2016 Health Champions
Linda Cottin
In 2008, Linda Cottin started a weekly farmers market at her family owned hardware store Cottin’s Hardware, 1832 Massachusetts St. She continues to coordinate the market, which consists of local vendors selling goods, produce and hot food. She played an instrumental role in the implementation of Market Match, a local program designed to make healthy foods at farmers markets more accessible and affordable to residents participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly called food stamps. In 2010, Linda also helped implement a farm-toschool lunch program at Cordley Elementary School. In its inaugural year, the program provided a local meal to more then 350 students. Cottin also has helped establish several school garden programs, including the one at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School. She continues to raise money and organize volunteers for these programs.
“The entire reason Central has the amazing garden that it does is because of Linda. She brought a large number of community members, ideas, materials and moral support to make our garden grow. One of the great things about Linda is she is an amazing community resource. She builds great relationships, and she’s able to connect them.” — Laura Leonard, Central Middle School garden coordinator
Marilyn Hull
Since 2004, Marilyn Hull has been program and communications officer at the Douglas County Community Foundation. She worked at the University of Kansas and Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center prior to joining the foundation. In 2009, she co-founded LiveWell Lawrence, a coalition that has grown from fewer than 15 members to more than 150. She served as the first chair of the coalition, and since then, has served the coalition in a variety of capacities. She currently is chair elect of the coalition’s Healthy Built Environment work group. More than $2 million in grant funding has flowed into Douglas County to support the work of the coalition, which promotes healthy eating, active living and tobacco-free lifestyles. In 2015, Hull was selected by the Lawrence City Commission to chair a 10-member Lawrence Pedestrian-Bike Issues Task Force. The task force has prepared a report that encourages development of pedestrian and bike infrastructure.
“It was Marilyn’s vision, leadership and energy that brought many of the health providers in Lawrence together to form LiveWell Lawrence. That organization has truly made a difference in improving the lives of many of our citizens.” — David Ambler, Lawrence-Douglas County Health Board member