[The 2nd Annual Mayor’s Volunteer Appreciation Awards]
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SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING BRAVING DOWNTOWN FOR THOSE WHO'VE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE.UH, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE, WELCOME BACK.
TODAY IS OUR SUPER BOWL, OUR BIRTHDAY.
WE ARE CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS AND ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO.
WE ARE CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS AND ALL THE AMAZING THINGS THAT YOU GUYS DO.
I WILL FIRST INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I AM THE VISION MANAGER FOR THE OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, AND BEFORE I GO FORWARD, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY AMAZING TEAM.
UH, FIRST I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MR. ROMAN AGUILAR RIGHT HERE, ROMAN WAVE.
ROMAN IS THE CITY'S VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR.
WITHOUT HIM, THIS EVENT DOES NOT HAPPEN.
UM, HE HELPED WITH THE FOOD, HE HELPED WITH THE SETUP, THE DECORATIONS.
HE HAS DONE A YEOMAN'S JOB IN LESS THAN EIGHT MONTHS ON THE JOB.
SO I BOW, I TAKE, I TIP MY HAT TO YOU, ROMAN.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MS. LASANA BROWN.
SHE IS OUR MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL ADVISOR.
I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MS. RACHEL GUTIERREZ RIGHT THERE IN THE BACK.
SHE OVERSEES OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITY UNIVERSITY.
AND THEN I'D LIKE TO ACKNOW MISS MYRA HIPPOLITE.
I ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY AMAZING, UM, LEADERS, UM, HERBERT SIMS, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND MY AMAZING DIRECTOR, TASHA FRANCIS.
LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE ARE HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT VOLUNTEERS GIVE, NOT ONLY TO THE CITY AS A ENTITY, BUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
AND SO WE'RE JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE HARD HOURS AND THE EXTRA TIME THAT YOU GUYS PUT IN SERVING YOUR COMMUNITIES AND GIVING BACK TO PEOPLE.
UH, MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME A LONG TIME AGO, IT IS BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.
AND FOR THAT, WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.
SO, UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW YOU GUYS DIDN'T COME TO SEE ME OR HEAR ME.
UH, YOU, YOU CAME TO SEE AND HEAR OUR AMAZING MAYOR, UH, SYLVESTER TURNER, WHO'S JUST MADE IT IN.
MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TAKING TIME OUT AND YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH THIS.
UM, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M GONNA PASS THE MIC OVER.
I KNOW Y'ALL, TYLER, LOOKING AT ME.
I'M GONNA PASS THE MIC OVER TO MS. ANDREA.
MS. ANDREA, SHE'S GONNA COME AND SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL.
I THINK WE SHOULD DO ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOU.
YEAH, LET'S RAISE THE ROOF PEOPLE.
I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF VOLUNTEERISM AND CIVIC SERVICE FOR INTERFAITH MINISTRIES FOR GREATER HOUSTON.
AND I'M HERE WITH MY VOLUNTEER HOUSTON TEAM TO RECOGNIZE NOT JUST THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WE ARE PUTTING FORTH FOR THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION, BUT FOR ALL OF YOU, I'D LIKE TO THANK BROOKE CAMPBELL OVER IN THE CORNER, YOU GUYS PROBABLY EVERYONE MET HER.
SHE'S DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEER HOUSTON, JUSTIN BRYANT, WHO IS OUR PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR VOLUNTEER HOUSTON MARTIN KAMINSKY, OUR PRESIDENT, AND CEO OUR TREMENDOUS PARTNERS AT UNITED WAY, RONNIE HAGGERTY AND AMANDA MCMILLAN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO PAUL, WHEREVER HE, OH, THERE YOU ARE, PAUL, UH, FOR INVITING US TO BE PART OF THIS DAY.
AND I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY A FEW WORDS.
MY LATE MOTHER USED TO ALWAYS SAY THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE MONEY TO GIVE, BUT WE DO HAVE A GIFT THAT IS MOST PRECIOUS AND IT IS OUR TIME.
AND TRULY, ALL OF YOU HAVE GIVEN THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT THAT YOU CAN TO OTHERS AND TO CAUSES AND TO COMMUNITIES.
YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS HAVE HELPED US TO ACHIEVE SO MUCH IN THIS COMMUNITY AND HAVE MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE THAT ARE SERVED.
WHETHER YOU'VE HELPED DELIVER MEALS TO SENIORS, READ TO CHILDREN, CLEAN UP PLAYGROUNDS, ORGANIZE EVENTS, OR LEND A LISTENING EAR, YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW THAT VOLUNTEERING IS NOT ALWAYS EASY AND BALANCING IT WITH OTHER COMMITMENTS
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CAN BE CHALLENGING.NEVERTHELESS, YOU SHOWED UP, YOU SHOWED UP ALL THE TIME AND ALWAYS WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE AND A WILLINGNESS TO LEND A HELPING HAND.
YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR THE WORK THAT YOU CHOSE CALLED SERVICE HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL.
AND SO I THANK YOU AND I TELL YOU ONCE AGAIN THAT YOU ARE THE TRUE HEROES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME TO THE STAGE MY AMAZING, UH, DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR TASHA FRANCIS.
IF WITH PLEASURE, YOU ARE VIEWING ANY WORK A MAN IS DOING AND YOU LIKE HIM OR YOU LOVE HIM, SAY IT NOW.
DON'T WITHHOLD YOUR APPROBATION TILL THE PARSON MAKES SERRATION AND HE LIES WITH SNOWY LILIES OR HIS BROW FOR IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW YOU SHOUT IT.
HE WON'T KNOW HOW MANY TEARDROPS YOU HAVE SHED.
IF YOU THINK SOME PRAISE IS DO HIM, NOW IS THE TIME TO GIVE IT TO HIM FOR HE CANNOT READ HIS TOMBSTONE WHEN HE IS DEAD.
THOSE WORDS WERE SPOKEN IN THE POEM, DO IT NOW BY BARTON BRALEY.
AND TODAY, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO.
AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE, EVERY MINUTE, EVERY MOMENT, EVERY HOUR OF SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I AM TASHA FRANCIS, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE LIFEBLOOD OF HOUSTON, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE BEST KNOWN FOR AMONGST OTHERS IS OUR RESILIENCE.
AND OUR RESILIENCE COMES FROM THE FACT THAT WE ARE TRULY NEIGHBORS IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD, BUT NOT JUST WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, BUT LITERALLY EVERY DAY HOUSTONIANS FIND A WAY TO MAKE SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE BETTER.
AND WE WANT TO CELEBRATE YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS, THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL BE HONORED, THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU TO THE MAN I'M ABOUT TO BRING TO THE STAGE RIGHT NOW.
OUR MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER, WHO IS THE EPITOME OF A GIVER IN EVERYTHING HE DOES, HIS OUTREACH, HIS INITIATIVES, AND HIS VISION FOR THIS CITY IS ROOTED IN THE FACT THAT HE HIMSELF IS A GIVER AND BELIEVES IN GIVING HIS BEST TO OUR CITY EACH AND EVERY DAY FOR TWO ADMINISTRATIONS.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO CALL HIM UP RIGHT NOW.
PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME OUR MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER.
THAT'S LOOK, LET ME SAY GOOD MORNING.
AND UH, UH, DIRECTOR ASHA FRANCIS.
SHE KNOWS HOW TO OPEN UP A PROGRAM, DOESN'T SHE? GIVE IT UP TO THE DIRECTOR ONE MORE TIME.
LOOK, I'M HONORED TO BE WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
THIS IS A VERY, VERY, UH, SPECIAL DAY, UH, BECAUSE YOU ARE VOLUNTEERS AND AS YOU HAVE HEARD, UH, WHEN YOU GIVE OF YOUR TIME, THAT'S A MAJOR COMMODITY THAT'S BEEN GIVEN.
SO ON BEHALF OF 2.3 MILLION HOUSTONIANS, UH, LET ME SAY THANK YOU.
UH, OFTEN THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE DURING TIMES OF CRISIS OR NEED, OR WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT YOUR SELFLESSNESS AND YOUR GENEROSITY.
OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AND BEYOND, WE'VE FACED MANY, MANY CHALLENGES.
BUT BECAUSE VOLUNTEERS HAVE STEPPED UP, THE CITY HAS PROVEN ITSELF TO BE STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT, AND MORE SUSTAINABLE.
UH, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMPACT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
TODAY WE'RE JOINED BY TWO WELL-KNOWN NONPROFITS THAT HAVE BEEN SERVING HOUSTONIANS FOR MANY YEARS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR'S VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION PROGRAM, INTERFAITH MINISTRIES FOR GREATER HOUSTON, AND ITS VOLUNTEER HOUSTON DIVISION AND UNITED WAY OF GREATER HOUSTON.
GIVE IT UP FOR BOTH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND I WANT TO EXTEND A SPECIAL WELCOME TO THE REPRESENTATIVES
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OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AS WE JOINTLY RECOGNIZE THE WORK, UH, AND DEDICATION OF HOUSTON'S EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE VOLUNTEERS.
UH, TOGETHER WE ARE RECOGNIZING SOME REMARKABLE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE GENEROUSLY, GENEROUSLY, UH, GIVEN OF THEIR TIME TO SERVE THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF THIS GREAT CITY.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU'LL LOOK AROUND, YOU WILL SEE THE DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY REPRESENTED RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM.
AMONG OUR GUESTS OF HONOR ARE THE 29 HOUSTONIANS WHO, UH, RECEIVE THE 2023 PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST HONOR A CITIZEN CAN RECEIVE FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE.
