Governor McCrory Recognizes State's Top Volunteers For 2015 | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Raleigh, N.C. — Governor Pat McCrory presented the state's highest award for volunteer service in 2015 to 21 recipients today during a ceremony at the State Capitol. Volunteers from across the state were recognized for their dedication and outstanding service that enriches the lives of others and makes a difference in their community.

    "Each of the award winners today represent the best of North Carolina," said Governor McCrory. "It was an honor to recognize top volunteers from around the state for helping us fulfill our goal of helping those who can't help themselves while encouraging those that can."

    Celebrating its thirty-seventh anniversary this year, the Governor's Volunteer Service Award program recognizes and celebrates the proud tradition of volunteerism in the state.

    The 2015 award recipients are:


    Don as volunteered for 10 years as the Blood Drive Organizer for the Armed Services Blood Program. Collaborating with the program at Fort Bragg, Don — a military veteran — has created, organized and run more than 30 blood drives that have made a huge contribution to the military blood supply by providing blood products to over 6,000 troops in need. (award category: senior volunteer)


    Jeff volunteers with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte as a volunteer reading buddy in the "Y Readers" program. He reads read to, and with, 2nd and 3rd grade students at elementary schools within the city. Blind since birth, Jeff has specially-made Braille books that allow him to read as the children follow along the written words in their books. This past year, Jeff's volunteer story was shared locally on WCNC-TV in Charlotte, and nationally on the Huffington Post, People.com and the Dr. Oz Show. (award category: perseverance in volunteerism)


    Representative Baskerville has been a volunteer judge for Henderson-Vance Recreation Youth Services' Teen Court program since it began in 2011. He also is the primary trainer for those who serve as bailiff, court clerk, attorneys and jurors. An attorney by profession, Representative Baskerville volunteers approximately 20 hours each month. (award category: individual volunteer)


    Colette has volunteered 18 hours weekly for 3 years as a volunteer Board Member and fundraiser for Union County Community Shelter, an organization that provides emergency shelter and soup kitchen services for the homeless. She created the "Home Again" program that provides donated furniture and household goods to clients that move from homelessness to renting a home. (award category: individual volunteer)


    Cummins-Rocky Mount Engine Plant employees served as volunteer community planners and construction staff at a community park in a low-income neighborhood of Rocky Mount. Partnering with DownEast Partnership for Children, they have made a similar commitment to plan and improve an elementary school playground in a low-income neighborhood. Cummins has a policy that provides their employees with paid time off when they volunteer in their community. (award category: corporate volunteerism)


    Ann has been the paid director of Lenoir Memorial Hospital Volunteers for 14 years, where she manages the day-to-day activities of 300 adult and junior volunteers who serve in 26 areas within the hospital. In addition, she oversees annual fundraising efforts of volunteers that total more than $60,000. Additionally, Ann volunteers as a mentor at Southeast Elementary School in Kinston. (award category: paid director of volunteers)


    Mary Alice has been volunteering for 20 years in important leadership positions with Chapel Hill-Carrboro Meals on Wheels. As she approaches the age of 80, she volunteers about 10 hours a week, but in previous years she volunteered 20-30 hours weekly. She also volunteers weekly with InterFaith Council for Social Services and The ARC of Orange County. (award category: senior volunteer)


    Robert has donated approximately 35 hours a month for 10 years with Urban Ministries of Durham. He has served in many important roles including Food Pantry and Clothing Closet Intake Volunteer and helping to prepare and cook meals for 250 people twice a month. A former trial attorney, Robert has volunteered for 10 years with Durham Housing Authority and 3 years with the Homeless Services Advisory Committee. (award category: lifetime achievement)


    Bob has spent the last 28 years volunteering in his community. He has volunteered for 16 years at Sandhills/Moore Coalition for Human Care, where he has served on the board, been a grant writer, and a driver and screener directly assisting those in need. He has volunteered with the Southern Pines Rotary Club and Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church for 18 years. (award category: lifetime achievement)


    Rita, a retired educator, has served for 8 years as a volunteer Board Member at Partnership for Children of Lenoir and Greene Counties where she has served in many roles, including establishing policies and monitoring child services. She has also volunteered in a leadership capacity at other organizations including 15 years at Eastpointe Human Services, 6 years at the Community Council for the Arts, and 37 years with Alpha Delta Kappa. (award category: lifetime achievement)


