Congratulations to the Outstanding 2017 Honorees Who Were Recognized at Our 2017 Recognition Event — “Growing Volunteerism Through Inspiration” This Spring.
The Community House in Winnetka Provided a Perfect Setting for an Inspiring Celebration
Meet This Year’s Remarkable Honorees
Emily Bolling, Founder and Executive Director
The Floured Apron
The Floured Apron empowers women from underserved communities with the training, knowledge and support to forge a new and more economically-secure career path in the baking industry. Emily and her volunteer staff provide a full range training program that includes classroom instruction kitchen training, and weekly bakery production and expansive life changing personal support.
Becky Kimbell, Exceptional Volunteer
The Cradle and Random Acts of Flowers Chicago
The Cradle builds and strengthens families through adoption and lifelong support for those touched by adoption. Becky is the “brave and fearless” volunteer manager of their holiday gift program that impacts 160 children and 50 low-income Cradle birth parents and families.
Becky is also one of the founding volunteers who helped establish the Chicago branch for Random Acts of Flowers in 2014. As one of the original 20 volunteers, Becky helps Random Acts of Flowers improve the emotional health and well-being of individuals in health care facilities by delivering recycled flowers, encouragement and personal moments of kindness.
Sydney Martin, Founder
Syd Rocks, Giving Rocks Foundation
What originally started in 2007 as a passion project by 10-year-old Sydney Martin after a diagnosis of Langerhan’s Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), has evolved into a successful 501(c)3 nonprofit. After researching LCH, Syd and her family were shocked to find that the potentially fatal blood disease was grossly underfunded with little research devoted to it. Syd started selling her unique rock necklaces made from rocks found on the shores of Lake Michigan to raise money for medical research, and Syd Rocks was born. Although she won her battle against LCH, Syd was still passionate about finding a cure. The Martin Family expanded Syd’s charitable business to the Giving Rocks Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a full board of directors and a powerful mission to eliminate pediatric cancer, with a focus on LCH.
Lulu Witcoff, Exceptional Volunteer
Rainbow Assisted Animal Therapy and Center for Conflict Resolution
Lulu has been an incredible volunteer since 2007 with Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy in Morton Grove. She is a program chair for Rainbow AAT where she develops lesson plans, oversees the assignments of other volunteers and brings her therapy dog Billy to people with special needs (especially children) to help them develop and build essential skills, giving them a focus other than their disability or disease. Lulu and Billy also regularly teach Dog Safety at the Kohl’s Childen’s Museum.
As an attorney and arbitrator, Lulu also generously gives her free time as a pro-bono certified mediator with the Center for Conflict Resolution, an organization that works with individuals, communities, courts and other institutions to manage and resolve conflict. CCR places a high value on its volunteers who undergo rigorous training in order to mediate for them.
Questions? E-mail info@volunteercenterhelps.org