I ALSO HAVE THE PLEASURE OF PRESENTING THE 2023 MAYOR'S VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION AWARDS TO 19 VOLUNTEERS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PARTNER WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS VOLUNTEER INITIATIVE PROGRAM TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO HOUSTONIANS THE DEPARTMENT'S VOLUNTEER INITIATIVE PROGRAM.
REGULARLY PARTNERS OR VOLUNTEER PROJECTS WITH NONPROFITS, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES TO IMPROVE NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROMOTE VOLUNTEERISM.
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER INTERFACE MINISTRIES WILL PRESENT THE SPOTLIGHT VOLUNTEER AWARDS TO 19 ORGANIZATIONS NOMINATED BY THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY INTERFAITH MINISTRIES AND UNITED WAY WILL PRESENT THE HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATORS JOAN WAIT, HANDLING MEMORIAL AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE IN VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT.
AND TODAY WE ARE HERE TO SIMPLY SAY THANK YOU, UH, TO VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY TO HELP OUR CITY TACKLE BIG CHALLENGES AND FIND UNIQUE WAYS TO MAKE LIFE DIFFERENT FOR VE FOR FELLOW CITIZENS VOLUNTEERS.
IF YOU ARE VOLUNTEER, JUST RAISE YOUR HAND.
VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FOOD BANKS AND HOMELESS SHELTERS.
THEY HELP RESTORE CITY PARKS, ASSIST SENIOR CITIZENS AND MENTOR YOUTH, AND THEY HELP MANAGE COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES SUCH AS HEALTHCARE LITERACY PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES.
AND WHETHER THE CALLING FOR SERVICE IS DAILY OR A RESPONSE IN TIME OF CRISIS, VOLUNTEERS MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
AND HOUSTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PLACE WHERE THE SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM THRIVES FOR HOUSTONIANS NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.
IT'S NOT A SLOGAN, IT IS A WAY OF LIFE.
IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD FEELING TO HELP PEOPLE AND GIVE OF ONESELF FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS IN NEED.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S INTRODUCE THE 29 HOUSTONIANS WHO RECEIVED THE 2022 PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD.
THIS HONOR IS BESTOWED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND CELEBRATES A CITIZEN'S DEDICATION TO A LIFE OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND TO INTRODUCE OUR HONOREES, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MR. MARTIN B COMISKEY, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF INTERFAITH MINISTRIES TO THE PODIUM TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE AWARDS AND INTRODUCE THE AWARD RECIPIENTS.
MARTIN, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR JOINING UNITED WAY AND VOLUNTEER HOUSTON AND THE WONDERFUL CITY OF HOUSTON IN HONORING VOLUNTEERS.
TODAY WE DO THIS WORK EVERY DAY AS VOLUNTEER HOUSTON, BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE A MOMENT EACH YEAR TO RECOGNIZE ALL THOSE WHO VOLUNTEER.
UH, YOU ARE REPRESENTING MANY MORE PEOPLE.
UH, THERE'S SOME HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE IN OUR DATABASE MAYOR THAT HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO VOLUNTEER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE COME TOGETHER AFTER A DISASTER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PRESENT AND THEY ARE HERE TO HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS.
TASHA, YOU'RE A HEART ACT TO FOLLOW, BUT LET ME JUST SAY, UM, I'M GONNA SPEAK ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY AND ALSO THE POINTS OF LIGHT FOUNDATION, WHICH WAS CREATED BY PRESIDENT BUSH TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT ALL VOLUNTEERS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND ALSO TO AMERICORPS.
AND OUR SERVE HOUSTON AMERICORPS PROGRAM IN HOUSTON IS A LEADER IN HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE DO, UH, A YEAR OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EARN MONEY FOR THEIR EDUCATION AND FOR THEIR OPPORTUNITIES.
WITH THAT SAID, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE 29 PEOPLE WHO, UH, ARE RECIPIENTS TODAY OF THE PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD.
UH, THERE ARE SEVERAL LEVELS OF THAT.
THERE'S THE BRONZE, SILVER, AND GOLD LEVEL,
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AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT THAT HAVE DONE 4,000 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE.AND WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THEM TODAY.
THIS AWARD HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 20 YEARS, STARTED IN 2003, AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL ON THE HONOREES AND ASK THEM TO JOIN ME IN FRONT OF THE STAGE.
AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO WITH THE MAYOR FOR THAT TIME.
MAY I BEGIN WITH EMMA OHI, A WSI A GOLD MEMBER, NIKITA BAPA, A GOLD MEMBER HALEN CHIN, A GOLD RECIPIENT, DEBORAH CHU, A BRONZE RECIPIENT, ELIANA CORRINGTON, A BRONZE RECIPIENT, PRINCESS AGI AWARE, A BRONZE RECIPIENT RAYMOND FLOYD, A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
JONATHAN REDDING, A BRONZE AWARD.
