Paul Fahey , Vice President, Financial Consultant, Assistant Seattle Branch Manager at D.A. Davidson & Co., has been honored as the recipient of the 2007 Bragg Lewis Knutson Community Service Award, given annually to a Davidson Companies associate to honor outstanding volunteerism.

Paul Fahey is known for not being able to turn down a request for help. In the office, it doesn’t matter what the organization is, Paul is one of the first to sign up or donate. From buying Girl Scout Cookies, to supporting Breast Cancer Awareness or an A.I.D.S. walk-a-thon he is there to lend his support. Paul volunteers as a coach for the Interlake Youth basketball and soccer teams. He and Mary Jo have been involved with pre-marriage couples counseling at Saint Louise Catholic Church for the past 11 years. Paul served as the president of the Interlake High School Booster Club and works with the Cancer Lifeline.

Sacred Heart Shelter exists to provide safe housing in a home-like atmosphere to homeless families and single women as they begin to stabilize their lives. Paul is an active board member and has spearheaded multiple fund raising efforts. Their largest fundraiser is the Sacred Heart Golf Tournament and Charity Auction, of which Paul works tirelessly donating from 150 to 200 volunteer hours. According to other organizers of this event, they can’t imagine doing it without his leadership. He also helped organize the S.H.S. Soup Line, putting in about 60 hours. This event is another fundraiser and is designed as a networking tool to bring awareness to the shelter and the needs they are serving. He solicited enough donations of soup, bread and desserts from various restaurants and businesses in the Seattle area to feed several hundred people. According to S.H.S., Paul provided the food for the Shelter to ensure they had a happy Thanksgiving this year. Year-to-date, Sacred Heart Shelter has assisted 244 individuals consisting of 132 families and 88 children, many of whom have moved on to stable housing. They have provided a clean, safe bed to sleep in 8,174 times.

Those close to Paul say they can’t begin to estimate the number of hours he gives back to the community. They look to him as an excellent example of a person who gives freely of his time, talent and treasure, and describe him as someone who is never short of a kind word.

Charles C. Abernathy has been a long time contributor to the success of many organizations in Great Falls. His leadership is coveted and he is generous in his philanthropic efforts. He has been a former Trustee and Chairman for the Great Falls Business Improvement District and the Montana Deaconness Medical Center. Charlie is a former Director of Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, past Director for Campfire Girls North Central Council, and is President of the Trigg-C.M. Russell Foundation. Charlie has provided guidance in the decision-making process for several public service organizations, including the Great Falls Police Commission.

He’s creative in his approach to giving. Charlie and his wife, Sydne, have hosted themed Christmas parties at their home to benefit local organizations. They’ve had a “sock” party, where guests were asked to bring new socks that were then donated to the Salvation Army and St. Vincent De Paul, and they’ve hosted “children’s book” parties to help the Mercy Home library and the YWCA. Three group homes in the area benefited from the “teenage gift” party.

The characters at the Lion’s Club appeal to Charlie’s fun-loving side. They do a lot of work for the sight impaired, with their annual pancake breakfast fundraiser and by collecting used glasses, paying for repairs and shipping them to impoverished areas around the world.

It is difficult to measure the quantity of hours Charlie has donated to bettering his community. His longtime involvement is recognized by community leaders from the past and present and spans decades of service. In his 40 years with Davidson Companies, he has been instrumental in helping to shape our culture to what it is today. Ever the gentleman, Charlie’s leadership has helped make it known that volunteerism and community involvement is cherished and encouraged at Davidson Companies.

LaDonna Beaumont is known as the person who will tackle the projects no one else wants. The organizations she’s involved with are many and diverse, and her value as a leader is appreciated. She is President-Elect for the Sunrise Rotary Club, and for two years was the Auction Chair. With only 65 members, each auction raised over $40,000. In 2007 LaDonna was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow, named after the Rotary founder. One of their ventures is funding projects that develop safe water supplies for third world countries.

Her involvement with Junior Achievement has her teaching financial literacy at the middle school she attended, and she is an instructor for the Coeur d’Alene branch office Financial Literacy program. LaDonna is Campaign Chairman for the local United Way, which last year raised $430,000 and supports 30 agencies. The Red Cross of Idaho, Coeur d’Alene Parks and Recreation Department, Soroptimist International and Toastmasters all benefit from her involvement.

LaDonna says she got the “can’t say no” gene from her mom. “I grew up in a family who were big on supporting the community.” She’s passing that value on to her children, Jack, age 8, and Emma, age 10. She and her children manned a water station at the Ironman competition in Coeur d’Alene. “I wanted them to see it’s fun even though you don’t get paid for it. But there’s a lot of satisfaction because you always get back more than you give.” Her fun side is nourished by her involvement in the arts. She acts with her daughter in the local Lake City Playhouse, and is a member of the Coeur d’Alene Juggling Club. LaDonna says this club was started by a teacher to help build confidence in kids and get them off the streets.

