MIAMI, Fla. — Today, during the Florida Cabinet meeting, Governor Rick Scott and Volunteer Florida CEO Chester Spellman presented the Volunteer Florida Champion of Service Award to Robert Feldman, Lucida Attilus and Manoucheka Thermitus.
Governor Scott said, “It is an honor to present the Champion of Service Award to these hardworking, deserving volunteers. By dedicating their time and energy to helping others, they are making South Florida’s many diverse communities stronger.”
The following individuals received the Volunteer Florida Champion of Service Award today:
Robert Feldman, 84, of Miami, has volunteered for Switchboard of Miami for more than two decades. Switchboard (2-1-1) is a nonprofit that counsels, connects and empowers people in need. Since the beginning of his 23-year volunteer commitment, Robert has volunteered more than 4,000 hours to provide information, referrals and crisis counseling through the Switchboard Helpline. Building on his work answering critical calls as a volunteer Helpline Counselor, Robert has recently transitioned into a new program, “Seniors Never Alone,” calling the same seniors every week to check on them and promote positive living.
Lucida Attilus, 21, of Fort Lauderdale, is a dedicated Take Stock in Children mentor in Broward County. A second generation American born of Haitian descent, Lucida is one of the program’s youngest mentors and is able to relate well to her mentee and offer first-hand advice about education, college, careers, diversity and goal setting.
Manoucheka Thermitus, 36, of Miami, spearheaded Leadership Miami Team Ascend, which provided assistance, resources and attention needed to take Little Haiti and its residents to new heights so it could prosper both economically and culturally. Team Ascend provided hands-on support and guidance to revitalize and rebrand a 2-block radius within Little Haiti. With Manoucheka’s leadership, a team of volunteers: provided business revitalization, cleaning and reorganizing storefronts and inventory; planted new plants and trees at the Little Haiti Community Garden; and beautified Memorial Park, whose statue of Toussaint L’Overture is a historic landmark enjoyed by residents and visitors.
Volunteer Florida CEO Chester Spellman said, “Volunteer Florida is excited to highlight the tremendous work being done by volunteers in Miami Dade and Broward Counties. Robert, Lucida and Manoucheka are all self-starters who prove that volunteers can have a lasting, positive impact in communities and in the lives of others.”
The Volunteer Florida Champion of Service Award honors individuals and groups for their outstanding volunteer efforts. For more information about the Volunteer Florida Champion of Service Awards, click here.
Volunteer Florida, the Governor’s Commission on Community Service, was established in 1994 by the Florida Legislature to administer grants under the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. The Commission grants funds to Florida AmeriCorps and National Service programs; coordinates volunteers and donations in a disaster; and inspires all Floridians to serve their communities. For more information, visit: www.volunteerflorida.org.