Norm and Marilyn Hayes of Indian Harbour Beach serve in many volunteer capacities, including TRIAD, SALT, Indian Harbour Beach Homeowners Association, George Catholic Parrish at Patrick Air Force Base, Red Cross, TRICARE, the Registered Nurses Retired Association, and more! What a dynamic duo!
Jack Cox was honored for his long time hospice work he started in Virginia while serving as a board member and he is currently a very valued member of the Hospice of St. Francis team.
July 2005
Jerry Dixon has volunteered for VITAS Innovative Hospice for over two years in a variety of roles. From respite care to transportation, Jerry is the vollutneer who will go "above and beyond." Jerry regularly traveled from his home in Satellite Beah to Barefoot Bay to ensure service to patient in the soouth of our county - the continued until a volunteer in that service area was trained. Jerry's motto is "I will do whatever it takes to get the job done." And he does a lot of it, having volunteered with over 320 patients for about 7,000 hours.
June 2005
Cheryl Fetteroff was presented the Rainbow Award in recognition of her time to serving people who are often on the fringe of society. Since 1998, she has been a volunteer at Project Response AIDS Center. From working in their thrift store, filling orders in the food pantry and now with the HIV Awareness classes, she has devoted many hours to her volunteer work.
May 2005
Chris Green has volunteered tirelessly for Multiple Sclerosis in Brevard County. Her work with the MS Center of Florida Foundation Brevard Chapter as well as her work with the MS Walk were recognized. Ms. Green says it simply, "I have a job to do, while I can still walk and talk."
April 2005
Alice Good was honored for her volunteer work for the past 32 years in Brevard County with Port O' Call and South Brevard Seniors' Association - Alice describes her volunteerism as "the reward of my long life."
March 2005
The Rainbow Award honored Geroge Binns who volunteers with several organizations and has been a volunteer for 12 years with Brevard Hospice - logging in over 6,000 miles each year.
February 2005
Beatrice Lavalin of the United Federation of True Sisters received recognition for volunteering with the oldest women's organization in the United States - organized in 1846. With 120 members strong in Brevard County, Ms. Lavalin is rightfully proud of the work she has accomplished with this important organization.
January 2005
Wayn McLaughlin of Hospice of Health First received the Rainbow Award for January. With over 1334 hours of volunteerism he truly represents the greatness of volunteerism in American which was recognized by the BAHS membership with the most spontaneous unanimous standing ovation in the history of BAHS.
December 2004
No Rainbow Award Recepient.
November 2004
Pearl Paryzek a volunteer for the past eleven years with Harmony Farms, Inc. "Horses for the Handicapped" located in Rockledge. Pearl was cites as the primary catalyst in helping an extremely shy girl named Merissa. For an entire year, she challenged her on every front, finally bringing her out of her shell.
October 2004
The recipient for October's Rainbow Award - Marge Pailleron of Brevard Association for the Advancement of the Blind has given over 9000 hours of outstanding volunteer service to two different programs. The Breaks program makes talking books for the blind community, only one of two associations in the entire country that accomplishes this task. A second program offers independent living classes to those who are loosing their sight. BAHS is proud of the work accomplished by Marge Pailleron!
September 2004
Lynne Meagher of the SHINE Program was honored as September's Rainbow Award. Lynne volunteers for a state training program which has qualified 65 volunteers on how to obtain the discount prescription drug card for seniors. Lynne has spent countless hours assisting seniors at no charge.
August 2004
Karen Mills of "Clowning Around Brevard" was Rainbow Award recipient. With orange mop haired wig, and mix-matched clown clothing distributing sunflower seeds, Ms. Mills accepted the award. Currently the Activity Director for Parrish Medical Center's integrating therapy program, Karen goes to the hospital two or three times a week, having total access to the hospital and its staff. She visits the Nurse's Stations and patients before surgery. If a doctor has difficulty with a child or pre-op patient before a procedure, she is called to help distract and calm fears. Karen also conducts clown training for care clowns and volunteers at the Sunflower House at the Merritt Island Mall.
July 2004
Lynn Pearson, Rainbow Award Coordinator, surprised Nina Galligan, volunteer for the Emergency Management Agency. Nina, formerly from Washington, D.C. has lived in Florida for 17 years. She was very active in volunteer work for the Community Response before taking on the enormous job for inputting all the information for seniors registering for emergency shelters. Although she has already logged in 1,834 applicants, Nina pleaded with us to get seniors to complete the forms and send them to her.
June 2004
Rose Belinger of the Respite Volunteer with Interfaith Coalition was honored for her volunteerism with this important group. While Rose was unable to personally accept her award, Janet Steiner of the Alzheimer's Foundation reported, "Rose has served continuously every weekend at both Respite and Hospice Care since 1982. Janet voiced her favorite quote, "If we don't save the caretakers, the care receivers are the big losers" this Rainbow Award helps us recognize the caretakers!