BRADEN SALMONS A SILVER AWARD.
CAMILLE SCHNEIDER, A BRONZE AWARD.
AND JUAN SOTO, A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT RECIPIENT.
ALAN STEINBERG, A SILVER AWARD AND HIS MOTHER, ESTHER STEINBERG, A GOLD AWARD RECIPIENT AUSTIN WANG, A SILVER AWARD AND ENDING WITH ROBERT ZANG, A GOLD AWARD.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, WE LIKE EACH OTHER.
AND PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO ALL OF THOSE AWARD RECIPIENTS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL RECIPIENTS OF THE PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD.
WE CELEBRATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND FOR MAKING US HOUSTON PROUD.
IT IS NOW HONOR TO PRESENT THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2023 MAYOR'S VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION AWARD TO 19 RECIPIENTS.
OUR HONOREES ARE INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING AN AWARD IN THE YOUTH CATEGORY AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS VOLUNTEER INITIATIVE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF CORE SERVICES TO HOUSTON RESIDENTS.
LET ME ASK, UH, DIRECTOR FRANCIS, UH, TO COME FORTH TO PRESENT THESE HONORARIES.
SO WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR'S VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION AWARDS TO DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS RECIPIENTS.
I WANNA IMPLEMENT THE ONE CLAP SYSTEM.
WHEN WE GET TO THE END OF EVERYONE, THEN WE'RE GONNA GIVE EVERYBODY ROCK OF APPLAUSE.
SO LET'S START, LET'S BRING TO THE STAGE RIGHT NOW, MS. RELL DUNCAN SHERELL VOLUNTEERS WITH OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES UNIVERSITY AND HAS GIVEN SOME AMAZING PRESENTATIONS.
SO WHEN YOU COME UP, THANK YOU.
LET'S NOW RECOGNIZE CLAUDIA ORTEGA HOGUE.
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CLAUDIA IS A MEMBER OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF NEW AMERICA'S ADVISORY COUNCIL.NOW LET'S RECOGNIZE MS. ESMERALDA.
LUNA ESMERALDA ASSISTS WITH PERMANENT RESIDENT WITH THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR NATURALIZATION THROUGH OUR MAYOR'S OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
SOMEBODY WAS REALLY PAYING ATTENTION PAYING.
NOW LET'S WELCOME ABOUT MS. GUADALUPE.
THEO GUADALUPE ASSISTS PERMANENT RESIDENTS WITH THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR NATURALIZATION THROUGH OUR MAYOR'S OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
WE NOW HAVE MS. NARITA RENDON NARITA ALSO ASSISTS OUR PERMANENT RESIDENTS WITH THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR NATURALIZATION THROUGH OUR MAYOR'S OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, ANDY MARTINEZ.
MS. ANDY ALSO WORKS WITH OUR MAYOR'S OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES TO ASSIST RESIDENTS WITH THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR NATURALIZATION.
I WANNA GO AHEAD AND ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THESE LADIES.
Y'ALL STAY IN PLACE NOW LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A RAUS HAND OF APPLAUSE.
OKAY, EVERYBODY ELSE, 5, 4, 3, 2.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
NOW WE HAVE THE MAYOR'S NEXT GENERATION VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION AWARD.
IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MAYOR TURNER, HE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE THINGS THAT OUR YOUTH DO IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ALWAYS ENCOURAGING THEIR ACTIVISM AND THEIR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
AND SO WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE A YOUNG LADY WHO HAS OVER 120 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE THIS YEAR.
SHE IS A SENIOR AT EAST EARLY HIGH SCHOOL AND HISD AND HAS VOLUNTEERED EXTENSIVELY WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES PROGRAM THROUGH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
HELP ME WELCOME AND CONGRATULATE RAUCOUS APPLAUSE FOR MELANIE LEON.
AND MELANIE IS THE MAYOR'S NEXT GENERATION VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION AWARD RECIPIENT.
I THINK IT WAS WHITNEY HOUSTON THAT SAID THE CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE.
SO WE'RE GOING ON NOW TO THE MAYOR'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD.
WE ARE NOW RECOGNIZING AN ORGANIZATION CALLED TEEN INC.
THAT IS THE RECIPIENT FOR THIS YEAR.
SO IS REPRESENTATIVE FROM TEEN INC.
TEEN INC PARTNERS WITH OUR VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES PROGRAM FOR SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS THAT HAVE IMPACTED OUR SENIORS AND INCARCERATED YOU.
SO LET'S WELCOME AND CONGRATULATE THE MAYOR'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT.
WE ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR'S ALMA MATER, THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON LAW CENTER.
IS THERE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM U OF H'S LAW CENTER? COME ON DOWN.
THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CENTER IMMIGRATION CLINIC PARTNERS WITH BAKER RIPLEY IMMIGRATION AND COUNSELING PROGRAM AND OUR N-A-L-E-O EDUCATIONAL FUND.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF OUR MAYOR'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS.
WE WANT TO WELCOME TO THE STAGE IN A LEO EDUCATIONAL FUND.
WHO IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE? COME ON DOWN.
AND WHILE WE ARE WAITING FOR HIM TO COME ON DOWN, THE MAYOR'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD, THESE ARE ALL RECIPIENTS WHO WORKED, UH, VERY CLOSELY WITH THE CITY'S VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES PROGRAM.
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS HAS THE OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT.
SO THESE ARE MANY OF OUR PARTNERS THAT
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HELP PUSH OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.AND THE N-A-L-E-O EDUCATIONAL FUND HAS PARTNERED WITH THE U OF H LAW IMMIGRATION CLINIC AND BAKER RIPLEY'S IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM.
MOVING ON TO THE TEXAS AUTOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE, COME ON DOWN.
TEXAS AUTOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE HAS DONATED CHRISTMAS GIFTS DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND HAS VOLUNTEERED IN RECENT STOCKINGS FOR SENIORS INITIATIVES WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE ALSO WANT TO WELCOME NAN AND COMPANY PROPERTIES.
NAN AND COMPANY PROPERTIES HAS PARTICIPATED IN VOLUNTEERING PROJECTS LIKE BUILDING, UH, DESKS FOR OUR HISD STUDENTS AT THE HOUSTON TOOL BANK AND DONATING TURKEY BASKETS TO FAMILIES DURING THANKSGIVING.
WE NOW BRING TO THE STAGE OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD RECOVERY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OUT OF THIRD WARD.
IN OUR CDC PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S A MONTH OF SERVICE PROGRAM THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH IS OUR LEGAL WORKSHOPS, MONTHLY WORKSHOPS THAT WE OFFER FOR FREE, UH, RANGING FROM HARRIS COUNTY TAX ISSUES TO WILLS AND ESTATES.
SO WE THANK OUR PARTNERS FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO.
SPEAKING OF LEGAL PARTNERS, WE WANT TO UH, ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LONE STAR LEGAL AID.
LONE STAR LEGAL AID IS ALSO ONE OF OUR A MONTH OF SERVICE PARTNERS AND WE, WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL GREATLY FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US.
YOU KNOW THIS IS A DAY FOR LAWYERS, ISN'T IT?
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION FOR VOLUNTEERING WITH US WITH OUR MONTH OF SERVICE PROGRAMMING AND WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.
AND OF SPEAKING OF ALMA MATER'S, MINE IS ALSO A PART OF THIS.
THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, EARL CARL INSTITUTE, COME ON DOWN.
THE TSU EARL CARL INSTITUTE PARTNERS WITH OUR A MONTH OF SERVICE PROGRAMMING.
SOME OF Y'ALL CAN JUST COME ON UP HERE ON THE STAGE AT THIS POINT.
SO Y'ALL COME TO THE MAYOR'S DIRECTING NOW.
HE SAID Y'ALL COME ON UP ON THE STAGE NOW.
AND WE ALSO WANT TO WELCOME THE HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT AS ONE OF OUR PARTNERS.
AND OUR HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT PARTNERS WITH US WITH THE A MONTH OF SERVICE PROGRAMMING.
AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, THE HARRIS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT, WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR OFFICE DOES TO HELP US WITH OUR MONTH OF SERVICE PROGRAMMING.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE GIVE IT UP FOR ALL OF THESE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE RECIPIENTS OF THE MAYOR'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD.
AND I ACTUALLY ONE SECOND BEFORE WE TAKE THE GROUP PHOTO.
I OVERLOOK THE HOUSTON VOLUNTEER.
WHERE ARE OUR HOUSTON VOLUNTEER LAWYERS? COME ON DOWN.
HOUSTON VOLUNTEER LAWYERS ASSOCIATION WAS ONE OF OUR VERY FIRST PARTNERS COMING INTO THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH A MONTH OF SERVICE.
AND I WANNA THANK THEM SO VERY MUCH.
I SEE YOU OVER HERE IN THE, THERE WE GO.
ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THESE ARE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE RECIPIENTS OF THE MAYOR'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD.
LET'S THANK THEM ONE MORE TIME FOR THEIR SERVICE TO COMMUNITY.
ALL RIGHT, SO YOU READY? JEFF? YOU CAN COME IN.
Y'ALL WANNA COME IN? GOT EVERYBODY? OKAY, THERE WE GO.
EVERYBODY ELSE, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR OUR AWARD RECIPIENTS.