    Bill has volunteered 18-36 hours each week for 10 years as the manager at the Southport Oak Island Interchurch Fellowship Food Pantry. He is a supervisor and mentor to 190 food pantry volunteers who serve more than 5,500 families each year. Bill has also volunteered with the Lions Club for 48 years. He has been previously named Volunteer of the Year by the Wilmington Star News. (award category: lifetime achievement)


    Toni has volunteered for over 31 years for Hospice of Randolph County. At 93 years of age, she has been a change maker for the organization. She is a valued and dedicated volunteer who serves clients and families. Toni is instrumental in the success of the largest fundraiser each year. (award category: individual volunteer)


    Shirley, a retired public school teacher, has been a life-long volunteer at Piney Forest Baptist Church. For over 20 years, she has been an active leader in the county's Operation Christmas Child initiative, packing shoeboxes with items for distribution to needy children — growing participation from 20 shoeboxes to more than 4,000. Shirley also volunteers with the Columbus County RSVP program at Southeastern Community College. (award category: lifetime achievement)


    Lawrence has volunteered for 15 years with McDowell Saddle and Bridle Club, where he serves as President. He also serves in a variety of volunteer roles for the McDowell Agricultural Youth Foundation and the McDowell Agricultural Center. Even though he runs a full-time landscaping business, it is estimated he volunteers 40 hours a month supporting and educating youth in the county. (award category: senior volunteer)


    PNC Bank employees volunteer with DownEast Partnership for Children. They assist with playground construction in a low-income neighborhood, help with parent-child playgroups, install computer equipment, and promote PNC's "Grow Up Great" initiative. PNC provides employees with 40 paid hours each year to volunteer during work hours and when an employee volunteers 40 hours with a single nonprofit organization, PNC also awards a monetary grant to the nonprofit. (award category: corporate volunteerism)


    Several years ago, while volunteering in a school classroom, Melody became aware there were children who either had no shoes to wear to school or they were wearing shoes that didn't fit. She took action by starting a nonprofit called Shoes For Kids. Since 2013, the nonprofit has distributed more than 1,200 pairs of shoes to needy children in Ashe County. (award category: individual volunteer)


    Captain Reeder has been a lifelong church volunteer. At First Presbyterian Church in Goldsboro he designed and implemented a renovation of the church's activity center. Captain Reeder received the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base's 4th Fighter Wing's Volunteer of the Quarter Award for his extraordinary efforts and significant impact to the US Air Force Combined Federal Campaign. (award category: individual volunteer)


    Hope has volunteered for 11 years with Yancey County 4-H. She is a Teen Leader and serves in many roles, including designing and implementing new 4-H programs in the county. Hope also volunteers for the Yancey County Library and the Yancey County Humane Society. The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners has recognized Hope for her service. (award category: youth volunteer)


    Joyce has volunteered for 6 years at the Friends of Alleghany County Library Used Bookstore, where she is a store clerk and coordinates a dictionary project for all county elementary school 3rd grade students. She also volunteers for the Northern Highlands Chapter of Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway, where she was honored at the Chapter's Volunteer of the Year Award in 2014 for coordinating 5,550 hours of volunteer service. (award category: senior volunteer)


    Steve has donated up to 18 hours each month for 10 years at the Sampson Community College Foundation. He has served as past President and annually co-chairs fundraising efforts that generate nearly $200,000. Steve has also volunteered 25 years with the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce, 31 years at Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church, and 14 years as a Councilman for the City of Clinton. (award category: lifetime achievement)


    Dawn has volunteered for nearly 4 years as an advocate and trainer with the Guardian ad Litem Program. She investigates, gathers data, and determines the needs of abused and neglected children petitioned into the court system by Johnston County Department of Social Services. Dawn normally accepts twice as many cases than other GAL volunteers. (award category: individual volunteer)

    For additional information about the award recipients, please contact Jeff Mixon in the NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service at jeff.mixon@nc.gov. For more information about the awards program, please visit www.volunteernc.org.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov