Just some of last year's winners, as featured in the April issue of the CCE. • STEPHANIE TRUONG CCE CONTRIBUTOR

Volunteer Impact Awards 2013

• STEPHANIE TRUONG CCE CONTRIBUTOR
• STEPHANIE TRUONG CCE CONTRIBUTOR


PRESENTED BY THE VOLUNTEER ACTION CENTRE AND MEDIA SPONSOR THE CORD COMMUNITY EDITION

HG Watson & Justin Fauteux
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, CCE & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE CORD

The news is full of stories about unemployment, failing economies and dubious futures. It’s enough to make anyone feel a little pessimistic. But you won’t find any of those pessimists in these pages. Instead you will find 12 people and organizations who believe in giving back to their community. They’ve donated their time and expertise to making Waterloo Region a better place for lots of people, whether it’s kids who love books, artistic teens or the very fashionable.

The Volunteer Action Centre’s Volunteer Impact Awards, now in its eighth year, are a chance for the community to give back to the people who have put so much of themselves into their volunteer work. On April 18th — during the launch of National Volunteer Week — the 12 winners along with all the nominees will be recognized at a gala dinner reception. It’s just all of our way of saying thanks.

Turn the page for an in depth look at what makes all of this year’s winners so special.

Dave Ogram

Shining Stars: Caring Action Award
David Ogram
Out of the Cold, The Food Bank of WR, Upward Sports, LOGOS

There certainly wasn’t a shortage of people looking to nominate David Ogram for a volunteer impact award. Involved in multiple charitable organizations in the community, Ogram was put forth for the award by his church, the Food Bank of Waterloo Region and the Out of the Cold program.

“‘We help,’ that’s what my dad always used to say,” said Ogram when asked why he does so much volunteer work. “Someone asked him why he does it, and he just said ‘I like to help people.’”

Ogram spends every Friday night from November to mid-April helping in the kitchen at the K-W Out of the Cold program, which provides the city’s homeless with meals and a warm place to sleep. On top of that, he is a team lead for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region, helping any time there is a food drive — a natural choice, given he works full time in warehousing.

In addition, Ogram is heavily involved in other programs run by his church. He helps cook meals on Thursday nights and volunteers with a sports program on Tuesday nights that gives kids a fun, safe atmosphere to learn new skills.

“I’ve been going to my church for about 30 years, it’s just something I’ve always done,” said Ogram, noting that his Christian values are very important to him. “I work in warehousing as my full-time job, that’s why I started working with the Food Bank and the Out of the Cold, I just wanted to do something more for the community.”

In his time volunteering Ogram has had many great experiences, but what he loves to see is the generosity of other people. “One of the Food Bank food drives that we did, I was at one of the stores and a woman came out and she pushed an entire cart full of food to us ” he said. “She said ‘I needed the food bank 10 years ago, I’m fine now, give this to people who need it.’ It was at least $100 worth of food. That was pretty amazing.”

“I’m just happy to be a part of so many great organizations.”


Alicia Mizzi

Twinkling Stars: Outstanding Youth Award
Alicia Mizzi
Ray of Hope

There’s a connection between winners Alicia Mizzi and Ken Wideman. “He was talking about how sometimes fate brings people in for the right reasons,” said Mizzi. Wideman was in need of someone who could teach art lessons. Mizzi has a Bachelor of Fine Arts and was looking for a way of using her skills in a volunteer setting. “Right at that moment I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” She’s been an art teacher with Ray of Hope for over two years.

Mizzi teaches art at Ray of Hope’s alternative education centre for youth who are transitioning out of correctional facilities. For the people Mizzi works with, art is an opportunity for them to feel empowered. “With art they can have complete control over what they’re doing,” she noted. “They can choose their medium, if they want paint or draw or use clay. For a lot of them, they don’t have that control in their lives right now.”

She takes lessons one day at a time. Instead of planning lessons, she tries to get a feel for what her students are ready to do that day. “You have to just do what feels right at that time so it’s a lot more trying to encourage them to get involved in something.”

