The Utah State Bar will honor three people for their contributions to the community and the legal world on Friday at its annual fall forum.

Karen Hale, who has served as communications director in the Salt Lake City mayor's office, will receive the Distinguished Community Member Award. Hale has been a state senator, is vice chairwoman of the Coalition for Civic, Character and Service Learning, and heads the Capitol Art Placement Subcommittee.

Craig R. Mariger, an attorney with Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough, will be given the Professionalism Award. Mariger has been a member of the bar's Ethics Advisory Opinion Committee, headed the organization's Construction Law Section and chaired a subcommittee that handled jury instruction forms for claims regarding architectural and engineering negligence.

Leonard Burningham, who is part of the Utah Nonprofit Association, will receive the Heart and Hands Award. Burningham has headed an annual food and clothing drive for various charities for the past 20 years, resulting in the collection and distribution of food, clothes, toys, toiletries and other items for homeless people and victims of abuse.