Volunteer of the Year Awards honor community' best

The Volunteer Center at United Way hosted the 21st annual Volunteer of the Year Awards (VOYA) dinner Friday, June 25, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in dowtown San Antonio.

More than 830 people attended the Night of a Thousand Stars program to thank local citizens whose good works help improve the community. Since 1989, more that 3,000 individuals have been honored at VOYA events.

Read press release.

Name: Reagan High School PALs (Peer Assistance & Leadership)
Category:  Mayor’s Award for Youth -- Group
The Reagan High School PALs (Peer Assistance & Leadership) are young volunteers that help elementary age children overcome problems such as broken homes, deployed parents, or working with kids with special needs. It’s not easy to become a PAL. Out of 90 junior and senior applicants this year, only 40 were chosen during a rigorous process. You have to want to help others. Each PAL mentors up to three elementary “PALees” for an entire year. This past year, they collectively volunteered over 3,500 hours. The Reagan Elementary PALs aren’t participating on Saturdays, Sundays and during vacation time to pad their resumes. They honestly care about the people and the causes while helping with fundraisers for cancer patients, serving meals for those less fortunate, collecting clothes and wrapping gifts for the needy, visiting the elderly, participating in HELP FOR HAITI, and many other projects. Reagan Elementary PALs care deeply and represent all that is good with our youth.

Name:  Claire Blumenthal
Category:  Mayor’s Award for Youth – Individual
Claire Blumenthal is a senior at Clark High School. She excels in academics; participates in soccer; and competes in math, art and writing competitions. She is certainly a high achiever; but it is perhaps her community service accomplishments that best distinguish her from her peers.  Blumenthal is a young leader who volunteers with the Ronald McDonald House, Elf Louise, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the Battered Women’s Shelter. She has mentored special needs students every year of her high school career. While organizing fundraisers, Blumenthal is also involved with B’nai Brith projects to care for African refugee children, to promote teen philanthropy and that help raise awareness about childhood hunger in America. She paints fences at the YMCA, plans activities for inner-city children, and visits the elderly. She attends local, national and international summits to debate diverse and pressing issues like teen pregnancy, drug use and literacy rates. The scope and depth of Blumenthal’s volunteerism is impressive—her contribution to San Antonio, immense.

Name:  Street2Feet Program—Megan Cullip and Elizabeth Rosenblum
Category:  Community Group
For several years, Megan Cullip and Elizabeth Rosenblum served the homeless “street tacos” on Christmas Eve. But each year they would leave feeling like maybe they could do more. That’s when they contacted SAMMinistries to work on a program they named Street2Feet, a running group with homeless members that encourages goal setting, emphasizes fitness, enforces dignity, and builds relationships. The Street2Feet team is now 25 members who have volunteered over 1,200 hours, offering training sessions and health education courses. The group coordinated the first-ever Street2Feet 5K, which raised $20,000, had more than 500 runners, and included 35 residents of SAMMinistries’ programs. There is commitment from the SAMM residents, too. When they see Cullip and Rosenblum, they yell down the hallway: “let me get my shoes!” The Street2Feet volunteer team has a deep desire to serve. They never settle for “standard.” In fact, they transcend the standard for passion, leadership, creativity and volunteerism. They have an energy that ignites motion and promotes positive change.

Name:  Stephen and Adara Foster
Category:  Community Family
Stephen and Adara Foster are newlyweds and college students. They are also tireless volunteers for Camp CAMP, a unique camp for children with special needs, located in Center Point, Texas. Over the past 10 years, the Fosters helped implement programs, mentor volunteers, manage medical or behavioral issues with the CAMPers, or anything else asked -- or unasked. The Fosters, who both grew up with family members with special needs, met while counselors at CAMP. They were married at CAMP and have made themselves available to help at CAMP by volunteering over 1,000 hours together last year alone. When CAMP is not in session, they spend countless hours archiving photos and videos, renovating offices; cleaning, decorating and planning new activities. The Fosters also demonstrate their love for those who are feathered or of the four-legged variety by adopting a menagerie of stray or abandoned pets. Somehow, the Fosters find time to do it all. They willingly take on the most serious levels of responsibility and perform the humblest of roles to move Camp CAMP and their volunteerism forward.