Mizzi is certainly dedicated. As of February, she has logged over 560 volunteer hours with Ray of Hope, in addition to being a student and taking on other extra-curricular activities. “Sometimes you think you’re going to help people but a lot of times you end up learning so much more than you thought you could,” Mizzi said, adding that she’s incredibly happy to contribute.

Despite having a fine arts background, Mizzi has always known that she wanted to help people. “I originally wanted to be an art therapist,” she recalled. Now she is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Social Work. “It made me feel like I was in the right field,” she said. “You never know until you start volunteering and you start working with people.”


Donna Robertson

Shining Stars: Administrative Action Award
Donna Robertson
Community Support Connections – Meals on Wheels and More

Donna Robertson almost ignored the e-mail telling her she’d won a volunteer impact award.

“I’m one of these cautious seniors who’s very wary of names that I’m not familiar with,” she said. “I thought, ‘no I better not open this’. Then I looked at the subject line and thought ‘maybe I should open this’ and lo and behold it was telling me that I won this award and I couldn’t really believe it.”

The Volunteer Action Centre are recognizing Robertson for her work with Community Support Connections and Meals on Wheels and More, which spans over two decades. In 1990, shortly before her retirement, Robertson joined the board of directors for the K-W Friendship Group for Seniors, which would later amalgamate with other groups to form Community Support Connections and Meals on Wheels and More.

Shortly after retiring, Robertson began looking for volunteer work, and didn’t have to look far, joining the volunteer team for the K-W Friendship group for Seniors, initially doing clerical work. She then took on the responsibility of calling seniors who were on the waiting list for a volunteer from the organization’s “friendly visitor” program.

“These are people who in most cases are living alone. They’re lonely and a lot of them were quite elderly,” said Robertson. “I had one woman that I started out with when she was about 98 years old and she died when she was 106. She was truly amazing.

“We kept contact as long as we were able. She was just a wonderful lady, I loved her to pieces.”

When the K-W Friendship Group for Seniors was merging to form the new organization, Robertson was unsure if she would stay. However, she decided to stick around, a decision she’s very glad she made.

“Everybody is so nice here,” she said. “I never leave without people saying ‘thank you’ and that means a lot. I’ve done some other volunteer work where they didn’t really appreciate what the volunteers did but this is just a wonderful place to volunteer.

Ken Wideman

Shooting Stars: Volunteer Manager Award
Ken Wideman
Ray of Hope

Ken Wideman isn’t a volunteer, but he spends a lot of time working with them. As the volunteer coordinator for Ray of Hope, he wrangles more than 2,000 volunteers who work a combined 52,041 hours each year. But he isn’t even a little tired.

“I love it!” he said. “It’s one of those jobs where you get up in the morning and you look forward to going in to work. That’s always been a neat part of life to have a job that you enjoy doing.”

Wideman is an expert in finding the right volunteer post for the right person. He often encounters people who want to contribute their time but aren’t sure how. That can be especially daunting at Ray of Hope, a large non-profit that offers a wide variety of services to people in need. Out of their community centre space, they even serve hot meals year-round. Much of their work depends on the volunteers Wideman finds and assigns to jobs. “It takes a massive commitment of man power, energy and enthusiasm,” said Wideman. Some of his volunteers work for as a little as a day, others for as long as 15 years.

“Part of what I like to do is explore colouring outside the lines,” said Wideman. It’s how he managed to find Alicia Mizzi, also an award winner, and help her become the fine arts teacher for Ray of Hope’s alternative school. “I started something that had never been done, someone teaching art as a volunteer in our education centre.” Mizzi is a great success story for Ray of Hope. “She has been doing it for two years and is well loved and well appreciated.”

Now it’s Wideman’s turn to get some of the appreciation. He was thrilled to hear that he had won the award for best volunteer manager. “I’m happy to hear that they’re finding that they’re being able to come to me and get answers to questions, solutions to problems,” Wideman said. “It’s gratifying.”

Lisa Doran

Twinkling Stars: Adult Ally Award
Lisa Doran
Family and Children’s Services

There’s an old adage that one person can make a difference, but a group of people can change history. It’s something that Lisa Doran, manager of children & youth services at Family and Children’s Services (FACS) at Waterloo Region, has been able to experience first-hand.

