Mary Purvis Is Honored by County for Her Many Acts of Kindness

Mary Purvis, a long-time Citrus Heights philanthropist, was recently named one of Sacramento County’s Outstanding Senior Volunteers for 2009 and honored at a Sacramento County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Purvis is well-know and involved in almost every Citrus Heights event. She owns and coordinates many Citrus Heights beauty pageant titles. She and her pageant participants work and provide assistance at community fund-raisers and activities. The list includes the Firemen’s Fill the Boot and numerous events sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, civic organizations, Shriner, and the City of Citrus Heights. She and her pageant ambassadors have done face painting at Sunday FunDay, the Cancer Relay for Life, and Rusch Park events. Her only condition is that no fee can be charged.

When no one else could find a place, Purvis located a place for the Capital Pops Concert Band to practice in Birdcage Market. She has helped at registrations and ice cream fundraisers for the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band.

Purvis also carries out many acts of kindness anonymously. She helped several parents find resources when they were losing a child to a terminal illness. She has found employment for people; located transportation for the elderly and handicapped; and purchased groceries, school supplies, and clothing for those in need.

Purvis was nominated by Heart for Parks at Sunrise Recreation and Park District. They wrote, “Mary is the go-to person in Citrus Heights, having been there since before cityhood. She is a willing volunteer and is deserving of recognition for serving the people in her community, her City, and her County.”

Purvis was one of nine seniors honored this year. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and the Sacramento County Adult and Aging Commission join together to recognize outstanding senior volunteers who are nominated by senior and neighborhood centers and other agencies.

The other outstanding 2009 Senior Volunteers and the agencies that nominated them are Charles Beal, Senior Center of Elk Grove; Richard Dunn, Hart Multipurpose Senior Center; Al Diener, Folsom Parks & Recreation District; Georgia Giguere, South County Services; Bob Inman, Cordova Senior Activities Center; Kaoru “Bernice” Ouye, Asian Community Center; Lonnie Ratzlaff, Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Community Center; and Ophelia “Fifi” Zeff, Sierra 2 community Center – Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association.