YOU ALL MAY TAKE YOUR SEATS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
NOW WHILE WE'RE TRANSITIONING BACK TO OUR SEATS, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP ANOTHER VERY SPECIAL YOUNG LADY AND PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
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MS. BROOKE CAMPBELL, OUR DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEER HOUSTON, LET'S WELCOME HER TO THE PODIUM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE VOLUNTEER HOUSTON SPOTLIGHT VOLUNTEER AWARD RECIPIENTS.HELLO? WHAT IS THIS VELVET? I LIKE, I LIKE THE, YOU NAME IT.
SO I WANNA TELL YOU FIRST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT VOLUNTEER HOUSTON.
OUR MISSION IS ALL ABOUT CONNECTION.
WE PROVIDE THE SPACE AND THE TOOLS TO FACILITATE DEEPLY MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE, BETWEEN COMMUNITIES, BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS.
AND IF WE HAD THE TIME TODAY TO TELL YOU ABOUT EACH OF THOSE CONNECTIONS THAT WERE MADE BETWEEN THE SPOTLIGHT VOLUNTEERS THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING TODAY, UM, AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SELECTED THEM, YOU WOULD HEAR THOSE DEEP MEANINGFUL COMPONENTS OF EACH OF THEIR STORIES.
SO I'LL I'LL SHARE JUST A TIDBIT OF EACH OF THEIR STORIES AS THEY COME TO THE, TO THE FRONT TODAY.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE EACH OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SELECTED A SPOTLIGHT VOLUNTEER, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITIES WHILE ALSO CULTIVATING AND NURTURING THOSE VOLUNTEERS, WHICH REQUIRES A LOT MORE TIME, ENERGY, AND RESOURCES THAN WE SOMETIMES REALIZE.
AND SO THEY ALL DESERVE A QUICK ROUND OF APPLAUSE AS WELL.
AS I CALL YOUR NAME, IF YOU WILL COME TO THE TABLE, GRAB YOUR, JUSTIN IS GONNA GIVE YOU YOUR AWARD AND STAND IN THE FRONT HERE.
AND WE'RE GONNA START WITH A SPECIAL STORY.
ANNA GARANGA IS NOT HERE 'CAUSE SHE'S IN SCHOOL TODAY, BUT HER MOM IS HERE SO GIVE MOM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND SHE IS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS ALWAYS WILLING AND ABLE TO ASSIST BEFORE BEING ASKED AND SHOWS GREAT LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
DANA VASQUEZ WITH KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL.
I DON'T KNOW THAT EVERYONE IS HERE SO I'M GONNA READ SOME OF THESE RATHER QUICKLY.
EDDIE ORUM WITH ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION.
EMMA PHILLIPS WITH PEAR HOUSTON IS HERE.
EMMA PROVIDES CONSISTENCY AND RELIABILITY TO PAIR REFUGEE STUDENTS BY FACILITATING ENRICHING CURRICULUM AND BEING PERSISTENT IN PRESENTING ALL PARTS OF THE CURRICULUM IN A FUN AND INTERACTIVE WAY.
WITH UNITED WAY GREATER HOUSTON, JIM HAS SERVED IN A VARIETY OF ROLES INCLUDING PROJECT LEADER FOR KEY PROJECTS INCLUDING EXXONMOBIL, RETIREES AND TEXANS CARE VOLUNTEER DAYS, CREATING PROJECT SUPPLIES FOR STEM VOLUNTEER DAYS.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY AS A VOLUNTEER DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR.
THERE ARE VERY FEW OF THOSE, SO GOOD JOB.
LATOYA HURLEY WITH SURVIVE HER.
LATOYA GOES BEYOND, ABOVE AND BEYOND HER BOARD MEMBER RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ENSURE THEIR EVENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL AND IMPACTFUL FOR ALL COMMUNITY ATTENDEES.
UH, LAWRENCE SCOTT MAGSON WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON HOUSTON.
SCOTT HAS BEEN VOLUNTEERING WITH US WITH THEM FOR A LITTLE OVER SEVEN YEARS AND HAS HELPED COUNTLESS YOUTH LEARN ENGLISH.
UH, BECAUSE OF HIS MENTORSHIP, THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN FROM TWO VOLUNTEERS TO 15.
WE'VE GOT VOLUNTEERS RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS.
LINDA RINCON WITH HOUSTON TOOL BANK IS ALSO HERE.
OVER THE LAST YEAR, LINDA HAS SPENT ALMOST EVERY DAY AT THE TOOL BANK VOLUNTEERING IN THE WAREHOUSE TO PULL ORDERS, ORGANIZE AND SUPPORT PARTNERS WITH PICKUP AND DROP OFF.
AND SHE GREETS EVERYONE WITH A BIG SMILE AND A JOKE.
STICK AROUND FOR THE JOKES AFTERWARDS.
LINDA WISE, DAVENPORT WITH LORD OF THE STREETS IS ALSO HERE TODAY.
LINDA HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE OPERATION OF THEIR CLOTHING AND HYGIENE CENTER, WHICH SERVED APPROXIMATELY 2,500 INDIVIDUALS LAST YEAR.