In November 2011, she and a group of young people transitioning from protective care went to Queen’s Park to tell the provincial legislature what it means for kids to lose support once they turn 22, which is when the system releases children from provincially funded care. “Everyone should have a caring adult in their life,” said Doran. “There should be a sense of belonging and permanency.”

Their presentation pushed the government to establish a youth leaving care working group and to allow some financial support for youth past the age of 21 who are in post-secondary education and training.

Doran’s support of the youth goes well beyond advocating for them before politicians. She was nominated for the Adult Ally award because she tirelessly works to ensure children and youth have the tools to transition out of care.

“My passion is to raise the voices for kids in care and make things better for them,” said Doran. She also implemented changes at FACS to ensure that her team is actually working with kids one-on-one. Part of what she advocates is ensuring that people really listen to youth: “Listen to understand.”

One of her favourite parts of her work is the youth advisory board at FACS, which provides feedback for the agency about what they are doing right and wrong, from the perspective of the kids in care. They’re a dynamic group that motivates Doran. “Every time I meet with them I get so inspired personally and professionally from what they’re saying and how they are talking. They’re just so resilient.”

For more than 20 years this has been Doran’s work. For her, the satisfaction comes from empowering teens. “You make a difference,” she noted, adding that it’s satisfying to help people share their own story and develop their own path.

Debb Ritchie

Stellar Volunteer Award
Debb Ritchie
Random Act of Kindness Day – Founder. Also: United Way of Kitchener Waterloo and Area, Rick Hansen Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Outstanding Women of Laurier, UW Tech Park Golf Tournament…

Inspiration struck Debb Ritchie after a stranger’s random act of kindness — and after viewing a Kevin Spacey film.

“I went to a meeting and I was parked in a parking lot to get a ticket stub, and while I was sitting there a fellow came forward and asked if I was going to be there for a while,” said Ritchie. “His meeting got cancelled and he had just paid for parking.” The anonymous stranger handed over his ticket and Ritchie, after finishing her own meeting, passed the favour on to the next stranger who came in the parking lot.

Paying it forward is a familiar concept thanks to the film of the same name (Ritchie watched it a few weeks after her run-in at the parking lot). Ritchie, who works in marketing, knew there was a way of turning this concept into an event that would get everyone else paying it forward.

Random Act of Kindness day is the result of Ritchie’s organizing efforts. Each fall, on a certain day, you’re encouraged to do something kind for a friend, neighbour or random stranger. You also get a card that you pass forward, on-and-on for who knows how long as people keep doing nice things for each other. “[Cards circulate] quite a bit,” said Ritchie. “We’ve had cards sent back to us from different locations around the world: British Columbia, California, Florida and even Ireland.”

Ritchie’s volunteer experience is much too extensive to list here. Suffice it to say, she’s had a long and storied volunteer history — it’s even put her in some well-heeled circles. “I had the opportunity to meet the Queen [of England] 11 years ago,” Ritchie laughed. For her, volunteering is a way for her to see creative and innovative ideas come to life and improve the community. “I’m always coming up with different things to do.”

As for Random Acts of Kindness, there is one thing she won’t be doing anymore: giving out her parking ticket stub. “I actually found out it’s illegal [to do that],” Ritchie laughed.

Peter Gray

Shining Stars: Planning Action Award
Peter Gray
Children’s Water Education Council, Underground Water Festival founder

In 1993, Peter Gray took a trip to Nebraska and came back with an idea. While south of the border, he was exposed to the notion of a children’s groundwater festival and thought it might work in Ontario.

Twenty years later, the Kitchener-based Children’s Water Education Council (CWEC) — formed in 2001 — is still going strong and Gray is still helping execute water festivals throughout Ontario.

The first festival was held in Milton in 1994 and since then, Gray and his team have expanded to carrying out 25 annual festivals across Ontario. “I’m a hydro geologist myself. I’m a dad, I have four kids and I have seen how they like to learn,” said Gray, noting that the festival is mainly geared towards kids in grades two to six.

“We find that that very tactile way of learning is a great way of engaging the kids. That’s why we use the word festival as well. It’s a great time, it’s very exciting, there aren’t clowns or anything like that but we use the word ‘festival’ to capture the fun that the kids are going to have.”

