O’Fallon presents City Volunteering awards

With nearly 2,500 volunteers assisting the City, O’Fallon showed appreciation for its volunteers at the 17th Annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet on Friday, October 4.

For outstanding leadership and service benefiting the community and beyond, O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy named Sharon Vermilye, Chairperson of the City’s Historic Preservation Commission, as “2013 Ambassador of the Year,” and Jamie Cronk, Historic Preservation Commission member, as O’Fallon’s  “2013 Volunteer of the Year.”

The City’s Volunteer Services Department awards were presented by staff Kathy Halstead, Alexis Jaegers and Megan Jones. The awards recognized volunteer hours and contributions in helping with City events, recreational programs, special projects and assisting City staff.

• The 2013 Motivated Volunteer Professional (MVP) Award was presented to Alex Amend
• The 2013 IMPACT Award was presented to Lindell Bank, O’Fallon
• The 2013 Family of the Year Award was given to the Johns family
• The 2013 Team O’Fallon Excellence Award was presented to O’FallonTV
• Presidential Volunteer Service Awards were presented to individuals, families and groups based on service hours:

Gold – O’Fallon Police Explorers Post 2943 (4,703 service hours), Alex Amend (1,848 hours), Carol Fears (500 hours), and Cody Phelps (398 hours)

Silver – Bill Gardner (265 hours), Edward Murat (287 hours), Jim David (427 hours), and the O’Fallon Veterans Commission (655 hours)

Bronze –

·         Family/Group: The Davis Family (222 hours), Shuffett Family (250 hours), the Scott Family (396 hours), the Heritage & Freedom Fest Parade Committee (215 hours), and Team O’Fallon (210 hours).

·         Young Adult: Rebekah Davis (101 hours) and Janaca Scherer (129 hours)

·         Adult: Don McCabe (167), Karen Roberts (144 hours), Carmen Santos (129 hours), Harold Buckley, Jr. (152), Edward Christopher (124 hours), Lewis Detz (200 hours), Connie Miller (197 hours), William Springer (122 hours).

“Since the Volunteer Services program began in 2000, more than 22,000 citizen volunteers have contributed 224, 000 hours of their personal time, which equates to nearly $ 4.5 million in added services to O’Fallon residents,” Halstead told the audience. “Each and every volunteer in this room has their own personal reason for volunteering. They may envision a better community, want to socialize with neighbors, or perhaps have a special cause that drives them. But each and every volunteer here is united in their belief that O’Fallon is the place they want to contribute; it’s the place in their hearts.”

For more information about the awards, contact Volunteer Services Manager Kathy Halstead at 636-379-5507 or volunteer@ofallon.mo.us.