In Honor of Rose Pelegrin
In Honor of Rose Pelegrin
Sometimes, a rose is more than just a rose. Anyone who knew the late Rose Pelegrin, L&I’s indomitable employee, community activist, and Combined Fund Drive (CFD) advocate, will attest to that.
Now Rose’s memory and legacy will continue to do what Rose herself always did so well – help others in need – in the form of the newly renamed “Rose Pelegrin Award” for CFD Volunteer of the Year, and an L&I fundraiser in her honor. In addition to the Thurston County CFD naming its Volunteer of the Year Award for Rose, L&I will hold the “Rose Pelegrin Challenge” October 5-9, with the goal of raising $5,000 for the CFD in Rose’s name.
Click Here to Donate in Honor of Rose Pelegrin
L&I’s CFD coordinators will collect and track donations all week, keeping employees updated about progress on L&I News. On Thursday, October 8, everyone is encouraged to wear bright colors in Rose’s honor, take a picture of themselves, and send the photo to L&I CFD lead Rosanne Collins for posting on Inside L&I.
Rose worked for the state of Washington for 28 years, 27 of those with L&I. She valued both the agency and her community. It was important to her that L&I was well represented with the CFD, and she didn’t make it easy for people to turn her down when she asked them to help out. “She motivated you to help – and was relentless,” remembers one Thurston County CFD volunteer.
Kelly Hillman, in the Office of Human Resources, recalled that same determination and deep sense of community in Rose: “She was a force to be reckoned with. If she had a belief, and she had many, she could be very persuasive. But she was always well-intended and heartfelt.”
It seems fitting to honor Rose’s strong sense of community by raising money for one of her favorite causes, the Combined Fund Drive. Let’s join together in her memory October 5-12 and try to make the world a little brighter, just as she did.”
