Volunteer Center to Honor Community Volunteers
"Cultivating Volunteerism" is the Theme
2004 Award Winners!
Valley United Way’s Volunteer Action Center hosted its 12th Annual Volunteer of the Year Award Ceremony at the Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby on April 28th.
Cultivating Volunteerism in the Valleywas the theme of this year’s event and it was chosen to represent the attention, development and constant care Volunteers give to plant kindness in the Valley.
Each year nominations are requested by the Valley United Way from local social service, municipal and educational organizations. The categories of volunteerism range from youth, adult, youth group, adult group and living treasure awards. This year the Volunteer Action Center has instituted new awards to recognize the programs that are run through the United Way. Programs to be honored include the Youth Leadership, High School and Corporate Volunteer Councils. In memory of Sharon Bryce Holly, a "Community Hero" award is also given annually to an individual that exemplifies the meaning of community responsibility and social awareness and also embodies United Way’s vision of a caring community.
James Tickey, is the recipient of the Youth Award. Jimmy serves as President of the Interact Club at Shelton High School that organizes clothing drives, bowl-a-thons and other community oriented activities to benefit those most in need. Recently, he was elected President of the State of Connecticut Future Business Leaders of America in addition to serving as Public Relations Officer for Valley United Way’s Youth Leadership Program.
Gail Grant and Karen Giordano of Shelton High School Interact Club will serve as the recipients of the Youth Group Award. As faculty advisors these two ladies organize students who have the drive, determination and boundless amount of energy to collect food for their in-house food bank, provide activities for Shelton Day, Adopt a Family for the holiday, move and dispense food for Spooner House and organize clothing drives. This year their team participated in the Umbrella’s Bowl-A-Thon and raised a total of $3,500 in donations alone.
Elaine Battaglino of Ansonia will receive the Adult Award. Elaine is a Parent and Teacher Organization President. According to Carol Merlone, principal of Mead School, "Elaine goes beyond her duties of PTO President". She organizes fund-raisers and programs that are held in the school. Elaine is a person that is always there to help and doesn’t expect recognition for her efforts.
The Friends of Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. are the proud recipients of the Adult Group Award. This grass roots group of volunteers began in 1991 and numbers 350 members today. A core group of members plan annual Earth Day Celebrations and together they have overseen the Redwing Pond House Project to teach preschoolers respect for the natural world and prompt an appreciation for its beauty.
Jean Collins of Derby, CT is the winner of the Living Treasure Award. Ms. Collins has been a dedicated volunteer to Team, Inc. for five years and commits herself daily to the Toys for Tots Program. She designs the store set up, unpacks toys and sorts, prices and places them in order to distribute to the children and families during the holiday season.
Robert Gaudio of The Connecticut Hospice Home Care Volunteers will receive the prestigious Sharon Bryce Holly Community Hero Award. Robert provides hours of travel time ensuring that cancer patients are able to get their appointments, treatments and run general errands. He covers the entire valley area and accompanies patients to support and comfort them. Robert gives patients the wonderful gift of friendship by helping them and their families maintain a quality of life when they are near the end of their own.
The Volunteer Action Center has initiated new awards to recognize the programs sponsored through the United Way on an annual basis through the Center. They will include the Corporate Volunteer Council (CVC), Youth Leadership Program and High School Volunteer Council Awards.
Robert VanEgghen of Perkin Elmer Precisely, Inc. will receive the Corporate Volunteer Council Award. Robert "Bob" is the newly elected Co-Chair of the Corporate Volunteer Council. He spearheaded CVC’s Annual Week of Caring project to benefit Derby Day Care Center in addition to serving on numerous committees within the organization. Bob is also a very active member of AmeriCares and is known for volunteering from sun up to sun down to "get the job done". For his selfless efforts to assist agencies in the Valley and as the new Co-Chair of the CVC, he is the recipient of the 1st CVC Award.
Deanna Parks will receive the Youth Leadership Award. Deanna served as the Secretary of the Youth Leadership Program and is a graduating Senior of Ansonia High School. Deanna brought a boundless amount of energy and enthusiasm to the membership by organizing, leading and creating new fundraising initiatives to increase donations. Deanna spearheaded a Car Wash with fellow members to host a Rock the Valley Concert. Together the membership doubled the amount of monies to assist a 12 year old boy suffering from Leukemia in the Valley.
Corrine Pefrushonis will receive the High School Volunteer Council Award. Corrine is a graduating Senior at Emmett O’Brien High School. She has been a member of the High School Council for two years and was instrumental in coordinating the 2nd Annual Holiday Celebration for Kids in the Valley at Shelton Farmer’s Market. Corrine has been an active and consistent volunteer who is always recruiting new volunteers to assist in the coordination of events, food drives and project clean-up efforts throughout the Valley. In addition to all of her efforts she serves as President of her class and an active member of the Youth Leadership Program.
Watch for more pictures later!
