The Salvation Army's annual King County Fundraiser raised $144,000 thanks to generous sponsors and donors. Nearly 400 people attended the Soup Line event on May 5, 2009, that benefits the desolate and destitute in the community.

Serving as emcee for her third year, Margo Myers said she believes in The Salvation Army because it's the largest social service organization in the world and anyone anywhere can turn to The Army for a hand up, not just a hand out.

The Salvation Army recognized two supporters with community service awards, including The Others and The Arthur S. Langlie Awards.

Arthur K. Langlie received The Others Award. He started helping The Salvation Army as a little boy when he rang bells with his father outside the downtown Seattle Nordstrom store. He also spent many seasons with his mother as a volunteers at the annual Toy 'N Joy event. During one Christmas as he helped set up toys for families in need, the unthinkable happened - someone stole a bike from a giving tree site. Upset and unwilling to see a child not receive such a great gift, he insisted his mother take him home to get his own bike. So she did. He brought his bike back and added it to the toys so another little boy could enjoy it.

Throughout the rest of his youth, into his teens and adulthood Arthur continued to attend Salvation Army events with his parents. His father was a King County Board member. The needs of The Army and its clients were frequently topics around the dinner table. After his father's death in 2002, Arthur joined the board. Since then, he's been involved with many Salvation Army initiatives, most notably with Catherine Booth House, a domestic violence shelter in Seattle. He found the building where the program is now housed and managed the project from the initial purchase offer to securing the architect who would help with the renovations required to meet the families' needs. He helped raise the money for the project.

He now takes his own sons to ring bells outside Nordstrom each year because he believes it's one of the best lessons he can give them - learning to help others.

The Arthur S. Langlie award, named after Arthur K. Langlie's father, honors an individual, foundation or corporation each year to recognize visionary leadership. This award was created to honor his memory, and continue his legacy, by honoring others for their dedication to the organization.

The Aven Foundation received this year's award. The foundation's purpose is to support education, and children and youth services - including a ceter for emotionally and developmentally challenged youth, in order to help them lead normal and productive lives.

When the previously mentioned Catherine Booth House moved to its new location last year, The Aven Foundation donated $400,000 to The Salvation Army to ensure the project could get done and be a safe haven for families to call home.

The Soup Line program also included guest speakers Author Richard Lemieux and Marlene Klotz-Collins. LeMieux spoke about his life going from a wealthy businessman with a waterfront home, to being homeless and begging for money on the streets of Bremerton...until he found The Salvation Army, who helped him regain his life and faith. Klotz-Collins described her tenure on The Salvation Army's National Advisory Board and why it's so important to share the word of The Army in order to continue helping others.

The Salvation Army would like to thank those who support us in doing the most good.