Nominate an Exceptional Volunteer
Each year the Volunteer Center hosts a Recognition Event that honors four exceptional volunteers who inspire others through outstanding volunteer work that makes an impact on the lives of those in need. Honorees are often nominated by current and past VC Board members and VC Partner nonprofit organizations — but anyone in our community can make a nomination. If you know someone who you think deserves to be recognized, simply complete the form below and we will contact you for more details.
Criteria includes:
- Must live in Chicago’s N.E. Cook County
- Must involve volunteer activity of a heightened level
- Volunteer work may not be political
- Local civic and school board membership not eligible
Nominate an Exceptional Volunteer
VOLUNTEER CENTER HONOREES 1969 – 2020
2020 – 60th VC Anniversary and Recognition Event
Selah Freedom Junior Advisory Board Founders – Amanda and Kylie Davidson;
The Haunted Yard Team Founders – Nate Bailey, Ronan Bukta, Jack Chapman, Ben Claybrook, Jake Claybrook, Liam Drehkoff, Thomas Hartman, Ryan McLamore, John Morrissey;
The Ted Mullin Fund – The Mullen-Henry Family, Rick Mullin, Mary Henry, Evan Mullin, Catherine Mullin
Willow House Founder – Stefanie T. Norris;
2019 Ann Barrett, Steve Ford, Lauren Marwil, Michael Murphy (CUMALI);
Lynn Gordon (Madonna Mission); Laura Linger (Business Leader Award); Sarah McClarey (Operation Shelter Cupid, WINGS Program, Inc.)
2018 Lynn Cole (Rise Intnl), Grace House Mentors; Liz Kunkle (Go Green Winn); John Lipscomb (Keystone)
2017 Emily Boling (Floured Apron); Becky Kimbell (Cradle, Flowers); Sydney Martin (Syd Rocks); Lulu Witcoff
2016 Dr. Warren Bruhl, Board and Founders of INFANT, Inc, Mark Stephan, Courtney White
2015 Lou Dickson, Wendy Irwin, Betsy Leibson, Pamela Phillips Weston
2014 Jane Gallery & Frank Craven, Sandy Haggart, Jane Trueheart Huels, Nina Schroeder
2013 Mary McLaughlin, Wendy Serrino, Martin Associates, Herb & Joanie White
2012 Nicole Basil, Louise Holland, Jake Joehl, Make It Better
2011 Volunteer of the Year: Michael Alter
Beth Drucker, Board of Erika’s Lighthouse, Harriet Hahn, Scott Kennedy, Scott Schoder, Nick McCarthy,
Caitlin Mogentale – Student Alliance for Homeless Youth
2010 50thANNIVERSARY OF THE VOLUNTEER CENTER SPECIAL HONOREE Ernie Banks, Founder “Above and Beyond Foundation”
2009 Glencoe Jr. High Project; J.J. Hanley; Derek Schram, Our Place; Tom Maluga & Carol Rigby – Safe Families/Lydia Homes
2008 Volunteer of the Year: Elissa Poorman; Steve Adams (Posthumous); Dan Isherwood & Jim Dower -Urban Initiatives; Ceci Gigiolio & Washburne 8thgraders; Sandi Johnson – NSSC;
High School Service Learning Efforts (NSCD, Loyola, New Trier High School, Regina)
2007 Zengeler Cleaners; Teresa Dobson; Jen Parilla; Joe Taylor – Highcrest Middle School; Kathy Dodd; KWBA GRIFFStrong Home-Run Derby, Kristine Smith
2006 Lake Cook Helping Hands; Helen Sweitzer; LaSalle bank/ABN AMRO; North Shore Magazine; Pioneer Press;
New Suicide Prevention Orgs (Erika’s Lighthouse – Ginny and Tom Neuckranz, Elyssa’s Mission – Ken Meyers)
2005 45thANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON
Mary Adair; Dr. Andrew Cole – Rise International; Sally Schneiders- Do Your P’Art; Elise Kapnick Warsaw, Evie Schweig – Glencoe Jr. High Project,;Kay Pothast -NTHS;
Karen Gitles – FAN, INFANT Inc.; Susan Noyes, Operation Warm; Cheryl and Craig Scherer, Rebuilding Together; Roger Winship – e-Angel Community
2004 Nan Kaehler, Pam Phillips Weston- What Women Want,Sue Jackson, Leticia Romano and Kellie Fischer of LaSalle Bank,
Madame Janine Pefly,Nic Zerebny, Anne Montgomery.
