"(Winston-Salem, NC) – HandsOn Northwest North Carolina in partnership with the United Way of Forsyth County, Salem College, and The Winston-Salem Journal will present the 2015 Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards to nine recipients from across Forsyth County. HandsOn, which works to increase volunteerism and build the capacity of local nonprofits, will present the awards at a breakfast at 8am on Tuesday, May 5th at Salem College’s Bryant Hall. Winners were selected by a volunteer committee from a diverse pool of nominations. Award recipients are: Austin Byrne (Outstanding Mentor Volunteer), Ceanzy Eagle (Faith-Based Volunteer), Epiphany Builders (Family Volunteer), Forsyth County Sheriff’s Citizens Patrol (Team/Group Volunteer), Kaplan Early Learning Company (Corporate/Business Volunteer), Dan Pearson (Individual Adult Volunteer), Lidia Perez (Senior Volunteer), Barbara Ryan (Lifetime Achievement Volunteer), and Beverly Watts (Perseverance in Volunteerism). The People’s Choice Award winner, chosen from amongst all of the nominees by voters at JournalNow.com, will be Lynn Kanode. The program will include addresses from Faye Stone, Retired, Assistant Director of the NC Commission of Volunteerism and Community Service (representing the Governor’s Office,) and the emcee will be Neill McNeill, Fox8 News.
These volunteers give their time to a variety of different organizations and schools. Mr. Byrne won for his service with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Ceanzy Eagle won for her work in founding and organizing Heavenly Inspirations Christian Ministries. Epiphany Builders was honored for their group efforts in providing “fix-it” services to the clients of The Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Citizens Patrol was recognized for their ongoing programmatic support to the Sheriff’s Department and the citizens of Forsyth County. Kaplan Early Learning Company won for their corporately-sponsored “Serve the Hungry Day” with Second Harvest Food Bank of NWNC. Mr. Pearson was recognized for his 20 years of volunteer leadership with Habitat for Humanity. At 90 years old, Lidia Perez was honored for her ongoing work translating for the patients at the Community Care Clinic. Ms. Ryan has provided a lifetime of service to Susan G. Komen Northwest NC. Lastly, Beverly Watts was honored for making sure others did not face the same challenges she did during her mother’s six year battle with Alzheimer’s when she founded the Alzheimer’s Family Care Giver Support Group.
The Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards were first awarded by the Governor’s Office and its Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service in 1979. The award honors citizens who have shown significant concern and compassion for their neighbors through volunteer service. In Forsyth County, the awards were coordinated for over a dozen years by the United Way. Since 2007, the United Way and HandsOn NWNC have worked together to co-host the awards breakfast. Salem College joined the planning team in 2013, and, in 2014, The Winston-Salem Journal helped launch the online nomination and voting system for the awards."
- A Press Release
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