FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ten local citizens were honored by the Council of Churches of the Ozarks and City of Springfield as the Volunteers of the Year at the annual Gift of Time Awards Luncheon today at the Ramada Oasis Convention Center. Nominated by various nonprofit, public, and service organizations, these 10 recipients were selected from a pool of nominations based on their unique volunteer efforts and time donated. One Volunteer of the Year was selected from the 21 and under youth category. All nominations were judged by an impartial team of business and civic leaders. Since 1991, the City of Springfield has recognized exemplary volunteer efforts in the area. This year’s luncheon was held at the Ramada Oasis Convention Center. All the nominees were invited to attend, with the winners being announced for the first time at the ceremony. In addition to being recognized, the winners were awarded with beautiful trophies from Springfield Hot Glass and will have their portraits on display in the Rosanna Bradshaw Memorial Wall of Fame at the Busch Municipal Building – a wall specifically created for Gift of Time Award recipients. This year’s recipients and their nominating organizations are: • Karrolyn Booher, nominated by CASA of Southwest Missouri, for her work as a CASA volunteer and at the Greene County Jail.
• Ed Buehlig, nominated by the Council of Churches RSVP Reading Buddy Program for his work as a reading buddy to children in kindergarten through third grade.
• Neal and Juanita Cannon, nominated by Crosslines for their 25 years of service as Crosslines advocates and volunteers.
• Michelle “Shelly” Collier, nominated by Isabel’s House crisis nursery, for volunteering weekly at Isabel’s House for over six years. Her work there includes cooking, cleaning, playing with children staying at the house and doing everything she can to make them feel comfortable there.
• Marc Copeland, nominated by CoxHealth, for his volunteer work for three different CoxHealth departments.
• Arlene Eichler, nominated by Westminister Presbyterian Church, for her volunteer work for the church, Ozark Food Harvest, Center City Christian Outreach’s Well of Life Food Pantry, Crimson House as well as serving as a caregiver for a long-time friend.
• Janelle Reed, nominated by Amy Temple for founding SingleMomzRock, a support ministry for single moms.
• Sharron Stevens, nominated by Center for the Blind of the Assemblies of God, for her volunteer work for the organization, including data entry and office work and driving those with disabilities to food programs or to support groups.
• Youth category: Mackenzie Dalton, nominated by Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, for her volunteer work in the kitchen at Boys & Girls Clubs’ Musgrave Unit. Mackenzie was also the lucky recipient of $500 to be donated to the charity of her choice. The other 27 nominees for the 2015 Gift of Time Awards were: • Paula Austin, nominated by Crosslines.
• Brooke Bigham, nominated by Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Ozarks.
• Amy Blansit, nominated by Drew Lewis Foundation at The Fairbanks.
• Doug Burlison, nominated by the City of Springfield.
• Carolyn Cochran, nominated by Springfield Fire Department.
• Jerry Compton, nominated by the City of Springfield.
• Heather Elliott, nominated by Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.
• Mary Lou Foss, nominated by Junior League of Springfield.
• Carolyn Gerdes, nominated by Springfield Sister Cities Association.
• Stuart Grieb, nominated by CoxHealth.
• Dan Hoy, nominated by the City of Springfield’s Environmental Services department.
• Nancy Lewis, nominated by Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
• Shirley and Ted Madden, nominated by Ambassadors for Children.
• Glenna Meyers, nominated by the Council of Churches’ Safe to Sleep organization.
• Corki Nelson, nominated by the Friends of the Springfield-Greene County Library District.
• Fred Palmerton, nominated by City of Springfield’s Environmental Services department.
• Paige Payne, nominated by Harmony House.
• Leslie Evans, nominated by Shelley Evans.
• Lisa Powell, nominated by Ambassadors for Children.
• David Rendall, nominated by Springfield Police Department.
• Cindy Rushefsky, nominated by the City of Springfield.
• Missy Sanford, nominated by Greene County Extension Council.
• Gary Schafer, nominated by University Heights Baptist Church.
• Brian Shipman, nominated by Drury University.
• Don Snyder, nominated by Springfield-Greene County Park Board.
• John Wall, nominated by Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management.
• Dan Wichmer, nominated by the City of Springfield.
All the nominees, Volunteer of the Year recipients or not, are true examples of what it means to be a citizen that selflessly gives their time and energy to help those around them. For more information, please contact: The Rev. Mark Struckhoff, executive director, Council of Churches of the Ozarks at 862-3586 ext. 223 or [email protected]