2003 Glencoe Interfaith Builders, Hope Poor, Molly Sholl, Billy Schrader, Lois Scheyer, Jody Smith, Bob Williamson, Country Cobbler, L&A Stationers
2002 Highcrest Middle School, DeeJay Foods, Loyola Life Be In It, New Trier Social Service, Que Pasla, The Junior Board of the VC,
Winnetka Community House, Gary Frye
2001 Barb Cornew, Sue New and Lynn Horne from Middlefork School, Kim Mulligan, Jan Wishart, Fred Mocking, Anders Peterson
2000 40thANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON
Outstanding Volunteers – Daniel Kielson, Julia Forman, Krystal Wells, Heather Wood – Glencoe Jr. High Service Class Students,
Harriet Hahn – Super Senior from NSSC Rebecca Bieber, Katie Buesing, Jessica Lerner, Cheryle Yallen – Wilmette Youth Connection
Five Years of Service – Pam Hoffman, Terri Mathes, Elaine Fandell, Lois Martin
Ten Years of Service – Peggy Bryant Fifteen Years – Rita Turow
1999 Linda Ball – Martha Drake Award, Hubbard Woods School – TV Tuneout, Linda Perry, GJHP, Skokie Serves, Ben Jennings,
Sunset Ridge School, Wilmette Jr. High Service Club
1998 Maradee Barr, Lee Baumgarten, Jan Bawden, Katie Compernolle, Janet Cowel- WJHS, Rick Sitz, Nancy Whiteman
1997 James N. Allans – Martha Drake Award, Perry Brand, Noriko Fujiwara, Jim Eckhouse, Winnetka Alliance for Early Childhood
1996 Cindy Stuhley – Martha Drake Award, Ron Yeargin, Fred Mocking, Irene Schultz
1995 35th ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON Nancy Whiteman – Martha Drake Award, Gwen Trindl, Micki Kimijima, Pam Phillips, Five years of service – Perry Brand, Peggy Bryant, Marvin Keith, Helen Kowalcyk, Bob Lidecker, John Robertson Jones, Elliott Spiess, Mrs. Auste Vigantas
1994 Members of the 1993-94 VTP Board – Martha Drake Award, Ron Yeargin, Cynthia Gehrie, Marietta Marcin Steinberg
1992 Sandy Rau, Lorraine Barba – Martha Drake Award, Keiko Anno
1991 Martha Drake Award – Mari Morgan, Dr. Steve Frankel, Jeanne Adis, Jack Burler, J. de Navarre Macomb
1990 30th ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON Martha Drake Award – Sheila Hulseman, Five years of service – Lisa Derman, Linda Perry, Jane Heydt, Vera Madgey
1988 Special Awards – Barbara Gould, Arnold Behrstock, Paula Andrew, Five years of service – Jim and Cay Garnett, Takako Mizuta, Paula Orellana, Liz Stone, Ten year service – Marietta Marcin
1987 Special Awards – Phil McDowell, Jule Dee, Five years of service – Kay Sugiura, Babs and Marvin Henschel, Petty Officer 2nd Class Rob Meyers, Fifteen years of service – Fred Birnham, Lenore Frick (VTP Director from 1975 to 1984
1986 Special Awards – Louise Mages, Bob Berns, Marnie Atkinson, Five years of service – Bill Tippens, Pat Baldorf, Gerhard Becker, Ten years of service, Fred Mocking
1985 Special Awards – Barbara Everitt, Sue Wells, Katherine Hudson, Five years of service – Dr. Kirk Fineberg, Bob Burchmore, Muriel Stank,
1984 Special Recognition – Martha Drake and Janet Freund (two original founders), Additional Special Awards – Dr, Donald Bergman, Mrs. Lula Ives, Dr. Elizabeth Girardi, Five years of service – Marietta Marcin, Phillip McDowell, Ingrid Rosenfeld, Martha Farwell, Barbara Regnell
1983 Special Awards – Fred Burnham, Roy Porteous, Marion Reuter, Five years of service – Fran Kaplan, Genevieve MacDougall, Anna Baker
1981 Five years of service -Pat Baldauf, Pat Berwanger, Ann Cole, Pat Croak, Dr. Henry Fineberg, Marilyn Fritz, Maxine Grossman, Charlotte Herman, Laurie Levy, Mr. Philip McDowell, Denise Philpot, James Williams, Becker – Northfield Animal Hospital, 1st Business and Professional School of Wilmette
1978 Five years of service -The Winnetka Park District the The Family Service of Winnetka-Northfield. Lenore Bates, Gerhard Becker, Ginny Bierwaltes, Robert Burns, James Bremner, Frederick Burnham, Riata Byrne, Savine de La Panouse, Grace Freeman, Suzanne Gerlits, Mary Gonnoud, Carolyn Haas, Sally Hands, Caroline Harnsberget, Mimi Howard, Mary Ann Judson, Binnie Kanne, Ethel Katz, Harriette Koeller, Mary Norris Lloyd, Gwen Lueker, Marty Mann, Kazuko Mayahara, Eileen McGowan, Jan Pigott, Helen Ray, Marion Reuter, David Schreiber, Jena Schreiber, Joseph Sondheimer, Liz Stone, Elinor Swiger, Francis Weeks, James Yohanan
1977 Five years of service – Betyy-Claire Aschauer, John Butler, Sabine de la Panouse, Hope farrell, Mary Frey, Rae Fritz, Miriam Greenblatt, Loretta Heiser, Joan Norris Lloyd, Kay Logan, Gwen Luecker, Dr. Lola May, Katherine McKinney, Mary Pattison, Rosalind Reinhard, Lois Sachs, Viola chwimmer, Dr. Ernest Solomon, Helene Steglich, Harry Volkman, Joseph Yohanan, Marie Higginbotham
1969 – First Known Commendation Mr. Arthur Anderson was nominated as a valuable volunteer for the Adult Volunteer-of the-year Volunteer Service Award sponsored by the State Street Council and the Volunteer Bureau of the Welfare Council of Metropolitan Chicago. Mr. Anderson participated as a volunteer with the VTP since its beginning in 1960 as an expert in electricity.