A typical water festival consists of 40 or 50 hands-on activities through which kids learn different lessons related to water. Gray said the festivals cover a very broad base of topics relating to water: everything from water conservation and sustainability, to water issues in third-world countries, to watershed management.

Aside from one paid staff person, CWEC is completely volunteer-run, something Gray is very proud of. But he’s even more proud of the impact the festivals have had on some of the early participants. “I want to step back and let the younger people do it,” he said.

And when it comes to his thoughts on receiving a volunteer impact award, Gray remains humble. “Hundreds of people could be recognized for this,” he said. “It’s not me being recognized, the cause is being recognized.”

ARTA

Constellations: Small Group Award
ARTA Romanian Association

Settling into a new country can be a daunting task for any immigrant. The ARTA Romanian Association works to ease that transition for new arrivals from Romania, while looking to preserve the nation’s culture.

Created in 2000, the organization was built to help new Romanian immigrants integrate into Canadian culture. However, it is also a means of maintaining Romanian culture for the children and grandchildren of immigrants.

“It’s not always easy, but it means a lot for the first generation of immigrants and for their children,” said Mirella Banica-Stanei, a Romanian immigrant and founding member of ARTA. “We want to help [new immigrants] integrate into a new community and society and on the other hand to preserve in our community the traditions and language.”

While Waterloo Region is known for its heavy German influence, Banica-Stanei estimates the Romanian population to be pretty sizable, at about 10,000 people. “We participate at different Romanian events and also multi-cultural festivals in Kitchener or in Guelph or at different events in the larger community, not just in our Romanian community,” said Banica-Stanei.

The group came from humble beginnings, starting mainly as a dance group. It was able to purchase traditional Romanian costumes thanks to a Trillium grant. Since then, they’ve expanded to have an active presence in the community. “There is a need for organizations like this,” she said. “They are, on one hand, a gate between the larger community and the ethnic communities, so they kind of build this bridge between the two parts. They also are a comfort.”

When they received the recognition from the Volunteer Action Centre, the group was taken completely by surprise. “We didn’t expect it all,” said Banica-Stanei. “But it’s a wonderful recognition of the work of many volunteers in our community.”

Fashion

Constellations: Large Group Award
Carol Parsons & Spring Promenade Fashion Show Committee

Every year, the Spring Promenade Fashion Show gives attendees a chance to check out the latest fashion trends. But the event has a much larger purpose.

Currently in its 19th season, the Spring Promenade Fasion Show has raised over $525,000 for the Hospice of Waterloo Region since the show’s inception in 1995. Held at Bingeman’s Marshall Hall, the fashion show features models showing off the latest spring styles, with proceeds being donated to the Hospice of Waterloo Region,

“People are excited to get rid of all the nasty weather and see al the fashions coming out in the spring,” said Carol Parsons, this year’s fashion show chairperson. “People can spend some money on themselves and of course raise money for a great cause.”

The planning committee of 10 women has seen the event grow every year, getting more and more clothing stores — with a focus on local, independent retailers — involved and raising more and more money and awareness for the Hospsice. The funds raised by the fashion show helps the Hospice grow the number of programs it offers and keeps them free of charge.

“We know that at some point in our lives most of us will know someone that will benefit from the services hospice provides,” said Parsons. “At the show itself we have a volunteer from the Hospice that speaks and their stories are always very inspirational. Being able to get that perspective really validates why we put in the time to help.”

Parsons and the committee were thrilled and honoured that the Hospice of Waterloo Region nominated them for a volunteer impact awards. “It is hard to put into words because we really don’t look for that recognition,” said Parsons. “We’re all very humble people, we’re successful professionally and have great family support and to be appreciated for the time we put in to help support this organization, it was very well received by our committee and we were very thankful.”

Kitchener Library

Twinkling Stars: Youth Engaging Organization Award
Kitchener Public Library

Kitchener Public Library has earned a nomination for its excellent work engaging youth volunteers through its various programs and events. We spoke to Sherry Erb, coordinator of volunteer services, about what the nomination means for her.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your youth programs.