AND SHE GETS TO KNOW EACH OF THEIR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS BY COMMUNICATING VALUE TO THEM THROUGH THEIR FRIENDLY AND CONVERSATIONAL STYLE OF CONVERSATION.
UH, LINDSEY KELLY WITH ADULT EDUCATION CENTER, MARY BETH PAPAS BOND WITH TJA FOUNDATION IS HERE.
MARY BETH IS A CREATIVE FORCE BRAINSTORMING IDEAS AND EXPLORING MANY OPTIONS TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS, CURRICULA AND STRATEGIES THAT HAVE HELPED ACHIEVE THEIR MISSION.
HER ABILITY TO RESEARCH THE SCIENCE BEHIND OUR THEIR WORK HAS BEEN INVALUABLE IN GUIDING THEIR DECISION MAKING PROGRESS.
MAKING RESEARCH IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE SKILLS THAT'S HARD TO FIND, SO THANK YOU.
CATCHING WITH HIGHER UP TEXAS.
MATTHEW IS A COLLEGE STUDENT AND
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AN ACTUAL MEMBER OF THE PROGRAM THERE AT HIGHER UP TEXAS.HE LEADS TWO OF THEIR YOUTH BOARDS AND CAME UP WITH A NOVEL BUSINESS IDEA, A POP-UP HOT COCOA BAR.
WHERE IS IT? AND TOGETHER WITH HIS PEERS, THEY RAISED $780 THAT WERE DONATED TO THE UNITED WAY.
UM, WE'VE GOT MICHAEL, MIKE, ROGER ALLEN WITH THE WOODS PROJECT.
MIKE AND HIS FELLOW VOLUNTEER.
CHUCK STARTED A GROUP CALLED THE GEARS.
I THINK I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT.
WHEN THEY RECOGNIZED THE LIMITATIONS OF THE SMALL STAFF AT THE ORGANIZATION AND THEY SAW A NEED TO HAVE VOLUNTEERS MANAGE THE WAREHOUSE AND GEAR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
HAFI WITH THE ALLIANCE IS HERE.
THEIR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM WAS IN ITS INFANCY WHEN THEY FIRST MET NARA.
UH, SO THEY GREATLY APPRECIATED HER WILLINGNESS TO TAKE CHARGE WHEN THINGS WEREN'T SMOOTH SAILING.
THAT'S EXACTLY HOW THEY WROTE IT.
WE OFTEN SEE HER PASSING TIME WITH CLIENTS WELL AFTER HER SHIFT IS OVER.
UH, OWEN SAYING WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, I KNOW HE IS HERE.
OWEN CAME IN AS IS OWEN HERE? I THINK AT SCHOOL.
PATTY GODFREY SNOWDROP FOUNDATION, INCO INCORPORATED.
UH, RICHARD NORMAN, STABLE HOUSTON GROUND ANGELS.
OH, THIS IS A FABULOUS ORGANIZATION.
THEY PROVIDE COMPLIMENTARY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND FOR THOSE FLYING INTO HOUSTON.
AND MR. STABLE HAS, OH, I'M SAYING IT WRONG, AREN'T I? ST.
BEL BEL PROVIDES AT LEAST FOUR TO SIX RIDES FOR PATIENTS A DAY, EVERY DAY.
RICHARD REELS WITH GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER IS HERE.
RICHARD CREATES RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPERIENCES FOR THEIR DONORS THAT INSPIRE THEM TO CONTINUE SAVING LIVES WITH THE ORGANIZATION.
AND HE SERVES AS A LEAD VOLUNTEER FOR OTHER VOLUNTEERS, HELPING WITH ONBOARDING, TRAINING AND SCHEDULING.
STEVEN BERNARDI WITH PARK HOUSTON.
TIFFANY IWA, HEART TO HEART HOSPICE.
TIFFANY IS AN AMAZING ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AS WELL AS DIRECT PATIENT CARE VOLUNTEERS.
SHE'S VERY RESPONSIBLE, RESPONSIBLE ABOUT EVERYTHING SHE DOES, UM, WHICH SHE DOES WITH JOY AND LOVE ON A VERY HIGH LEVEL.
AND LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST, WE HAVE VANESSA SANTOS STARCHER FROM FRIENDS FOR LIFE ANIMAL SHELTER.
VANESSA WORKS AS A BEHAVIOR VOLUNTEER WITH OUR DOGS, WITH THEIR DOGS, AND HELPS THEM MEET TRAINING GOALS, PRACTICE THEIR MANNERS AND HELPS WITH ADOPTER INTROS AND SHE EVEN LEAVES LEADS.
THE BEHAVIOR VOLUNTEER TRAINING SESSIONS EVERY MONTH.
BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR EVERYONE.
SHOULD I ACTUALLY HOUSE MY LAST NAME, RIGHT? THAT DID.
