 |
|
|
|
|
 |
||||
|
||||
      |
||||
|
Each year, the Volunteer Center recognizes outstanding volunteers from area agencies at the Volunteer of the Year Awards reception during National Volunteer month. The emphasis of this program is to spotlight outstanding volunteers in our community. Volunteer Center Awards are presented to individuals, youth and groups for their dedicated service to the community. These awards are presented based on the following criteria: effort, impact, community need, leadership and challenges, and achievement. The Volunteer of the Year Awards consist of the Volunteer of the Year Award, the Youth Volunteer of the Year Award, the Volunteer Group of the Year Award and the Volunteer Center Founder’s Award.  Jennifer Koonz (center)of Hummelstown received Adult Volunteer of the Year for her work with Camp STAR, a four-day sports camp for children with disabilities. The only camp of its kind in Pennsylvania, STAR gives campers the opportunity to participate in sports such as climbing, wheelchair racing and tennis that are adapted for kids who use wheelchairs or crutches. Koonz began volunteering with STAR 10 years ago as a counselor and now serves as co-director. Spending hundreds of hours planning and running the camp, her enthusiasm and dedication keep the program alive by constantly improving it..
The Volunteer of the Year program is an annual event celebrating volunteerism in the community. Volunteers from non-profit health and human service agencies, arts and cultural organizations, environmental groups and schools are recognized for their valuable contributions to the community. 
Elsa Baker of Harrisburg received the Essence of Humanity Award during the event for her demonstration of incredible strength, courage, determination, inspiration and persistence in the face of adversity. Deaf since birth and not able to read lips, Baker has faced challenges all her life. After retiring from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, she entertained deaf mental patients at the state hospital and managed deaf boys’ basketball clubs in Baltimore, York and Harrisburg. For the past eight years Baker has volunteered with PinnacleHealth Hospice doing clerical work, medical filing and mailings. She works approximately 100 hours a month for the hospice, often using a pen and paper to communicate since she does not have a translator with her. For more information on this award, visit Essence of Humanity Web site. |
||||
|
||||
|
|
||||
| Copyright 2003-2008 by United Way of the Capital Region |
||||
|
||||
Catherine Jane (CJ) Brenner of Camp Hill received Youth Volunteer of the Year for her work with Camp Hill High School’s VolunTEEN program and UWCR. Through VolunTEEN, Brenner serves as an organizational leader and superb worker for projects such as the Salvation Army Toy Drive and JamFest, a concert benefiting UWCR. As a member of UWCR’s Youth Allocations Panel, she and student volunteers from other area High Schools help raise and distribute money to programs helping youth in our community. She also serves as the panel’s representative to UWCR’s Board of Directors. In addition, Brenner volunteers with her church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and the St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen.
Across Ages Mentoring Volunteers received the Volunteer Group Award for their efforts to support and encourage children and youth in the community. Sponsored by the Community Action Commission, Across Ages is an intergenerational youth mentoring program that helps children improve academics and prevent, reduce or delay the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Making at least a one-year commitment to the program, volunteers serve as role models to help children and teens improve their grades, make better lifestyle decisions and learn to cope with peer pressure. Mentors have helped youth improve in these areas and also strengthen their relationships with adults and peers. From 2004 – 2007, 94 percent of participating children and teens have stayed out of the criminal justice system.
Chelsea Doub of Harrisburg received the Founders Award for creating a Red Cross Club at her school, Trinity High. President of the club, Doub recruited nearly 100 students to join the effort. She and fellow club members completed several projects to benefit the American Red Cross of the Susquehanna Valley, including a fundraiser for disasters and creating disaster clean-up kits. Doub also volunteered for the past two years as a “buddy” with the Special Olympics, taking pride in her responsibilities at the event and showing respect to all involved.