The National Volunteer Week theme, "Inspire By Example" truly reflects the power volunteers have to inspire people they help and inspire others to serve! National Volunteer Week is sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network. During the past year, Valley Volunteers have collected thousands of cans and boxes of food, reached out to their neighbors to help elderly and women and children who face domestic violence. National Volunteer Week is the ideal time to honor volunteers meeting community needs around the Valley and calling the public's attention to their tremendous contributions. National Volunteer Week began in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order establishing an annual celebration of volunteering. Every president since has signed a proclamation promoting the week. The Valley has been honoring Valley Volunteers since 1992. The following Valley Volunteers were honored: Youth Award – Jonathan Coppola – 8th grade student at St Mary – St Michael School. He has volunteered for Valley United Way for over one year. "Jonny" has also volunteered at the Spooner House, Holy Rosary Festival and St Michael’s Festival. He has been accepted into the freshman class at Fairfield Prep where he will continue to volunteer. Adult Award – Ned Miller – Board Chair of VNA of South Central CT. He has served as a board member of Hewitt Memorial Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and the Valley Chamber of Commerce. Other organizations that have benefited from Ned’s leadership include: The Shriners, Birmingham Group Health Services, Griffin Hospital and Recreation Camp. Ned was Board Chair of Valley United Way. Ned has also been awarded the Valley Chamber of Commerce Gold Seal award. Corporate Excellence in Volunteer Leadership – Health Net, Inc. During Valley United Way’s Week of Caring project, Health Net collected over 14,000 cans and boxes of food. Health Net conducted an all out effort to challenge every department in a spirit of fun to see which business could collect the most amount of food. It clearly benefited the Week of Caring Harvest House and provided food to over one thousand needy Valley people. Health Net is a true corporate volunteer leader in the Valley community and demonstrates this attitude each and every day. Youth Group – Troop #7 of the Housatonic Council of Boys Scouts of America – YMCA Eagle Project: Scouts Sean Boulay and Pawel Janucik completed their Eagle Scout projects at the Valley YMCA. Sean and Pawell did an outstanding job as they were conscientious and meticulous in their work The project made such a difference to the 84 year old building. The YMCA greatly appreciated the outreach these Scouts showed. Adult Group – Boys and Girls Club Alumni Golf Group. The Alumni Group has run the golf tournament for the past six years. The committee worked tirelessly to not only provide an alumni event but to raise money for the current Boys and Girls Club members. All of the proceeds from the tournament went directly back to club members through programs, equipment or events. Over the past 6 years, the committee has raised $82,000 including $20,000 last year. Living Treasure – Gloria Hollo - Birmingham Group Health Services. Gloria has given countless hours as Chair of the Umbrella’s Bowl to Benefit event. She served as a leader with this project for many years and was a true leader to its success. She also is Vice President of the Ladies Auxiliary at St Michael’s Church in Beacon Falls and serves on the Respect Life team with a Why Me Group from Griffin Hospital Committee. She has also captained a team for several years in the Light the Night Walk in New Haven for the Leukemia and Lymphomas Society. She was a member of Hewitt Auxiliary for many years, raising funds to treat the residents of Hewitt’s three facilities and served as volunteer at the Hewitt Gift Shop. Living Treasure - Andrew Migani –YMCA Board of Directors. Andy is a life long member of the Valley and is 85 years young. As a captain of the youth gymnastics team, Andy competed in interstate leagues. He served as President of the Youth HiY Club and Senior Y Student Club as well as President of the Valley YMCA Board of Directors for three years. He has been a member of the Valley YMCA board since 1950 and continues to be a very active advocate of the YMCA and Ansonia Rotary Club. Andy has been a Paul Harris Fellow since 1964 and served as a Director of the Recreation Camp of Derby and a Corporator with Griffin Hospital. Sharon Bryce Holly Community Hero Award – Ernestine "Ernie" Luise – Ernie currently serves as Board Chair of TEAM Inc. She also serves on the board of Birmingham Group Health Services where she chairs the annual Bowl to Benefit the Umbrella. Ernie also serves on the Women’s Health Initiative Committee and was a board member for Valley United Way’s Volunteer Action Center. Ernie is a past president of the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club and is current District Governor incoming 2007-2008. She was also a recipient of the Chamber of Commerce Gold Seal Award for outstanding community service and was recognized as Women Making a Difference in the Valley.
For more information on volunteer opportunities, please contact the Volunteer Action Center at 926-9478. The Center can also be reached by E-Mail by clicking here. Revised: July 20, 2006. |
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