness. SCEC awarded her their 1998 Outreach Award for Public Awareness.
Ms. Muellerleile's efforts to educate and organize her community was recognized by the Los Angeles' City Commission on the Status of Women and the Los Angeles' City Council when she was awarded the Eighth District 1998 Pioneer Woman of the Year Award.
When asked what pleases her the most about her community involvement she said "My first inclination is to talk about whatever project we are currently working on. In this case, it would be our executing a $5000 Los Angeles Public Works Neighborhood Grant and assisting with Census 2000. But if I take a moment, I think I am most proud of the fact that I have been able to encourage my neighbors to get involved, to make their voices heard, and to take the initiative. People who once felt powerless are now leading the charge on issues that are close to their hearts be it pet control, graffiti, or historic preservation, among others. I like to believe I helped them see they could make a difference. Yes, that, and our website. I just love that we have one. Anyone can reach us with just a click. Take a peek. www.westadams.com/anna"
I think anyone would be thrilled to have Marianne Muellerleile as their neighbor. She epitomizes the very best of what it means to be an outstanding community resident volunteer.
Submitted by LAPD Senior Lead Officer
Raymond Marquez