First Coast volunteers who tirelessly work to improve the Jacksonville community were honored by Volunteer Jacksonville at their Celebration of Service gala, held Thursday, April 6, 2006. This year’s theme, “Volunteers Make the First Coast Shine,” reflected the power volunteers have to inspire the people they help and to inspire others to serve!
“The volunteers that we honored at our annual Celebration of Service have chosen to give the most valuable thing any of us has: our time and energy,” said Dr. Judith A. M. Smith, president and chief executive officer of Volunteer Jacksonville.
Volunteer Jacksonville honored many of the area’s most outstanding volunteers, including Former Mayor Hanz Tanzler for his lifetime of service to the city of Jacksonville, and Linda King, wife of State Senator Jim King, for her work with Hurricane Katrina evacuees.
“The volunteers that we will honor at our annual Celebration of Service have chosen to give the most valuable thing any of us has: our time and energy,” said Dr. Judith A. M. Smith, president and chief executive officer of Volunteer Jacksonville. “They have decided it is important to make their caring count by putting it into action. They represent the many people in our community who have chosen to make service to others a cornerstone in their lives.”
Former Mayor Hans Tanzler, Jr. was presented with the Bernard V. Gregory Servant Leader Award for a lifetime of service to the community and Linda King, wife of Florida Senator Jim King received the Planned Acts of Kindness Award for meeting the immediate needs of Jacksonville’s Hurricane Katrina evacuees by founding Women to the Rescue.
“The very special nature of our community is demonstrated in a single metric that has been tracked in the JCCI Quality of Life Indicators for over 20 years. The 2005 rate of adult volunteering in Jacksonville is reported as 59 percent. This figure ranks far beyond the 28.8 percent reported for the nation by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Volunteer Jacksonville is privileged to lead the First Coast’s volunteer efforts as we inspire, connect, engage and support volunteers who make a difference in our community,” concluded Smith.
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Bob Franskousky, Chaman of the Board of Volunteer Jacksonville, presents Linda King, wife of State Senator Jim King, with an award for her work with Hurricane Katrina evacuees. |