Name:  The David Sees Family
Category:  Military Family
David and Tammy Sees, along with son, Michael, and daughter, Jennifer, exemplify integrity with a humble and cheerful attitude. To the Sees Family, service to others is a way of life. Their volunteer hours are not devoted to a single organization or a finite time commitment each week. Often, they volunteer on the spot, offering to help elderly shoppers get groceries, giving a lift to wheelchair-bound Soldiers, or taking stranded students home.

The entire family is involved with Boy Scout Troop 23. Prior to his recent deployment, David Sees was Scoutmaster, working with 45 boys to build skills. He seldom misses a campout, Eagle project , or community service opportunity. David is also involved at the Main Post Chapel and used his scoutmaster skills to mentor young Soldiers during his deployment, many of whom were away from home for the first time.

If there is any possible way for Tammy Sees to do a job, she does it. She is treasurer for Troop 23, aids her husband with activities, is a counselor, and processes the troop’s paperwork. She is a fixture at RG Cole Middle and High School where she volunteers hundreds of hours. She sings in the choir, teaches children’s church and serves the Main Post Chapel. Soldiers are often invited to her table for home-cooked meals.

Seventeen-year-old Michael Sees is the Senior Patrol Leader for Troop 23 and despite a heavy involvement in extracurricular activities, he attends nearly every campout and service project. At his high school, he is a leader and a mentor, tutoring at-risk math students. He also volunteers at the Main Post Chapel.

Jennifer Sees is a busy college sophomore who also helps out with Troop 23 recordkeeping, photography and other activities. Actively involved at the Main Post Chapel, she also works to collect food for the San Antonio Food Bank and for orphans in Mexico.

Together, the Sees Family has contributed 2,700 hours to Troop 23 during the past year! If someone needs a hand, the Sees extend theirs.

Name:  Elaine Austin-Palmer
Category:  Community Individual
For 30 years, Elaine Austin-Palmer has faithfully volunteered at the San Antonio Salvation Army.  Her passion for the work and compassion for the people is legend. When Austin-Palmer was six, her father died leaving her mother to fend for the family. The first Christmas was difficult. But a knock on the door on Christmas Eve brought not only gifts to the hurting family, but a long-time love for The Salvation Army. Over the years, Austin-Palmer has given of her time, talents, resources and heart. She shares her public relations expertise; recruits board members, volunteers and Bible Study groups; and attends every special event of the Army. She has overseen the care of several aging individuals, who tell of her faithfulness in their relationships. She also finds time to volunteer for the San Antonio Park Foundation, United Way and the Masters Leadership Program. Her devotion to the community is obvious and her genuine love The Salvation Army shines on in very task she takes on.  She wouldn’t have it any other way -- and neither would the Army.

Name:  Inman Christian Center Mission Volunteers
Category:  Faith Based Organization
Inman Christian Center’s Mission Volunteers in Service have been providing service to San Antonio’s Westside for over 20 years. The Mission Volunteers carry on the tradition of Dr. Samuel Guy Inman by working to lift up education and opportunity by serving those in need. Inman’s Mission Volunteers are dependable, caring and hard working. In 2009, Inman volunteers welcomed and organized 10 visiting volunteer groups from Texas and across the nation and gave over 5,000 hours of service to the Center. This year, 12 volunteer groups will arrive at Inman, hosted by the local Mission Volunteers. Together, paint childcare classrooms, clean offices, complete gardening projects, play with children and collect and make donations. Their talent, skills and the time the Inman Volunteers contribute to others helps them stand out from their peers and helps make Inman a local landmark in the Westside community.

