Outstanding Volunteers Honored at 30th Annual Awards Celebration

On Thursday, April 12, the Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee honored exceptional volunteers and their contributions to our community through area nonprofits at the 30th Annual Volunteer Celebration at the Italian Conference Center in Milwaukee. The annual "Inspire by Example" awards recognize outstanding volunteer service in Milwaukee County and are presented as part of National Volunteer Week (April 15-21).

“Together with the thousands of others who serve in the Milwaukee area, the award winners have a huge, positive impact,” said Bonnie Andrews, Manager of the Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee, a service of the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee, Inc. “These are remarkable stories of people who have made volunteering a big part of their lives.”

The award winners are:

• United Community Center Youth Volunteer Corps – Youth Award – This team of 120 young people serves their near south side community through many activities, including guiding summer programs for younger students.

• Quarles & Brady LLP – Business Award – For the Quarles Cares program and the firm’s pro bono legal representation, which provided nearly 10,000 hours of service in 2011.

• Thomas Brophy – Fran Swigart Board Leadership Award – For outstanding board service to Community Advocates and other organizations, focusing on basic needs, mental health and educating young people.

• The Sexual Assault Treatment Center Volunteer Advocates at Aurora Sinai Medical Center– Team Award – For providing support to sexual assault survivors in a 24 hour, 7 day a week program at Aurora Sinai Medical Center.

• Dale Rhyan – Adult Award – For coordinating with local restaurants to provide nearly 1,300 individual meals at the Guest House, doubling the number of meals served.

• Becci Terrill – Wile Volunteer Management Award – For effectively engaging and increasing the number of volunteers at Shepherds Ministries. (This award is given in collaboration with the Association of Volunteer Managers serving Southeast Wisconsin).

“The work of volunteers is so very important to the health of our community,” Andrews said.  “These efforts help Milwaukee rank 8th among large cities in the U.S., with 32% of our population volunteering.”

The Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee, www.NonprofitCenterMilwaukee.org, promotes the interest and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector by strengthening organizational capacity, expanding volunteerism and encouraging collaboration.  The Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee, a service of the Nonprofit Center is Milwaukee's primary resource for volunteerism, connecting people with opportunities to serve at www.VolunteerMilwaukee.org.

The Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee is celebrating 45 years Helping You Help Others.