information from Discover Burien

The results are in for the 2019 Best of Burien Awards!  Discover Burien invites the entire community to celebrate their favorite local establishments at their annual dinner on Friday, March 8, 2019. The awards will be presented live onstage at the Burien Community Center (14700 6th Ave SW) during the gala event with programming beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased here.

Discover Burien, a nonprofit organization, held an open call for community nominations that saw approximately 130 entries. In a concerted effort to foster deeper community roots this year, Discover Burien opted to recognize not only the winners in every category, but also second place champions as well.

Categories awarded this year include Educator of the Year, Non-Profit of the Year, Employee of the Year, Public Servant of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Business Leader of the Year, Best Community Event, Best Coffee, and the Jeff Kearney Award. The aforementioned honor is bestowed upon a developmentally disabled individual who follows Kearney’s example of hard work and dedication to the local Burien community.

Please see below for the full list of Discover Burien’s 2019 Best of Burien Awards recipients!

Educator of the Year - A professional educator in Burien who goes above and beyond for their students and continues to bring their own special flair and passion for educating others.

1st Place – Shannon Dowdy
2nd Place – Dana Shepard

Best Coffee - A local Burien coffee hub that serves excellent coffee beverages and provides superior customer service every time.

1st Place – Burien Press
2nd Place – Bakery Nouveau

Non-Profit of the Year - A local Burien nonprofit organization that continually supports the local Burien area and community.

1st Place – Burien C.A.R.E.S.
2nd Place – Burien Actors Theater

Volunteer of the Year - A local Burien volunteer who goes above and beyond their commitments to the Burien community by continuing to encourage others and put the community before themselves.

1st Place – Cyndi Upthegrove
2nd Place – Maggie Larrick

Business Leader - This is Discover Burien’s highest honor. This person is a local Burien business leader who continually leads by example and continues to contribute to the local community. This person is not only passionate about their own business succeeding, but the success of other businesses in the community.

1st Place – Dr. Aaron Collins
2nd Place – Rita Dixson

Community Event - This is an event that is not only fun to attend, but also promotes inclusion for all and a community atmosphere.

1st Place – Burien Pride
2nd Place – Arts-A-Glow

Public Servant - A notable city or county employee (in safety, security, health, or city administration) who goes above and beyond the call of duty for the local community of Burien.

1st Place – Mayor Jimmy Matta
2nd Place – Chief Ted Boe

Employee of the Year - This local Burien employee is a wonderful example of superior job performance and an amazing supporter of the local Burien community.

1st Place – Ben Calhoun – Burien Press
2nd Place – Matthew Brandis – Wendy’s

Jeff Kearney Award - This award is dedicated to beloved special needs worker, Jeff Kearney. Jeff worked at Discover Burien when he was hit by a car and suffered severe brain damage. Even after his accident, Jeff continued to go above and beyond every single day. The Jeff Kearney Award is presented to a developmentally disabled person who follows his example of hard work and dedication to the local Burien community.

Honoree – Angelina Santana

All proceeds from the 2019 Best of Burien Awards benefit Discover Burien and support the organization’s mission and programs to create and sustain a thriving and vibrant community in Burien. It is the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year – complete with an enviable silent auction. In addition to enjoying samples from local restaurants throughout the evening, guests will have the opportunity to mingle with new and old colleagues, friends, business leaders, and more.

Single tickets for the Best of Burien Awards are $40 for Discover Burien Members and $50 for non-members. Tables are available at $320 for Discover Burien Members and $400 for non-members. For more information visit: discoverburien.org, email ed@discoverburien.org or call (206) 433-2882.

Discover Burien is a non-profit focused on local community and business development, education, and promotion. Membership and contributions are tax deductible. Learn more at www.discoverburien.org.