Volunteer Awards
Co-sponsored by the South Carolina Association for Volunteer Administration (SCAVA,) the 2004-2005 Governor’s Volunteer Awards recognize the contributions made by seven special volunteers or volunteer groups in the State of South Carolina.
A diverse committee of professional volunteer administrators representing public and private agencies and organizations throughout the state selected this year’s recipients. The committee was charged with selecting volunteers in seven categories from a large pool of applicants. Following are the winners in each category:
Mr. Allan Schurr, Community Leader Volunteer: This category recognizes an individual who provides broad and exceptional leadership to causes, programs, and projects that address human needs. Mr. Schurr is a dedicated volunteer and many organizations and individuals have benefited from his service to Meals on Wheels in Spartanburg, the board of Midlands Technical College, the Prostate Survivor’s Support Group, Rotary Camp OK, and the Prison Visitation Volunteers.
Ms. Laura Watkins, Direct Service Volunteer: This category recognizes a person who excels in providing one-on-one service to an individual or group. Ms. Watkins has been a volunteer advocate for two years, volunteering a minimum of 30 hours each month, in addition to training new advocates, to provide crisis intervention to victims of sexual assault and abuse. Despite her own serious medical problems, she has made serving others a priority, while spreading the word that volunteers are important.
Personal Touch Volunteers of Palmetto Health Baptist, Volunteer Group: This category recognizes a group that has been instrumental in designing or sponsoring a program or project to benefit the community and individual needs, and in doing so, has demonstrated extraordinary initiative and commitment. This year’s group consists of 87 carefully selected and trained volunteers who together provided over 12,600 hours of service last year. Founded in 1990, the Personal Touch Volunteers deliver competent and compassionate hands-on care directly to the patients.
Shawn Anderson, Youth Individual Volunteer: This category recognizes a young person (under the age of 19) who excelled in voluntary service to an individual, organization or the community. Shawn has served as a volunteer since May 2002 and has contributed over 300 hours of service, assisting the staff of Toumey Healthcare System to ensure that the patients have a more comfortable stay. He has managed to uphold his commitment while maintaining good grades and participating in other extracurricular activities. In addition to his regular volunteer activities, he will often provide assistance for special projects.
The Smith Family, Martha, Tim, Brittany and Bethany, Family Volunteer Award: This category recognizes a family who provides broad and exceptional leadership to causes, program and/or projects that address human needs. The Smith family has touched their community in a variety of ways, including service to Habitat for Humanity, the Lowcountry Food Pantry, Helping Hands Ministry, and Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital. They also provide special baked goodies for the Fire Rescue Stations and use their musical talents to comfort those in hospital waiting rooms. They have graciously invited lonely fellow volunteers into their home and have raised money for heart disease.
Palmetto Health, Workplace Volunteer: This category recognizes a corporation, business or trade association that has demonstrated commitment to the community by supporting volunteer activities. Palmetto Health has adopted a whole cluster of schools and implemented a plan whereby employees participate in the lunch buddy program at elementary schools, conduct teacher workshops on stress management and conflict resolution, conduct workshops to help children deal with grief and loss, provide CPR training, implement wellness programs and health screenings, and provide job shadowing, career counseling, and nutrition and physical activity education. The outcome has been increased attendance and grades and less discipline referrals.
Ms. Joan Perry, The Robin Burns Volunteer Administrator Award: This award, which is named for SCAVA’s first President, is presented to a person who advances volunteerism through demonstrated skills in management and administration of a successful volunteer program. Ms. Perry manages a corps of over 400 volunteers at Roper St. Francis Healthcare and still finds time to serve as a dedicated volunteer herself. She works hard to meet the needs of her volunteers as well as her clients and is always willing to go beyond what is expected. In addition, she also uses her talent as a photographer to take pictures of her volunteers in action.