Members of the community gathered to honor an individual often hailed as a “brilliant coordinator” of “high moral character” Thursday evening at the United Way of Moore County’s annual Cornerstone Dinner.

“But instead, we have Linda Hubbard,” quipped the evening’s emcee, Mike Fields.

During the dinner, Hubbard was honored with plenty of roasts and toasts as the 2012 recipient of the United Way’s Cornerstone of the Community Award, the organization’s highest honor for volunteerism.

Hubbard was chosen for the award because of her tireless involvement in various organizations and ongoing contributions to the community during the 42 years she and her husband, John, have lived in Moore County.

More recently, Hubbard has been recognized for her extensive work in founding the BackPack Pals program, which currently provides food for more than 1,000 hungry children on the weekends, and her development of Moore County’s first fenced-in off-leash dog park, Pooch Park in the Pines.

Hubbard is also credited with developing the Moore County school system’s Canine Assisted Reading Education (CARE) program, combining her love of serving both children and animals and bringing therapy dogs into classrooms so that students could develop confidence by reading aloud to dogs happy for the attention.

Fields surmised that Hubbard became adept at the fine art of persuasion in efforts to generate more volunteers thanks to her four-legged friends, her dogs Birdie and Jennie.

“If you stare at someone long enough, you’ll get what you want,” he said as the audience laughed.

Anita Alpenfels, executive director for human resources with the school system, said her former colleague led by example when she took on her position as volunteer coordinator as an opportunity to address the true needs of students, instead of “beefing up the ‘bring cupcakes for the birthday party crowd.’”

“Her way of working is to roll up her sleeves and make things happen,” Alpenfels said. “This proactive attitude has accompanied Linda through various evolutions to make BackPack Pals work.”

Alpenfels added that the world could be so much better off if there were more people as dedicated to service as Hubbard.

“Imagine the difference that could be made in communities across this land if we could clone Linda Hubbard,” she said.

Alan Riley, owner of Dugan’s Pub, spoke about how he came to know Hubbard, whom he affectionately called his “tiny little angel,” by hosting fundraisers for BackPack. At first, he said, it started harmlessly enough.

He learned about BackPack Pals through two volunteers dining in his restaurant, and after deciding the program was a perfect fit for his business, Riley began hosting events at his restaurant and organizing projects to raise money.

“However, this came with a price and an attachment,” he said. “It came with Linda Hubbard, the Energizer Bunny.”

Initially, Riley worked with her via phone or email, so he was surprised when he finally met Hubbard, whom he expected to be younger and much more commanding in person.

“In walked the tiniest, dwarf-like personality with the cutest crooked little wig and adorable little smile,” he said. “I was tickled. She was shorter than me and older than me. There she was, my new tiny little angel.”

Riley said from then on, he saw Hubbard everywhere working for various causes, despite various health problems she has encountered over the years.

“She was always doing her part with a smile,” he said.

Riley also found Hubbard to be even more persistent. He laughed as he told the story about being “shaken down” by Hubbard, describing her as the leader of the “tiny angel mafia,” after giving her the proceeds he had collected so far from a charity golf tournament.

“I am sad to say that Moore County is going to lose one of the strongest willed fundraising women that I have ever met,” he said. “However, I am glad to say that Moore County is gaining one of the strongest willed retired fundraising women that I will probably ever meet!”

On a more sentimental note, Riley thanked Hubbard for her dedication to the community.

“I will never forget how you have inspired me and this community, but most of all how you have captured the hearts of so many people,” he said. “I can only dream to be as loved as you. There is no replacement for you, my tiny little angel.”

Wendy Russell, executive director of the Arc of Moore County and a member of the Kiwanis Club of the Sandhills, credited Hub-bard’s engaging personality to her success in bringing so many people together to support her causes.

“She’s one of the wittiest people I know,” Russell said. “She can go from zero to 60 with her unique brand of humor, then just as quickly turn serious as she recruits you as a volunteer for one of her many projects.”

Russell joked that Hubbard could wallpaper a room with all the press coverage she has received over the years for her involvement in the community, calling her a local “media darling.”

“If any person I know deserves a wall of fame, or the United Way’s Cornerstone Award, or innumerable accolades of any kind, it is certainly one of my favorite people, Mrs. Linda Hubbard,” she said.

Hubbard was ready to respond after receiving the rock award from United Way Executive Director Linda Pearson. She entertained the audience with her telling sarcasm as she responded to the evening’s roasters, but she also expressed humble appreciation for the honor.

“It was not my Cornerstone,” she said to the members of the audience. “You all helped too.”

Then she turned to her husband, and with her dry humor said, “John, come get this,” pointing to the hefty award. The audience roared with laughter, as Hubbard shrugged and smiled in her usual way.

Contact Hannah Sharpe at hannah@thepilot.com.