United Way, Charities, Volunteers, Human Services -

 - The Cape and Islands United Way has announced that the Maas family of Orleans will be the recipients of the 2008 Cape and Islands United Way Citizens of the Year award. The Maas family, owners and operators of the Orleans Waterfront Inn, are longtime community and business advocates, and human services champions.

Richard Brothers, president of the Cape and Islands United Way said, “the Board of Directors and our entire organization are honored to announce the Maas family as recipients of our 2008 Citizen of the Year award. Ed Maas and his family have consistently given of their time, energy and expertise to the Cape and Islands United Way with a generosity and humanity beyond all expectations. Ed himself is an individual who does not know the meaning of the word no. We are truly grateful, and the entire Cape and Islands is fortunate to have the Maas’ as part of our “family”.”

Past recipients of the Cape and Islands United Way Citizen of the Year award include: former Dean of Cape Cod Community College and current charitable advocate Dick Sullivan; longtime philanthropist, the late Townsend Horner; founder of Cape Cod Charitable Funraisers Bill Murphy; founder and president of Shepley Wood Products and current leading philanthropist Tony Shepley; owners and operators of Cooke’s Seafood, Jim and Frances Haidas; leading seasonal resident philanthropists Helene and Grant Wilson; and former owners and operators of the Christmas Tree Shoppes and leading major philanthropists Doreen and Chuck Bilzekian.

The Cape & Islands United Way supports the efforts of various human services providers through community impact grant funding designed to help those in need on Cape Cod & the Islands. For more information on donating, volunteering or attending a Cape & Islands United Way event call (508) 775-4746 or visit www.uwcapecod.org.