I WANNA GET IN Y'ALL'S PICTURE.
SO WE ARE ROUNDING OUT TO THE, UH, LAST PART OF OUR PROGRAM, BUT I WANTED TO TAKE, UH, A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE WHILE WE'RE CELEBRATING THINGS TODAY.
OUR DIVISION MANAGER'S PARENTS ARE HERE.
WHERE ARE MR. AND MRS. GREEN? WHERE ARE THEY? OKAY, I SEE 'EM NOW.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHY WE'RE CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE.
Y'ALL RAISED HIM WELL, Y'ALL RAISED HIM WELL.
AND NOW I WANNA BRING UP RONNIE HAGGERTY AND ANDREA SHILOH, UH, FROM OUR UNITED WAY OF GREATER HOUSTON AND INTERFAITH MINISTRIES TO PRESENT THE UM, JOAN HANDLIN MEMORIAL AWARD.
LET'S RECEIVE THEM AT THIS TIME.
IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO IT IS MY GREAT PRIVILEGE TO
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PRESENT THE JOAN WAIT HANLON MEMORIAL AWARD.THIS MORNING, JOAN ACHIEVED A LIFETIME OF LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEERISM.
BEFORE HER UNTIMELY DEATH, SHE SERVED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VOLUNTARY ACTION CENTER OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY.
SHE CREATED A CLEARING HOUSE FOR VOLUNTEERS THAT SERVED MORE THAN 220 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
JOAN BELIEVED IN THE PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AND WAS COMMITTED TO THE SUCCESS OF INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATORS.
THE INAUGURAL JOAN HANLIN AWARD WAS PRESENTED IN 1979.
THE HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATORS OR HAVA CONTINUES TO HONOR JOAN WITH A PRESENTATION OF THE AWARD TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONALISM IN VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT.
AWARD RECIPIENTS DEMONSTRATE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM, AND PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO THE FIELD.
THEY SERVE AS A ROLE MODEL FOR EMERGING LEADERS AND CONTINUE THE LEGACY OF SERVICE PASSED ON TO US BY JOAN HANLON.
WE ARE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE TARAN BREWER AS THE 2023 RECIPIENT OF THE JOAN WADE HANLON MEMORIAL AWARD FOR HER OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP.
ANDRE TARYN IS THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OF TEXAS GULF COAST REGIONAL VOLUNTEER CONNECTION LEAD AND ADMINISTRATOR.
SHE MANAGES THE REGIONAL VOLUNTEER VALUE PROPOSITION PROJECT DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR MORE THAN 3000 RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS.
SHE LEADS VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, PARDON ME, ACROSS FIVE CHAPTERS OF THE TEXAS GULF COAST REGION.
IN HER ROLE AS VOLUNTEER SERVICES ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, TERRAN EMPOWERS EMPLOYEE VOL, EMPOWERS VOLUNTEERS TO BECOME VOLUNTEER LEADERS AND COLLABORATES WITH VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATORS TO HELP THEM BECOME BETTER VOLUNTEER SUPERVISORS THROUGH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON TRAINING.
SHE HOLDS A MASTER'S IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND IS A CERTIFIED VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATOR.
SHE WON THE AMERICAN RED CROSS STAFF AWARD FOR THE HOUSTON CHAPTER IN 2019, THE RISING STAR AWARD IN 2010, AND WAS ALSO A RECIPIENT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL SERVICE AWARD IN 2010.
TARYN EXEMPLIFIES THE QUALITIES THAT DEFINE LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT.
TARYN, WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE JOAN WAIT HANLON MEMORIAL AWARD AND CELEBRATE YOUR MANY CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FIELD OF VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
OH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S THERE.
GET IN A CHILD, GET IN THE MIDDLE HERE.
NOW MAYOR KAREN, YOU CAN STEP DOWN.
WE ARE ACTUALLY NOW GETTING READY TO CLOSE.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO FOR ONE LAST MOMENT IS CALL UP ALL OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND PARTNERS FROM INTERFAITH MINISTRIES AND VOLUNTEER HOUSTON AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE STAGE.
QUICKLY, EXPEDITIOUSLY, LET'S GET THIS WONDERFUL LAST GROUP PHOTO.
THESE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE.
THESE ARE THE SUPPORTING AGENCIES TODAY.
AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE DO FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE ALL HAVE IN COMMON IS WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE ARE SERVING THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN A GREAT WAY.
SO AS EVERYONE'S GETTING TOGETHER FOR THE FINAL GROUP SHOT OF THE DAY, AS OUR, UH, CONTRIBUTING PARTNERS MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO DO THIS.
AND, UH, ONCE WE FINISH WITH THIS PHOTO, WE HAVE REFRESHMENTS HERE FOR YOU GUYS.
AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
AND WE'LL SEE YOU THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.