2017 Governor's Volunteer Service Awards recipients
March 30, 2017
Washington celebrates Volunteer Appreciation Day
Olympia - To recognize the countless acts of service performed by one of Washington’s most valuable assets — its volunteers — Gov. Jay Inslee has proclaimed April 11 as Volunteer Appreciation Day.
“I join all Washingtonians in thanking these individuals who contribute tirelessly to benefit others,” Inslee said. “People who volunteer their time and energy are the backbone of our state. I encourage others to look for opportunities that not only provide valuable experience but also help strengthen our communities.”
To celebrate, the 13th Annual Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards will be presented to 18 honorees April 11 at the Executive Mansion in Olympia. These outstanding volunteers range in age from 18 to 90 years. Nominated by public, private, nonprofit organizations and volunteer centers from across the state, the recipients of the 2017 awards are:
| Individual | Category | Volunteer Organization | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce and Beth Cheshier | Citizen Corps/CERT | German Shephard Search Dogs of Wash. State | Tacoma |
| Wayne Connell | Disaster/Emergency Response | Snohomish County Dept. of Emergency Management | Everett |
| Natalie Hartkopf | Education | Reading Partners Seattle | Seattle |
| Glenn Hawley | Social Services | Whatcom County Sheriff's Office | Bellingham |
| Jack Irby | Health Care | Seattle Children's Hospital | Seattle |
| Ryan Lazo | AmeriCorps Alumnus | Center for Civic Engagement at WSU | Pullman |
| Mary Patterson | Human Services | Port Angeles Food Bank | Port Angeles |
| German Rosas | Social Services | Children's Home Society of Washington | Walla Walla |
| Harold Vlist | Veteran | Puget Sound Navy Museum | Bremerton |
| Riann Wishon | Animal Welfare | Seattle Area Feline Rescue | Shoreline |
| Roberta Woods | Environment | City of Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation - Park Stewardship Program | Olympia |
| Sophie Yasuda | Youth | Woodland Park Zoo | Seattle |
| National Service | Category | Volunteer Organization | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liliana Fischer | AmeriCorps VISTA | Rainier Valley Food Bank | Seattle |
| Chuck Sonner | RSVP | United Way of Thurston County | Olympia |
| William Weatherby | AmeriCorps Member | Federal Way Public Schools | Federal Way |
| Groups | Category | Volunteer Organization | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concur | Employer-based Program | United Way of King County | Seattle |
| Volunteer Transportation | Service Group | Sound Generations | Seattle |
| Ramirez Family | Volunteer Family | Centralia Police Department | Centralia |
“In April, we celebrate Washington’s dedicated volunteers who do their part to improve the lives of others,” said Debbie Schuffenhauer, executive director of Serve Washington. “We are proud to join Gov. Inslee in recognizing some of our state’s most committed volunteers.”
On the evening of April 11, the Seattle Mariners and Serve Washington will host the ninth annual Salute to Volunteers Night (www.mariners.com/volunteer) at Safeco Field. Pre-game ceremonies will include an on-field special tribute to the volunteers. The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown out by a recipient of this year’s award.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact the Volunteer Centers of Washington <http://www.volunteerwashington.org> at 800-865-8683 or Serve Washington at <http://www.ofm.wa.gov/servewa> or 360-902-0656.
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Contact:
360-902-0669
360-902-0657
Submitted By:
Serve Washington
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