Local Volunteers Recognized
Local Volunteers Recognized
Community volunteers were honored recently at the 2012 Celebration of Hands, sponsored by the Forsyth County Community Connection, a non-profit organization that matches volunteers to charity groups in the county. Approximately 150 people attended the event to recognize the honorees and celebrate volunteerism. It was held at Windermere Golf Club.
John Clark, president of the Community Connection's board of directors, thanked the volunteers for their service. "People volunteer for many different reasons," he said. "Sometimes maybe because they feel guilty, or because it makes them feel good. Whatever the reason, most of you in this room have volunteered for one reason or another. And it's usually because you have a feeling of doing good and helping other people," he added.
Clark said that with the help of Community Connection more than 7,000 people volunteered last year with 50 of the organization's partner agencies.
"All the agencies we work with could not do their jobs without volunteers," Clark said. "Thank You."
The honorees included 13 Community Partner volunteers, selected from nominations from Community Connection's partner agencies; and five People in Action volunteers, a new category this year recognizing volunteers not affiliated with a specific partner agency. Also new for this year, gentle giant Marley, a Great Pyrenees dog was recognized for visiting nursing homes and other facilities.
Three special awards were presented. Megan Geren received the Adult Volunteer of the Year Award. She volunteers for Next Generation Focus, a group that helps disadvantaged children with academic opportunities
Brett Jordan, a 2012 graduate of Lambert High School, was honored as Youth Volunteer of the Year. He has volunteered for three years with Mentor Me, an organization that matches adults and high school students with younger children who need mentors in their lives.
Suellen Daniels was the People in Action Volunteer of the Year. She founded Meals by Grace, which provides meals to needy families.
Virgilio Perez-Pascoe and Kristin Morrissey were recognized as outgoing members of the Community Connection board of directors.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Forsyth received the Community Partner of the year award.
Nicole Morgan, executive director of Forsyth County Community Connection, thanked the volunteers and those in attendance to honor them. "On behalf of the Community Connection and our partner agencies, we are grateful for all the volunteers who make our community a better place to live. And a special thank you to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Forsyth as our Community Partner of the Year," she said.
Award Recipients
Celebrated Community Volunteers
- Larry Sturdavent, Abba House
- Kathy Kunz, Garden of Empowerment
- Terri Crowhurst, Forsyth County Library System
- Linda Allen, Bald Ridge Lodge
- Nicole McCloskey, Head Start
- Megan Geren, Next Generation Focus
- Vickie Bolick, Supporting Adoptive and Foster Families Together
- Jean Shilling, Cedar Hill Enrichment Center
- Kristin McAfee, Jesse's House
- Laura Wolf, Humane Society of Forsyth County
- Robin Nelson, Girl Scouts
- Dennis Lee, Court Appointed Special Advocates
- Brett Jordan, Mentor Me North Georgia
People in Action Volunteers
- Lisa Hawk
- Ron Kraynick
- Suellen Daniels
- States Wing
- Jayne Iglesias
Special Volunteer
- Marley, Great Pyrenees dog of Mark and Merle Myers