Name:  Nelda Guerrero Drury
Category:  Arts and Culture - Individual
Nelda Guerrero Drury has served the world of dance for many, particularly in the Folkloric and Flamenco dance community. At 94-years-old, her passion and unending ability to bring people of all nations together is exemplified through the founding and production of her 52nd Annual Folk Dance Festival. During her 25-year career teaching dance, Guerrero Drury established herself as one of the premier folk dancers in the U.S. She has traveled across the globe to inspire thousands of people of all ages to dance. She has won many awards, been inducted into numerous halls of fame and has danced for dignitaries, tourists and school children. Drury is a founding and current member of San Antonio’s Folk Arts Cultural Center and a founding member and teacher at Texas Folk Dance Camp. She had made costumes and loaned costumes and fed and housed visiting dancers to San Antonio. The time she has devoted to advance the art and appreciation of folk dancing is what drives her life and her art.

Name:  McNay Art Museum Docent Council
Category:  Arts & Culture Group
The McNay Art Museum Docent Council consists of extensively trained volunteers who give year-round tours of the museum’s permanent collection and special exhibitions. Once qualified, Docents set aside one day a week to be available to give tours 52 weeks a year. Continuing education, mentoring and monthly education meetings keep the members up to date on the exhibits. In 2009, Docents volunteered a total of 8,775 hours to the McNay, providing 458 tours and serving nearly 18,000 visitors. Many of the students who visit do not have art classes in their school curriculum. For them, a Docent-led tour may be their only experience with art and art history. There are over 100 Docents and last year 13 of them alone represented 233 aggregate years of service, seven recorded over 20 years of service, and four Docents were recognized for 30 years of service. The McNay Art Museum Docent Council is dedicated to the children of San Antonio, to the McNay, to the value of the art education, and to each other.

Name:  Family Service Association
Category: Nonprofit Agency Volunteer Program
Through the years, volunteers have had an important role in meeting the needs of the clients served by Family Service Association. The program is well respected for its caring services to the 70,000 lives they touched last year—from babies to the elderly. Last year, volunteers tracked over 86,000 hours. The organization has over 50 task descriptions that individual volunteers can choose from to make a difference. Volunteers teach marriage preparation classes, fight child abuse by facilitating parenting education groups, supporting gang, drugs and alcohol prevention programs; providing companionship for lonely seniors, and offering counseling. Volunteers collect fans, distribute school uniforms, and help with holiday gifts. They replace ceilings, paint, landscape, file, complete mail outs and just about every other task for which they’re asked to roll up their sleeves. With six local offices and 32 Head Start centers, volunteers, along with six AmeriCorps members, logged in thousands of hours last year. At Family Service Association, volunteers are the family you can always count on!

Name:  San Antonio Youth Centers
Category:  Nonprofit Agency Volunteer Board of Directors
The members of the Board of Directors from San Antonio Youth Centers are the heart and soul of the organization; they are an extended family. What sets them apart is a commitment that goes beyond attending meetings. They are dedicated to reaching thousands of San Antonio’s inner-city youth to prepare them for a successful life. The board members fundraise, but they also donate funds themselves. They also actively volunteer--often. During the last 10 years, San Antonio Youth Centers has grown from one center to 10 locations and from a $200,000 agency to $4.8 million in revenues this year. Board members have developed an e-mentoring program, installed a playground, renovated four centers, volunteered as Santa Claus, updated technology systems, supported events, redeveloped financial systems, rebranded the organization, started a green housing construction program, and contributed to school supply, winter coat, and Angel Tree drives. Board members are also addressing San Antonio’s 40 percent dropout rate by working closely with SAISD. Because of this Board, San Antonio Youth Centers offers programs during the critical out-of-school time for kids who otherwise might go unsupervised and who are at-risk for dropping out. At four Centers, 100 percent of the kids passed the TAKS test! This Board focuses on the future and is never satisfied with “good.” The members truly lead by example and always put children first.

