Kudos to a ‘Professional Volunteer’

When Elsie Reed sees Anaheim’s “artmobile” at a park teaching children arts and crafts, her spirits soar. “It makes me feel so good,” she said.

The artmobile is one of many projects of the Anaheim Arts Council, which Reed helped found in 1977 and for which she continues to serve as a board member.

In the past 40 years, Reed has been involved with more than 20 other community groups, helping to start a ballet company and becoming a charter member of H.G. “Dad” Miller Golf Course. She has been president of several of those groups.

“My husband says I’m a professional volunteer,” said Reed, 80, who has been married to her husband, David, for 47 years.

Since she moved to Anaheim in the 1950s, Reed has also been a supporter of local theater, the American Red Cross and the Chamber of Commerce.

Because of her tireless contributions to the city and her enthusiastic support of the arts, Reed will be recognized Saturday as Anaheim’s Citizen of the Year at the Cypress College Americana Awards.

“It makes me feel very humble,” Reed said of the honor. “I’ve volunteered because I want to . . . not for the accolades.”

Julie Mayer, past president of the Arts Council and a current board member, said Reed’s special gift is her ability to “look at the importance of all the arts.”

Reed’s most keen interest over the years has been arts education for children.

For the past 19 years, she has worked on the Assistance League’s Auxilia d’Arts, which raises money for a music program for fifth-graders. Her latest proposal is to start an art program at the Anaheim Boys and Girls Club.

“I feel if you can get a child interested in arts, music or the theater, it gives them an outlet--and it will help get rid of those gangs,” Reed said.