LAYTON -- Marcia Knorr wasn't seeking fame or fortune when she chose to work with the disabled and the "at risk" community. She just wanted to try the field.
Because of that desire, Knorr has helped thousands of people across the Top of Utah, and she recently earned the Hearts and Hands award for her service as a board member of the Tri-County Independent Living Center. The award is given to people who make significant contributions through volunteer or philanthropic service.
Knorr also worked as director of the Marshall White Center, executive director of Youth Impact and alternative resource coordinator at the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, where she co-founded the Deaf and Blind Children's Fund.
Knorr is also a member of the board of directors of Very Special Arts, a program designed to provide equal opportunities to art programs for Utahns with disabilities and those with limited access to the arts.
The mother of three is also a versatile musician and performs at a variety of venues, including the Utah Arts Festival, Pioneer Days, the Alaska State Fair and the Salt Lake Brown Bag Concert.
She's also a comedian and performs with the comedy band Ripe Tomatoes. She performs at elementary schools throughout the state as a soloist and with a band called the Rainbow Factory in which she has performed for more than 50,000 schoolchildren. She has also recorded three CDs.
She finds Facebook, texting and Twitter absurd. She pokes fun at everyday things such as pantyhose and men's obsession with duct tape.
She loves her dog, a sweet, yet hyperactive schnauzer with a high-pitched bark. She volunteers, is a consultant for child-care programs and enjoys cycling and restoring bicycles, traveling, garage sales, thrift shops, flea markets, the Utah Jazz, American Idol and spending time with family and friends. She is currently reading the owner's manual of her brand-new sewing machine.
In the midst of her long career, Knorr took time off to raise her children -- twin boys, Matthew and Ben, and daughter, Jennifer -- whom she shares with husband, John.
"My kids were raised with a sense of humor," Knorr said. "I always told them that I would know that I had been successful as a mother when I raised them properly. The outcome would be that they would be happy and someday get a great job so they could afford their own shrink. Just kidding."
While working for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Knorr saw an increasing number of children who lacked the financial resources to purchase prescription eyeglasses, hearing and vision aids and other technology. As secretary of the foundation, Knorr said the children's fund is the only nonprofit foundation in the state providing such services to children in need.
Knorr has fond memories of working at the Marshall White Center in Ogden.
"I remember we had a rule about not wearing street shoes in the gym since it would mark the floor. One day I asked a little guy why he never wanted to play in the gym. He cried and said he didn't have any other shoes to wear," she said. "I suggested he just play in his stocking feet. He then showed me his socks that were full of holes. He said he didn't want to be made fun of."
At that point, Knorr started a campaign to find socks and shoes for kids in need. Within a week, enough money was raised to purchase the shoes and socks, which were stored in a shoe closet and supplied to those who needed them.
On a hot summer day Knorr noticed a group of kids who never went into the swimming pool. One of the children told Knorr he didn't own a swimsuit and didn't have the 25 cents to enter the pool. This started another community drive.
"We were able to find used swimsuits at the thrift stores, garage sales and from donations in the community. The Deseret Industries donated a washer and dryer so we could keep the suits clean. We also purchased some additional swimsuits and towels for the kids."
As far as the 25-cent fee was concerned, Knorr put the children to work, doing a short community service project around the center. They also earned a swimming pass by providing a good report card.
Above everything, Knorr said, she enjoys helping others and volunteering.
"I guess I have been a volunteer all my life. I remember as a kid in Wisconsin, my mom taught us that we should share our time," she said. "As you progress in your life, time gets more limited with family and work, but I always tried to help out somewhere. When asked what's in it for me ... I love the free T-shirts and something new to try."
Comments