UFI News Release
For Immediate Release: July 29, 2005
Contact: Dennis Durband, (480) 632-5450
Soelbergs Win Arizona Parents Of The Year Honor
MESA -- Carol Soelberg, the president of United Families International's Arizona
chapter, and her husband Glade have been selected as the 2005 Arizona Parents
of the Year. The parents of 13 children and grandparents of 26, they received
the award Thursday night at the Parents' Day Council's 11th annual awards
banquet.
The award is based on the criteria of parents who are loving, consistent, involved, motivating, courageous and who serve as role models. It is given in conjunction with U.S. recognition of the fourth Sunday in July as the annually designated “Parents' Day.” Children and friends of the Soelbergs said they met those requirements and more.
A daughter, JaNae Soelberg Adams, said the David McKay quote adorning the wall of the Soelberg home typified her parents' aim in life: “The greatest work you will ever do is within the walls of your own home.”
Susan Duffin has known the Soelbergs for 19 years and has seen them reach out to the less fortunate and the home bound. She said, “Their realm of influence has reached beyond their family to their church, community and friends. Their compassion for others has made a lasting impression on me. They believe that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.”
David Soelberg, the oldest of the Soelberg children, said, “I would not trade the upbringing I received and the family I have for anything in the world. If I can impart just a portion of what my parents taught me to my kids, I will consider myself a successful parent.”
The oldest daughter in the family, Amberlee Soelberg Maughan, said the optimism in the home was contagious. “There was always a ‘we can do it' attitude,” she said. “Together we could accomplish anything, if we were willing to work hard. Our home was a place of order, love and refuge from the storms of life. My parents are constantly striving (even still) to learn how to be better parents.”
Carol Soelberg, a graduate of Brigham Young University, is the president of United Families Arizona and travels all over the state in the effort to secure a future for the family. She previously headed up UFI's defend marriage and family project in Arizona, and now, as the President of the Arizona chapter she is heading up UFI's petition drive to amend the Arizona state constitution to protect marriage. She has volunteered for numerous causes through the years, including humanitarian service projects, Cub Scout and Boy Scout leadership, the Parent Teacher Organization and other school functions, political work, church work and other activities. “I always love to do whatever I can to promote families,” she said. She has also been a strong advocate for the family at the United Nations on behalf of United Families.
Glade Soelberg is a U.S. Army veteran and a graduate of Brigham Young University. He has volunteered for many activities, which also includes lobbying with his wife Carol for United Families International at the United Nations, has served as a political precinct committeeman and has been active in church work, youth soccer and basketball coaching, Boy Scout leadership and other community activities.
The Soelbergs passed on to their children a legacy of community involvement, leadership and academic achievement. They have taught their children to apply themselves and their children have won numerous awards and distinctions. All of their boys were Eagle Scouts and the girls are equally accomplished. In addition to raising nine girls and four boys, the Soelbergs also opened their home to at risk children. Carol Soelberg said she became a better parent when she realized that she could succeed with child discipline by focusing more on teaching than on punishment and by recognizing the innate goodness in children.
Photograph by Timon Harper
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