She said she’s really excited about her latest venture. LaDonna is the current Mrs. Coeur d’Alene, and she will be competing this year in the Mrs. Idaho pageant. Her platform… the importance of volunteering and giving back to your community.

In 30 years of public finance banking, Tom Bishop has made the time to serve his community by his involvement with local government, nonprofit agencies, educational institutions and his church. His activities have benefited not just his community but those in developing countries as well.

Tom serves on the bi-national board of MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates), its executive and finance committees in addition to leading a local MEDA chapter in Colorado. They build programs to increase personal dignity and self-sufficiency through training, loans and mentorship. The MEDA works with the USAID and Canadian International Development Agency grants and the Bill Gates Foundation to support an annual budget in excess of $16 million serving 35 countries. He also serves on the advisory board to MicroVest, an intermediary for micro finance institutions. MicroVest is convincing investors and institutions one case at a time that the poor worldwide are bankable. Tom helps with raising funds to support local hands-on projects with mentoring or investing with others in international projects supported by site visits to measure results. He also provides guidance and support through a mentoring program for Denver’s inner-city at-risk youths. The Rotary Club of southeast Denver has had Tom as a member since 1989. Since joining, he has held various committee positions and served as Secretary and President. Tom also is a member of the Investment Committee for Goshen College. Located in Goshen, Indiana, and affiliated with the Mennonite Church, the college has a student body of 1,200 and manages an endowment totaling over $175 million.

Tom spends about 20 hours a month on philanthropic projects. Because he recognizes the importance of volunteering, he encourages and supports his colleagues in their efforts as well.

Mark Buser has developed a reputation as a mover and shaker in his community of West Linn, Oregon. He spends about 40 hours a month on his organizations of choice, and has proven to be a leader for change. Serving as president of the West Linn Chamber of Commerce, he transitioned the organization of less than 85 members with a temporary office location and one part-time staff member, to a permanent location with a visitor information center, full-time executive director and full-time administrative assistant with over 300 members and growing. Mark’s passion for geo-tourism led him to be the founding president of the Lower Columbia Floods Chapter, Ice Age Floods Institute. This led him to author House Joint Memorial 6, a bill that has passed in both the Oregon House and Senate. A multi-state coalition is now working together to ensure federal passage, which would designate an Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail that would travel through Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. This trail will educate an international audience about the largest recorded floods on earth.

Mark also is co-chair of the Willamette Centennial Committee, chairperson for the Clackamas County Cultural Coalition, and a member of the West Linn – Oregon City Regional Tourism Planning Group. He founded the West Linn Farmers and Artists Market and is on the board for the Clackamas Heritage Partners. He works with Oregon Solutions, a group of Oregon leaders who are working to preserve the Willamette Falls Locks and helping ensure the viability of West Linn’s river economy.

Mark received the Chairman’s Award in 2006 from the Clackamas County Tourism Development Council, and was named Citizen of the Year in 2005 by the local newspaper, the West Linn Tidings. He just announced his candidacy to run for a seat on the West Linn City Council. Mark understands the meaning of collaboration and the importance of working as a team to achieve success in both business and civic pursuits.

The Bragg Lewis Knutson Community Service Award was established to recognize achievements by Davidson associates who give of themselves to make life better for their neighbors. Named for Bob Bragg, Gene Lewis and Don Knutson, the Davidson Companies executives who died in a company plane crash in 1994, it is reflective of the passion for service each one believed in.

Our Chairman, Ian B. Davidson, has grown and nurtured a culture that allows associates who share Bob, Gene and Don’s values to thrive in their philanthropic efforts. He leads by example. Ian’s biography on the company intranet lists 40-plus organizations he’s been associated with, and there are many more. His community involvement is so extensive, it’s easier to list what he’s not involved in. He holds seats on multiple boards, is a coveted speaker, and is welcomed into any organization he chooses to work with. In 1995 the financial industry honored him for his leadership and integrity when he served as Chairman of the National Association of Securities Dealers. With all of the recent acquisitions and mergers in the world of finance, Davidson Companies has become a sought-after employer, due in part to this culture.

Company-wide, each associate is supported in their efforts to improve their community through volunteerism. Requests for grants, donations and sponsorships go before committees, and although all solicitations can’t be granted, each is seriously considered on an individual basis. The Gift Matching program allows each person to give to the organizations that are important to them with the company’s support.

