We are delighted to recognize this year's nominees (and the organizations who nominated them): Alex Karabachev & Ryan Wells (CCSD School-Community Partnership Program - I Can Hear), Audrey Ahumada & Meghan McGaugh (UNLV Center for Academic Enrichment & Outreach - Adult Education Services), Bruce Bacon (Nathan Adelson Hospice), Caesars Entertainment & Goodwill Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program Roving Site (Goodwill of Southern Nevada, Inc.), Cathie Davenport (United Labor Agency of Nevada), David Flatt (CCSD School-Community Partnership Program - PAYBAC), HSBC Bank Nevada (CCSD School-Community Partnership Program - Focus School Program), Joan & John McClenahan "Dr. & Mrs. Magic" (Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada), Joan Kaplan (Nathan Adelson Hospice), Kathryn Rothermel (Odyssey Hospice), Katie Harris (Odyssey Hospice), Kenneth Johnson (Nevada Paralyzed Veterans of America), Lidia Milicevic (UNLV Center for Academic Enrichment & Outreach), Meagan HoChing (HELP of Southern Nevada), Michael Stern (Nevada Paralyzed Veterans of America), Pauline Gardner & Bernadette Kolski (Odyssey Hospice), Rebecca Carrol (Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas - Youth United), Trader Joe's (Martin Dean Dupalo), UnitedHealthcare (CCSD School-Community Partnership Program - Focus School Program) and Zeta Archonettes of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Theta Omicron Zeta Chapter & Alpha Men and Divas of Tomorrow of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Theta Pi Lambda Chapter (Martin Luther King Senior Center of the Las Vegas Urban League).
Award recipients will receive a Presidential Service Award certificate and a Certificate of Appreciation from United Way of Southern Nevada's Volunteer Center. Recipients will also be highlighted on our social networks and in our volunteer newsletter. If you know any of these nominees or recipients, please be sure to congratulate them and thank them for their service to the community. And here are this year's Volunteer Spotlight Recipients!
Corporate Group: Trader Joe's
The crew of Trader Joe's on Green Valley Parkway in Henderson has made a commitment to the community by donating healthy food twice a day every day of the week since 2003. Local non-profits receive a donation that averages 8 boxes of meats, fresh vegetables and fruits. The crew, most of which have been working together for nearly a decade, spend significant time to identify, re-box, re-sort and meet with non-profit representatives with enthusiasm and professionalism.
Education: Audrey Ahumada & Meghan McGaugh
Together Audrey and Meghan provide service at UNLV through the Center for Academic Enrichment & Outreach Adult Education Services (AES) Program. As AmeriCorps members, Audrey and Meghan have committed to serve for one year sharing their passion and strong work ethic to the AES program. They have worked alongside AES staff members at the Nellis Welfare and Flamingo Welfare offices and have advised over 400 welfare participants on the process of obtaining their high school credentials in order to move on to higher education.
Group: Alex Karabachev & Ryan Wells
Alex and Ryan have enthusiastically worked to find a need in the community and fill it. Together they conducted research and were startled by the statistics on children in Nevada under 18 who couldn't afford medical treatment. Through their research they partnered with the Clark County School District (CCSD) School-Community Partnership Program to form the I Can Hear program which provides hearing aids to three and four year old students. Their fundraising efforts and commitment to improving these children's lives have allowed the program to expand to five and six year old students with their ultimate goal to provide hearing aids to all CCSD students in need. Alex and Ryan have even worked to encourage high school students nationwide to form their own I Can Hear clubs in order to see and fill a particular need in their community.
Individual: Joan Kaplan
Joan began her journey with Nathan Adelson Hospice as a Pet Therapist accompanied by her dogs Asher, Trinity and Rainey. Joan and her dogs would visit patients and their families weekly at the in-patient unit. Joan currently shares her outgoing and compassionate nature delivering meals to patients every other Friday providing much needed socialization to patients and their loved ones while she is delivering the food. Joan also holds a bereavement class for children every month helping many children deal with death and loss helping them overcome negative emotions. She also attends the annual kid's camp, Camp Mariposa, where children who have been affected by death spend three days full of activities and fun.
Lifetime: Joan & John McClenahan "Dr. & Mrs. Magic"
Joan and John exemplify a strong personal commitment to Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada. For over 15 years Joan and John have visited the hospitals daily to help alleviate the feelings of isolation and loneliness for children who may be confined to their rooms for months at a time. Joan and John perform and teach magic tricks as well as hand out games, puzzles, balloons and magazines to the children. They also raise money for the program through the sales of magic tricks and items at clown conventions they attend. Joan and John also attend all of the Candlelighters family events through the year helping children to smile during a very difficult time in their lives.
National Service: Meagan HoChing
Meagan is an AmeriCorps VISTA member serving her second term at HELP of Southern Nevada. During this time Meagan has served as an In-Kind Donation Coordinator soliciting in-kind donations for events and programs that benefit the clients of HELP. During Thanksgiving she coordinated the donation of 1,200 turkeys and secured over 100 food drives. Meagan also played an integral role during the holidays for Toy Drive collecting toys for nearly 15,000 children in need. Meagan shares her spirit and passion to resolve issues and secure donations by fostering positive relationships within the community.
Youth: Rebecca Carrol
Rebecca is a find a way or make a way volunteer leading by example through learning the tasks that need to be accomplished. Rebecca serves as the president of the Youth United Program for Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas. Through the program Rebecca helps to engage youth in volunteering, strategizes and implements innovative ways to fundraise and advocates for Habitat within the community. Rebecca helps other youth volunteers to partner with Habitat in a sustained and productive way creating a nurturing environment where youth can develop skills in community leadership and teamwork.
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