A: Our programs have gotten quite large. We have an incredible group of teens who are helping with a wide variety of opportunity. I thought it would be nice to highlight what they do and how they’re involved in so many different aspects of the library. For example every summer we have a special program where we recruit teens just to give us two weeks of their summer to help with summer programs. They have a great rapport with the kids and a lot of enthusiasm. It just makes our programs a great success both for the kids and the staff.

Q: What do you think draws teens to volunteer at the library?

A: I definitely think they’re like-minded individuals. They like books or like helping out, helping kids or met friends who have similar interests. Some are looking at building their resume or looking at letters of recommendation, and they know that if they stay with an organization they have that letter available for them. A lot of them love books. It’s an easy place for them to volunteer their time with in their neighbourhood. It’s a really great fit.

Q: How do you feel about KPL winning the award?

A: I’m very excited. I’m so happy that we’re being recognized that way. Teens are going to be excited about it but I also think the staff that work with the teen volunteers they make it a success because they’re supportive.

Potters

Shining Stars: Special Event Award
Waterloo Potter’s Workshop

It sounds like a lot of work for 25 potters to make 600 bowls — and it is. But for the members of the Waterloo Potters’ Workshop, it’s a labour of love.

Every year since 1999, the Waterloo Potters’ Workshop — a group of local potters that has been in existence for 45 years — has been making bowls for their Empty Bowls event, which aims to combat hunger and poverty in the region. The Empty Bowls event is hosted by the Clay and Glass Gallery and gives participants a chance to buy a handmade bowl and sample some gourmet soup donated by 10 local restaurants. All the proceeds from the event go to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

“[The idea for the empty bowls event] originated in 1991 in Michigan,” explained Laurie Cowell, a member of the Waterloo Potters’ Workshop. “There was a high school teacher who was looking for a project for his students that would get them involved in the community and he came up with the idea of having this “empty bowls” event. “One of our members heard about it and she thought ‘oh, we could do it’ and we took it on. It’s been really well received.”

Three years ago, the Potters’ Workshop started a partnership with the Robert Langen Art Gallery at Wilfrid Laurier University to run a separate Empty Bowls event. The potters provide WLU with 100 bowls, which are filled with soup provided by WLU food services, and the money goes to the Food Bank.

In its first year, the event raised just over $2,300 for the Food Bank, but according to Cowell, it now regularly brings in over $25,000, including the money raised by the event at Laurier. Cowell added that since 1999, the Empty Bowls event has raised $194,555 total. “We always think of the empty bowls as a very positive experience,” said Cowell. “We have some people that come every year. We had one person that said she’d been coming every year for 15 years, I don’t know where she’s putting all these bowls.”

Additional winners:

Shooting Stars: Outstanding Leadership Award

Merv Redman
Mosaic Counselling & Family Services

Nominees included:


Large Group Award

Kitchener Youth Action Council (KYAC)
Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club
Sun Life Financial – Waterloo Wellington Financial Centre
Wright Auto
KPMG
Scotiabank Group

Shining Stars: Administrative Action Award
Adrian Goberdhan and Nick Vafiades
Marlene Pink
Rebecca Broderick

Shining Stars: Caring Action Award
Anne Ruby
Christopher Bluthardt
Harold Vanwyck
Heather Yates
Hui Zou
Justin Gautreau
Kassandra (Kassy) Chiarello
Mary Patterson
Michael Malleck
Patrick Berg
Peter Higgins
Shirley Hambly
Verna Martin

Shining Stars: Planning Action Award
John Jackson
The ILCWR Board of Directors

Shining Stars: Special Event Award
Cindie Hietanen
Lawrence Bingeman
Mike Begin
Ros Hood Morris

Shooting Stars: Outstanding Leadership Award
Carl Roney
Dr. Barry Colbert
Henry Dejong
Jack Gould
Karam Joseph Yousif
Lynn Guénard
Sue Morgan
Veronica Strauss
Victor Zamin

Shooting Stars: Volunteer Manager Award

Jennifer Ball
Jennifer Carreiro

Small Group Award
More Than Engineering (MTE)

Twinkling Stars: Adult Ally Award
Joanne McQuiggan

Twinkling Stars: Outstanding Youth Award
Emerson Carmichael
Paul Ingram
Sabrina Simmons