Share:
Governor’s Volunteer Awards presented
Dr. Thomas Connelly has been instrumental in the success of young men attending Cape Henlopen High School who are participating in the Gentlemen’s Society of Excellence group. The Gentlemen’s Society of Excellence was created by a need for some young men to have a place they could go before their formal school day began that would lend itself to starting that school day in a positive manner. Connelly has spent more than 320 volunteer hours mentoring students and tutoring five days a week during and after school. Fostering self-sufficiency with his mentoring, Connelly relied on his personal experiences with homelessness to help the students understand that they, too, can overcome the challenges that they are experiencing - from their own homelessness, to not knowing from where their next meal would come. He also helps them understand that peer pressure and being involved in drugs and alcohol is not the path to success.
November 5, 2017
At the age of 15, Chase Marvel created The Inspiring Project with a purpose of promoting positivity and lending a helping hand to anyone and everyone in need. Beginning in 2013, Marvel began posting inspiring messages on social media to help his followers who may be having a bad day feel better. The goal of the project is to shine light onto those who are feeling lonely, down or helpless. The long-term objective is to help people experiencing bullying, and decrease suicide. Not only does Marvel promote positive outreach on the internet, he also hosts events at various businesses and has created Inspiring Walls that provide schools, businesses and organizations the opportunity to share their passions and inspirations on a large mural. Marvel’s The Inspiring Project is a daily operation run mostly by himself that has impacted nearly 100,000 people.
Reading Opens Doors, founded in 2007 by Roxanne Nelson, provides new Sussex County Habitat for Humanity homeowners and their children with books and skills to facilitate reading. Since the program’s inception 10 years ago, Reading Opens Doors has served more than 100 Habitat for Humanity families in Sussex County. In July 2017, Nelson and Sussex County Habitat celebrated two significant program milestones: providing libraries for its 100th Sussex County family (serving 252 children) and the program’s 10-year anniversary of working in partnership. Nelson invested more than 325 volunteer hours in the interview, selection, and delivery and set-up of family libraries.
The Greater Lewes Community Village program is a volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping seniors, people with disabilities and low-income adults live independently at home for as long as possible. The Village provides volunteer support, services and programs that enhance the lives of its members by helping them to be healthy and engaged in a variety of social, educational and cultural activities. Made up of 90 volunteers, the programs and services offered by The Village serves as a bridge between seniors who live at home, but need to adapt to changing circumstances or are beginning to have difficulties functioning in their own home. The Village meets these seniors where they are and helps them to lead full, safe and independent lives. Shown are (l-r) Jackie Finer, founder; Barbara Vaughan, founding worker; Ingrid Raysor, nominator; Marty D’Erasmo, president; and Jacki Sullivan, executive director.
Dr. Nancy Feichtl has been a community volunteer for 20 years, seeing and responding to a variety of needs. Currently she is the founder of ITN Southern Delaware, an affiliate of ITN America, a nonprofit transportation network that provides sustainable, community-based and community-supported transportation services for seniors 55+ and adults with visual impairments throughout Kent and Sussex counties. With Feichtl’s guidance, ITN Southern Delaware has built a transportation cooperative network that helps to promote lifelong safety and mobility. Feichtl also helped to start Sussex Academy, the sole successful charter school in Sussex County, is actively involved in Citizens for Clean Power and is one of the volunteer drivers for ITN Southern Delaware, logging more than 2,000 miles on her personal vehicle in 2016 alone.
Clothing Our Kids is a nonprofit organization of approximately 150 volunteers whose mission is to improve the lives of at-risk elementary school children by providing them with school clothing. In Sussex County, 22 percent of children live below the poverty level and do not have school clothing. Lack of appropriate school attire has a negative impact on children’s self-esteem, school attendance, ability to learn, and can lead to bullying. Shown are (l-r) Andy Marquart; Susan Marquart, manager; John Plum, matinee; Dr. John Blannett, board member; Bob Bloin, community relations; Kathleen Blouin; and Kimberly Plum, center manager.
Now in its fifth year, Operation SEAs the Day is an annual event held in Bethany Beach for veterans who are recovering from injuries sustained while serving our county and their families. During the week after Labor Day, Bethany Beach hosts 32 VIFs (Very Important Families) for a well-deserved week of rest, relaxation and fun. The families stay in homes donated by local homeowners, and are provided with the resources to experience the best of Bethany and nearby attractions. Each Operation SEAs the Day week is meticulously planned by an all-volunteer board of directors who spend almost 3,000 hours each year arranging the weeklong event. Shown are (l-r) Richard Katon, co-founder and board member; Becky Johns, co-founder and board member; Annette Reepiny, co-founder and board member; and Lee McCreary.
For 27 years, Ben Fournier has volunteered for Delaware Hospice’s grief camp for children, Camp New Hope. Fournier is a professional photographer and has donated his services to capture the cheerful, soulful, silly and sad emotions that the children experience throughout the healing process of the four-day bereavement camp. In honor of his 25th year of volunteering, Fournier launched a successful fundraiser that helped pay for the cost of sending nearly 100 children to camp. Two years later, he is well into his third fundraiser and has a goal of reaching $100,000 this year. Though he arrives each year as a photographer, Fournier steps in wherever he is needed. Whether he acts as a fundraiser, lunchtime helper, errand-runner or a human jungle gym for a group of 6-year-olds, Fournier comes to Camp New Hope ready to help. Fournier’s award was the Paul Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Millsboro resident Scott Underkoffler is the proud son of a veteran and has been dedicating his time to better the lives of other servicemen/women and their families. Currently the Delaware Detachment Commander of the Sons of the American Legion, Underkoffler’s hard work and dedication to serve others has touched hearts of many and his influences are continually changing the lives of servicemen/women and others throughout the community. He helps to change the lives of veterans who need help but cannot afford it. With his strong voice, he persuaded the legion to provide threshold ramps for people with disabilities for many of the members. Currently, Underkoffler is spearheading a fundraising drive to have a wheelchair ramp built for a veteran from American Legion Post 24. Scott is the go-to guy who veterans and their families can trust to do his best to help members of the community.
The 2017 Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Service Awards were presented to 24 individuals and groups Oct. 25 at Dover Downs. Sussex County had eight individuals and groups recognized for their volunteer service.
“The thousands of volunteers across our state make connections and forge relationships each day that make a difference in the lives of so many people,” Gov. John Carney said. “By supporting vulnerable individuals and families, these dedicated volunteers play a critical role in helping us to build stronger communities. With that appreciation in mind, it is my privilege to honor the 24 individuals and groups with the 2017 Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Service Award.”
The Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Service Awards are sponsored by the Office of the Governor, the Department of Health and Social Services, the Division of State Service Centers, the State Office of Volunteerism, as well as the Governor’s Commission on Community and Volunteer Service.
