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For immediate release:
April 17, 2008

Contact:
Carla Harris - 804-726-7107

Governor Announces 2008 Volunteerism and Community Service Award Recipients

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced recipients of the 2008 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards. These awards highlight the efforts of outstanding citizens of the Commonwealth who seek to enhance the lives of others in their communities. The awards are presented to groups, individuals and families whose efforts exemplify extraordinary volunteer service.

"I congratulate the winning volunteers who help us move Virginia forward and improve the quality of life for all Virginians," said Governor Kaine. "When we serve our community as volunteers, our unique skills, perspectives and experience make us a stronger Commonwealth."

The 2008 Governor's Community Service and Volunteerism Award winners are:

  • Tenaska Virginia Generating Station, Scottsville: Business Award. Tenaska Virginia Generating Station employees tutor and mentor elementary and middle school children throughout Fluvanna County.
  • Rebecca Jennifer Welsch, Sterling: Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Recovery Award. Welsch volunteers and recruits others into service at the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company.
  • People Offering Resources Together (PORT), Emergency Homeless Winter Shelter Program, Newport News: Faith-Based Organization Award. The program provides shelter for men, women and children through 100 churches in the community, and helps the homeless gain permanent housing, identification, job skills training, and health care.
  • The Long Family, Mechanicsville: Family Award. The Long family is being recognized for helping to establish the Eastern Hanover Volunteer Fire Company. Three generations of the family have contributed hundreds of hours annually to fundraising, training and responding to fire emergencies.
  • University of Virginia Health System, Community Outreach, Charlottesville: Government Award. UVA Health system volunteers provide medical care to underserved people in the remote, rural mountain regions of Southwest Virginia.
  • Sarah Mank, Charlottesville: National Service Individual Award. Mank conducts community education, outreach and one-on-one Medicare counseling to the elderly and disabled populations in her community.
  • Petersburg Foster Grandparents, Inc., Petersburg: National Service Program Award. The Petersburg Foster Grandparents program mentors children in public schools, child care facilities, juvenile detention centers, and homeless shelters.
  • Historic Triangle Jamestown 2007 Host Committee, Volunteer Coordination Sub-Committee, Williamsburg: Nonprofit Group Award. The Volunteer Coordination Sub-Committee recruited, placed and trained an army of approximately 3,400 volunteers from more than 120 Virginia communities and 20 states to make America's 400th Anniversary a statewide success and a nationally and internationally recognized event.
  • Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), Woodbridge: Youth Organization Award. YCC engages young people in important conservation and environmental education programs on Virginia's public lands.
  • Kaitlin Gastrock, Mechanicsville: Youth Volunteer Award. Gastrock, a junior at Atlee High School, passionately tutors children who struggle with reading in her community.
  • Roy W. Brun, Virginia Beach: Senior Volunteer Award. Brun serves as a volunteer for Angel Flight, and also as a driver transporting patients to and from medical appointments. He has also raised substantial funding for his local United Way.
  • Dr. Hilda M. Woodby, Richmond: Volunteer Award. Dr. Woodby spearheaded the funding and opening of Family Advocacy Clinics, Inc., where she provides low-cost psychotherapy services to members of families experiencing family violence.

Governor Kaine has proclaimed April 27 - May 3 as Volunteer Week in Virginia. As a prelude to the recognition week, these twelve individuals and organizations will be presented their awards during a three-day conference on volunteerism and community service, April 23 -25, in Virginia Beach. The Governor's Commission on Community and National Service, Virginia Corps and the Virginia Department of Social Services' Office on Volunteerism and Community Service will host the awards ceremony on Thursday, April 24.

At least 1.7 million Virginians volunteer their time and talents annually. Virginians average nearly 243 million volunteer hours, equaling more than $4 billion dollars worth of service to the state. For more information about the awards and the 2008 Conference on Volunteerism and Community Service, visit www.vaservice.org.

 

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- Published on Thursday, April 17, 2008