On January 23, at MICA’s Annual Social board member Dianna Dohm presented MICA’s 2014 Humanitarian of the Year Award to Mike and Cheryl Mueller.
They were honored for their countless hours of volunteering on behalf of the less fortunate residents of Marco Island and Collier County.
The MICA Humanitarian of the Year Award was fi rst presented in 1998 and has become one of the most prestigious awards on Marco Island. It honors the unsung heroes of our island, the people who do so much for so many. Past recipients include Mimi Torbush, Shirlee and Brian Barcic, Ward Bradeen, D’Ann and David Brandt, Dr. Sam and Mary Ann Durso, Judy Barney, Arturo Perez, Maury Dailey, Art Segal, Stevi Walthour, Luise Romano, Jane Williams, Karen Saeks, Nicki Davis, Bert and Jann Brewer, Maria Elena Pujol, Howard Jordan and Jack Simmen.
Cheryl and Mike Mueller met during their senior year in college at Indiana State, from which they graduated. They married in 1975 and have two children and three grandchildren.
They have lived in several different places including Houston, TX; Lawrenceville, IL; Lafayette, LA; Cody, WY; Aberdeen, Scotland; and then Marco Island in 2005 when Mike retired from his position as Vice President of Marathon Oil.
Cheryl joined Newcomers and was asked to be on their board where she served for several years. She walked to raise money for Alzheimer’s, is a member of the League Club (she was in the Junior League since 1988), and is an active member of Gamma Phi.
Cheryl and Mike were instrumental in starting ESL Classes (English as a second language) that ran for three years at St. Mark’s Church. They are very active in their church, where they coordinate the book and CD sales for the Flea Market and spend countless hours in the “shed” sorting donations for the Flea Market.
Cheryl has been involved in Bedtime Bundles since the very beginning; even before there was a “formal” Bedtime Bundles, which helps the migrant children who practically live in our backyards. She was at their fi rst formal meeting in 2008 and has been there ever since. Of course, when Cheryl is involved, so is Mike. They both have spent innumerable hours doing whatever needs to be done and always with a smile, including delivering bread to the camps, delivering food, clothing and household items to the camps, purchasing, sorting and delivering food for the summer food drive. Cheryl chaired Bedtime Bundles’ yearly fundraiser, Mutts & Martinis Yappy Hour, last year and raised over $24,000.
Mike has been on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Collier County for a number of years and currently serves as Secretary. He is also on the build sites at least once, if not twice every week, with hammer and nails in hand! Somehow they manage to even fit in some down time. Cheryl needle points and Mike is an EXCELLENT fi sherman, which was relayed by his buddies in the Marco Island Sport Fishing Club. It’s Cheryl and Mike’s actions that bring the community of Marco Island together through a common goal; helping those in our community who have so little. They have always been the people you could go to for anything!
Mike and Cheryl have always been involved where ever they have lived. They are selfl ess givers, living their faith by giving back to the community whenever asked. They recognize needs beyond our insulated world and help without hesitation; many, many times paying for items out of their own pockets. We are truly blessed on Marco to have such a loving, caring couple.