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An audience of
community leaders, volunteers, representatives from social
service organizations and educational institutions gathered
recently at Middlesex County College to honor “Hometown
Heroes,” outstanding volunteers who have shown extraordinary
dedication and creativity in helping their neighbors. 2007 is
the 18th year of honoring volunteers by United Way
of Central Jersey.
“It
is important to thank those selfless people who have the
foresight, insight and commitment that it takes to make a
difference in our Central Jersey service area,” said Joseph
Nirschl, Chief Volunteer Officer of United Way of Central
Jersey. “It is their leadership and the example that they set
that keeps the number of volunteer hours at high levels.
Those in need are depending upon the work that the volunteers
do.”
Special Achievement Award
– Middlesex County College for the creation of Democracy
House/Center for Service Learning and Civic
Engagement. This unique program introduces students to the
critical importance of social responsibility.
Student Volunteer – Hoda Mitwally of Edison High
School whose volunteer hours in 2007 may exceed 1300 hours
recruiting student volunteers and being an organizer, activist
and student leader.
Student Volunteer Group – Student Council of Benjamin
Franklin Elementary School for the efforts of these
third and fourth graders in promoting good deeds, organizing
fundraisers and a food drive.
Family Group – Peggy and Bob Schmerker for their
many years of volunteer service at Roosevelt Care Center and
for their remarkable leadership of the volunteer group at the
facility.
Individual Adult – Karen Jones for the more than 10
years of selfless volunteer work at Livingston Elementary
School in New Brunswick including organizing and participating
in more then 12 volunteer groups.
Adult Volunteer Group – Prudential Fox Roach Realty
for their dedication to Women Aware, Inc. providing services
for victims of domestic violence. Thirty-eight offices of
Prudential Fox Roach Realty close in order to participate in a
day of caring for Women Aware and of their commitment to
provide free facilities maintenance to the organization.
New
Award!!! The Hope of the Community Award – Agnes
Barenti, an active volunteer and Board member with United
Way of Central Jersey for her dedication to children’s issues
that has resulted in the very successful Nurse Family
Partnership Program where first time, at-risk mothers receive
visits by a registered nurse from pregnancy until their child
reaches age two . The Nurse Family Partnership Program has
been independently evaluated has consistently demonstrated
significant positive results in progressive pre-natal and
child development practices.
Master
of Ceremonies duties were carried out by WCTC 1450-AM
personality, Judith Leblein of The World According to
Judith radio program. The guest speaker was Christina
Rak-Samson, the current reigning Mrs. New Jersey, who spoke
about the importance of community involvement, mentoring and
commitment.
Nominees in all
categories received certificates acknowledging their efforts,
and included:
Student
Volunteers:
Joseph Reid, Helmetta Borough Recreation
Shamonique Simons, Woodbridge Vo-Tech High School
Diane Vigueras, Perth Amboy Salvation Army
Student
Volunteer Group:
Middlesex County 4-H Teen Council
People to People Ambassadors at Kiddie Keep Well Camp\
Safe Teens of North Brunswick
Individual
Adult Volunteers: Sherry Abell for
Buddy Ball Division of No. Brunswick Soccer Club
Nancy Alberici for St. James Parish in Woodbridge
Brenda Crespo at Robert Wilentz School in Perth Amboy
Dawn Duffy – Women Helping Women
Betzaida Feliciano – advocate at Coordinated Family Care
Harriet Hershevov – 25 years of service for youth and families
Abby Hoffman – Elijah’s Promise
Anneliese Mueller – Elijah’s Promise
Elizabeth Nemeth – Grandview School in Piscataway
Valerie Rabinskas – Bowne Munro School in East Brunswick
Susan Sendelsky – Kiddie Keep Well Camp
Marjorie Spangler – Linwood Middle School in North Brunswick
Adult
Volunteer Group:
Siemens Caring Hands Foundation for their work at the
Cerebral Palsy Association of Middlesex County
United Way of
Central Jersey’s Chief Professional Officer, Gloria Aftanski,
summed up the awards event: “This is an important evening
because volunteers are the core of United Way’s community
service agenda. It was the Volunteer Services Advisory
Committee that spent hours evaluating the nomination
applications. In essence, the Committee, nominees and the
award winners embody United Way’s tagline of everyone “working
together to do
what matters.”
United Way of
Central Jersey’s Volunteer Center actively recruits community
volunteers and also serves as project coordinator for worthy
organizations that need volunteers. The Center has an online
database of volunteer opportunities, and also arranges “Days
of Caring” for United Way’s corporate benefactors and members
of the community, primarily with non-profit agencies whose
programs receive United Way financial support. During 2005,
1200 individuals and groups have spent time volunteering
through United Way’s Volunteer Center. Meaningful Days of
Service are developed to address needs in the Community or
commemorate special events such as September 11th
and the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday in January. For
information on volunteering, visit United Way’s web site at
www.uwcj.org or call John Ross at (732) 247-3727. |