Name:  Lady Claudette Lewis
Category:  Unsung Hero for Lifetime Achievement
Giving back to the community and mentoring youth is a 24-hour commitment for Lady Claudette Lewis. It is her life vocation. As a retired school teacher, Lewis dedicates her life to serving youth. After her daughter’s sudden death many years ago, she turned her pain into promise for other children. As a teen advisor, she plans enrichment workshops on resume writing, SAT preparation, and dress for success. As a Girl Scout leader, Lewis spends countless hours mentoring the girls. Working with her church, the NAACP, the Fiesta Commission, Carver Library, Boys and Girls Clubs, Ronald McDonald House, and educating others on the symptoms of meningitis are among the things she tackles on a daily basis. She has established scholarships and uses her own financial resources to support underserved youth. She provides youth with transportation, clothes, food, books, and a map for success. Claudette Lewis is a woman with a cause and is on a never ending quest to see youth excel and be successful.

Name:  Laura Alfaro
Category:  Labor Individual
Lara Alfaro is a friend who listens and cares. As a library media specialist for the San Antonio Independent School District, Alfaro has dedicated her life to children and literacy. She is also a proud member of the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel Local 67. For the last three years, Alfaro she has volunteered endless hours to plan and prepare all the details for the annual “Read Across America” event. Students, teachers and staffs are excited, anticipating the day of the event so they can sing Happy Birthday to the “Cat in the Hat.”  Each year, Alfaro adds a new, resourceful element to complement its success. This year, she nurtured a relationship with Barnes and Noble to have books donated to the students. Because of Alfaro’s patient and loving heart, as well as her zeal for advocating for students’ rights, her union’s membership continues to grow each year when it’s time to recruit volunteers for the “Cat in the Hat” team. Thanks to Laura Alfaro, our community is a better place for children and working families.

Name:  Mary Pardo
Category:  Labor Individual
Every organization should have a Mary Pardo, As a letter carrier at the North Broadway Post Office and member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 421, Pardo is the first person to volunteer and is willing to help everyone. She encourages volunteers for the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure, raises money to help the disabled with utility bills, and puts together baskets to help those who are sick. Because she has a philosophy that we all should make our community better, Pardo volunteered to schedule presentations and educate fellow employees about the importance of contributing to the Combined Federal Campaign. Whether at church, work or at her union, Pardo’s motto is “let me help; I want to be involved; what can I do.” Pardo has a genuine concern for the welfare of others. She volunteers when she sees a need. And she makes a difference every day.

Name:  CH2M Hill
Category: Small Business Winner
The staff of San Antonio’s CH2M Hill offices volunteered time, expertise and resources to complete SAMMinistries’ Donation Depot project. The company’s efforts directly impacted SAMMinistries and the 40 families that reside at the Transitional Living and Learning Center. A team of CH2M Hill engineering volunteers put their vision on paper, planning the 960-square-foot building, obtaining permits and finding volunteers to complete the building in the dead heat of the San Antonio summer. Nearly 60 days of 100 degree temperatures, 700 volunteer hours valued at $40,000, a few bottles of water and one smashed thumb later, the building was complete. Monday morning to

Name:  NuStar Superstars Volunteer Program
Category:  Large Business Volunteers
The NuStar Superstars are volunteers venture out into the community every week of the year to help agencies and individuals in need. They spend time cleaning up parks, mentoring at-risk youth, painting houses for the elderly, serving meals to Wounded Warriors and the homeless, organizing food and collection drives, supporting bike rides and walks, building homes for Habitat for Humanity, collecting gifts for underprivileged children and much more. In 2009, NuStar’s 475 San Antonio employees volunteered nearly 18,700 hours—an average of over 39 hours per employee. NuStar volunteers have made it possible for the NuStar NuHope Golf Classic to raise close to $8 million in just four years to help the