Arden Hills long-time resident Paul Beggin is this year’s recipient of the Paul Harris Award presented by the Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary Club.
Every year the Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary elects an individual to receive the Paul Harris Award. By way of background, Paul Harris started the Rotary in 1905 and the award is given to an individual for outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the community.
Paul’s accomplishments are widespread and he has made a difference to many people, as a teacher, counselor and social worker at Mahtomedi Middle School, and as a coach, during which he helped establish the first girls” soccer leagues.
Paul attributes his positive attitude towards helping young people to his parents who encouraged him to seek out opportunities to get involved.
Paul is a member of The National Sports Center Foundation Board of Directors that is appointed by the Minnesota
Amateur Sports Commission, as well as multiple other boards. In Arden Hills, he is a member of the Arden Hills Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee and a Member of the Arden Hills Civic Center Task Force.
Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotarian Brenda Holden, who is also an Arden Hills City Councilmember and the 2013 Recipient of the Paul Harris Award, stated she nominated Paul because of the community impact of his work.
“Through his work at the National Sports Center Paul has been instrumental in helping provide high-quality amateur sport opportunities to Minnesota families, which, in turn, generates economic impact through the Center’s hosting of regional, national and international sporting events,” Holden stated.
More than four million people participate in activities each year that result in nearly $50 million in tourism-related economic impact for the Twin Cities metropolitan area,
Holden said.
Paul has endless energy to help his community and has spent countless hours fundraising for the boards he is associated with that provide significant economic impact. The giving of himself unselfishly to so many is amazing. He comes forward when needed to share his time and information with anyone who asks or needs help. Arden
Hills congratulates Paul for this award and we are proud to have him as a member of our community.