Close to home, we know him as boss, and chairman and friend. Some know him as husband and dad and grandpa. He honors us on our birthdays with a personal visit or phone call, and flowers. And when the phone rings, it’s not unheard of that it is Ian. He’s kind, and he sets the bar high. It’s easier to reach out to others and help when you work every day for a company whose culture validates your efforts, and lets you know it’s the right thing to do. This is the culture Ian has built and every community we do business in is better for it.

Throughout his nearly 17 years with Davidson Companies, Dave Hultman has distinguished himself as an industry and community leader. He has worked regularly to improve the lives of underprivileged children and those afflicted by Multiple Sclerosis in San Francisco and Northern California.

Dave serves in leadership roles with MS Society of Northern California. Dave has served as a director and chairman for the society, contributing to events and activities that have raised public awareness and hundreds of thousands of dollars. He recruited the comedian Sinbad to emcee last year’s gala fundraiser, and has attracted the support of corporate luminaries like Shona Brown with Google, and Hollywood movie director Chris Columbus. The Olympic club, the oldest athletic club in America, targets disadvantaged youth growing up in challenged neighborhoods. Dave has served on the Olympic club board, the foundation board and its tennis committee. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $2 million in grants, enabling participation in sports activities where they are needed most throughout the San Francisco area.

It is important to note that while Dave has been busy serving MS victims and youth in San Francisco and in Northern California, he has also been an exemplary ambassador for Davidson Companies in our industry. He served as Vice Chairman of the Pacific Stock Exchange and later as a director on the merged board of the NYSE/ARCA. In these high-profile roles, Dave earned the respect of peers across the country and contributed to Davidson’s excellent reputation. Dave has held a leadership position with the San Francisco Securities Traders Association and served on the Securities Industry Association Trading Committee.

Everyone in first floor operations knows Kris Sapp will be the first to step up and help if there is a need. But it’s the fact that she makes a habit of taking projects one step further than necessary that makes her efforts so successful. Kris has been involved in Operation Shoebox for a number of years. She not only coordinates the boxes for her floor, but she also puts together her own boxes to send to the troops. She’ll organize a bake sale to earn money to purchase extra treats. She’ll custom-fill boxes to fit the needs of each recipient and has spread the goodwill to troops from many different states and units. Not only does she send the boxes, but she often establishes email contact during their tour, offering friendship and support. She was presented with an award from the 189th Battalion based in Helena, and has received other tokens of appreciation from the recipients of Operation Shoebox.

For several years, Kris put her personal touch on the Davidson sponsored Tree of Love at Christmas. When cash donations were made by generous folks who didn’t have time to shop, she shopped for them. And for those who had time to shop but not wrap those gifts, Kris led the gift-wrapping brigade and deposited them under the tree. She would keep a watchful eye on the Tree of Love, and if there was an unusual gift request, she would make sure those wishes were honored.

Kris continually works to make other’s lives better. Recently a single mother with three children found herself displaced and alone. Kris rounded up clothing and toys. She has helped organize the fundraisers and baked endlessly for the March of Dimes, and supports the Young People’s choir bake sales. She is one of the first to welcome new employees to her floor, and keeps a stash of little gifts in her cubicle to give if an associate is having a bad day. Kris has earned the reputation as the “go to” person for those in need of a caring heart or a kind word, has helped make the Davidson Companies name fondly known among our deployed troops, and has earned her place with the other nominees for the Bragg Lewis Knutson Community Service Award.

Rick Shelby's extensive volunteer efforts are an inspiration to his colleagues. He spends about 20 hours per month working with a number of organizations. Rick has been involved with Operation Smile for eight years. This organization works with volunteers from the medical profession, performing surgeries on children in third world countries to repair cleft palates and facial deformities. Rick started small, working to obtain items for the annual fundraising auction. Recognizing his leadership skills, he was quickly recruited to serve on the board of directors. In his six years on the board, he has raised over $900,000.

He’s passionate about his work. "Operation Smile doesn't just change the child's life, but it changes the community and family also. These kids are outcasts in their society." He chooses to volunteer with organizations that benefit kids and coaches youth basketball and Little League baseball for the Boys & Girls Club. Rick has showcased his financial expertise through his efforts with Junior Achievement. This national organization prepares children for entrepreneurship and financial literacy. He has taught economics and personal finance, conducted stock market games and has emphasized responsible use of credit cards to students at inner city schools in the Seattle area. But he has a more profound reason for his volunteer work with kids that involve an unspoken responsibility. "As a person of color, I know I can set an example."

He came to work at Davidson Companies in 1999 and says it's given him a lot of flexibility to grow in his philanthropic work. "They not only allow me the time to teach those classes, but they also support these programs in other ways." He's pleased to say he's one of the first to call and request a gift-match at the start of each fiscal year. The culture at Davidson Company nurtures volunteerism, and he says that makes them a great fit.