May 2004
Marie Maddy of Big Brothers, Big Sisters program informed the BAHS membership that a new program began in 1999 in school sites. This program targets the academic and social needs of children in school. Libby Duncan was given the Rainbow Award in recognition of all she has done for the program. Ms. Maddy explained, "She has brought BIG Magic to our program for the past two years. It is rare to find volunteers to work one hour a week with one child, let along two children for two hours a week."
April 2004
Ray Plourde started volunteering back in New York when he first retired and was looking for something to do. He found that he really enjoyed helping people in needs and how rewarding it was. He drove a small bus transporting elderly people to doctor ad dental appointments and to get groceries. They were mostly seniors in need of transportation but he would also transport handicapped people of all ages for similar appointments.
Ray moved to Florida in the fall of 2002 and wanted to do similar volunteer work here. He read an article in the Florida Today newspaper asking for volunteers to drive seniors in need of transportation. In December he registered with RSVP to serve on the Senior TranServe transportation program, met with Gene Snook who interviewed and trained him, and several weeks later after all the background checks came in, told that he was cleared to begin serving as a Senior TranServ driver. He started driving right away and has been doing so since then.
Ray very much enjoys meeting new people and this is a great way to do just that. He gets a lot of satisfaction and finds it very rewarding in helping seniors. He also states the fact that he might need this type of service myself someday. Since Ray is a widower ad all of his children are married and living out of state, he finds that he has a lot of time on his hands. So, he does as much driving as he can possibly do. Mr. Langdon Brown, his TranServe coordinator keeps him as busy as he wants to be, which in several cases means driving every day of the week.
March 2004
Daniel Pearce has been a volunteer at Project Response where he has worked as a receptionist, food pantry coordinator, and special coordinator. It just isn't a staff/client picnic with Daniel over the grill, cooking hamburgers and hot dogs with his dog by his side. He has decorated the office for Christmas, and in 200 the, Project Response tree for Holiday Nights at the Brevard County event. He is a trained HIV/AIDS prevention educator, he has represented the agency at health fairs. Project Response could not function as effectively without help of dedicated volunteers such as Daniel.
February 2004
As a prostate cancer survivor, Mr. Gene Rocque has been a dedicated volunteer with the American Cancer Society for ten years. He has served as our Man to Man Volunteer Area Trainer and facilitator, a task that involves the certification to seek out and train any program volunteers. The Man to Man group consists of monthly education/support meetings for men who are facing prostate cancer. Speakers form all over the nation have participated in our local group. Mr. Rocque is also a contributing writer for the monthly newsletter that contains the newest facts and research regarding prostate cancer.
For the third year in a row, Mr. Rocque is an active planning committee member of Brevard County's third annual Men's Health Summit on Prostate cancer. This is a fun event designed to bring the message of early detection and prevention to the citizens of Brevard. Last year, this event brought in hundreds of men who were provided with free PSA and DRE screening tests.
Mr. Rocque also serves as a member of our speaker's bureau regarding the topic of prostate cancer. He attends a variety of health related events bringing the subject of early detection, treatment and prevention to the citizens (both men ad women) of Brevard County. On a personal level, he is also familiar with alternative medical treatments and was the America Cancer Society's 2003 Volunteer of the Year.
Mr. Gene Rocque is mot assuredly a leader within our county. His tireless dedication is an inspiration to me and everyone at the America Cancer Society and it is with pleasure that I submit this write up on his behalf. - Darlene Kerby, Area Patient Service Representative
January 2004
Dawn Gallogly - Domestic Violence Victim Advocate from the Women's Center. I first learned of the Women's Center from a friend of a friend. I began helping in the Merritt Island office. Shortly after, I found out about upcoming training for volunteer Domestic Violence Victim Advocates and enrolled in the next class. Following the formal instruction, I went to court and shadowed another Advocate for additional training. Before the first case was over, the other Advocate had to leave so I was left on my own with the client. Fortunately, I had had some experience with Domestic Violence Court in the past. I'm usually in court one afternoon a week but often get calls at other times, including while driving in Pennsylvania once.
Quite a few years ago, I was the victim of domestic violence. It is something you never really get over. Having been raised in a very strong family, I realized that if these experiences were going to be a part of me then I was determined to make them a healthy part. If I had had someone to be with me during those days, my load would have been lighter and the healing quicker. I have used y experiences to better understand victims and how they're thinking and felling. I the pat, I have helped a couple of our daughters, as well as some friends, cope with the devastating effects domestic violence can have on women. They've all left their abusive relationships and are much stronger, healthier and happier. You don't have to be a victim to be an effective Advocate. The Women's Center has many wonderful volunteers who are motivated by a desire to help. We have all worked with many women, as well as a few men, who were the victims of abuse. In working with these people, I as questions, listen and, at times, try to challenge them. I consider my main responsibility to be helping them take back the power and control that has been taken from their lives.
Tony Colandrea