Eleven Recipients To Be Honored At Lighthouse International's First Annual Lighthouse Volunteer Recognition Award Ceremony
NEW YORK, NY - April 9, 2007 - Eleven outstanding volunteers will be honored by Lighthouse International at its first annual Lighthouse Volunteer Recognition Award Ceremony on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 6:00pm at Lighthouse International, 111 East 59th Street, NY (between Park and Lexington Avenues). Former Lighthouse volunteer Judy Licht, host of the hit show 'Full Frontal Fashion', will be Master of Ceremonies at the event honoring the hundreds of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers who continually support the Lighthouse.
The event will honor selected volunteers and community and corporate volunteer partners in ten award categories: The Winifred and Edith Holt Award; Philanthropy Award; The Judy Van Nostrand Leadership Award; Partnership Award; Reading and Recording Service Award; Special Events Award; General Support Services Award; Youth Volunteer Award; Community Partnership Award; Corporate Partnership Award.
According to Tara A. Cortes, PhD, RN, President and CEO Lighthouse International, "We are very fortunate to have a strong and dedicated team of 1,500 volunteers of all ages who assist us in many vital ways - from reading to the blind, to providing clerical services, to raising support through our special events. We are also fortunate to have wonderful feedback from our volunteers: 91% reported being either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their volunteer experience at Lighthouse International, and 95% of volunteers either strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement: 'The Lighthouse is an excellent place to volunteer.' These volunteers epitomize the heart and sprit of what we do - which is to enable people to live productively with vision loss."
Chosen from a pool of dozens of nominees and selected by a panel of judges, the 2007 award recipients are:
The Edith and Winifred Holt Award: Judy Van Nostrand
This award, named for the founders of the Lighthouse, recognizes superior volunteer performance and extraordinary accomplishments that have a broad impact across the programs and services of our organization.
According to Rowena Saunders, Vice President for Volunteers, "The first person to receive this award was Judy Van Nostrand, who recently passed away, but whose imprint on the Lighthouse will be felt for many years to come. For more than three decades, Judy's passion for our mission, and inspired leadership, was felt at many levels": Judy spearheaded myriad initiatives - and touched countless people in the process." Through her dedicated and tenacious work as a member of the Board of Directors, long-time Chair of the Women's Committee, and deep commitment as Chair of the Scholarships and Career Awards Committee, Judy carved an inspiring path and contributed enormously to the success of the Lighthouse, as well as to the lives of numerous scholarship recipients who have succeeded in academia and the working world. Somehow Judy also found time to be both "an active volunteer participant and advocate" for the annual POSH Sale, regularly garnering increasing support wherever possible. The ultimate volunteer," Judy was an invaluable member of the Lighthouse family and an esteemed role model for all of us.
Philanthropy Award:
Barbara Saltzman
Barbara Saltzman, a five-year member of the Lighthouse Board of Directors, and Winternight Gala Chair, truly embodies the term "Visionary Philanthropist." The dynamo behind the smashing success of the recent "Music of Winternight" Gala, Barbara was instrumental in helping to raise $1 million for the Lighthouse and our Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg Music School. Each year Winternight plays a critical role in nurturing the Lighthouse mission, and we are grateful to Barbara for her steadfast and deep sense of commitment to this pivotal event. With Barbara stewarding the largest fundraiser for the third straight year, the Lighthouse more than exceeded its Winternight fundraising goal for 2007. The quintessential Board member, "working and wise," Barbara has personally supported many Lighthouse initiatives through planned and outright gifts. It is no surprise that she was recently honored by the New York Chapter of the Association of Fundraising. The Lighthouse is deeply appreciative of Barbara's long-standing support, and can think of no one more deserving of this year's Philanthropy Award.
Hope Solinger
For close to three decades, Hope Gimbel Solinger has been an exceptional Lighthouse volunteer, serving in several leadership capacities. Past President and current member of the Women's Committee, Hope was a member of our Board of Directors prior to recently becoming an Honorary Directors. Throughout, she has been a POSH® volunteer extraordinaire, tirelessly working every sale from start to finish. Known to her co-volunteers for her unmatched ability to evaluate a donation, Hope has been a wise and respected mentor, generous visionary philanthropist and quintessential "behind-the-scenes" force, who contributed enormously to raising tens of millions of dollars from POSH Sales to support the Lighthouse mission. We are deeply grateful to Hope for her unique and unwavering long-term commitment to our signature POSH event.
The Judy Van Nostrand Leadership Award: Sue Grundfest
The Judy Van Nostrand Leadership Award is presented to an individual who utilizes strong leadership skills to lead, plan or otherwise organize Lighthouse programs and services. Ten years ago, Sue Grundfest began her relationship with Lighthouse International and, eight years ago, introduced her miniature poodle, Coco, to our Child Development Center, establishing a pet therapy program for our preschoolers. Sue and Coco now visit every other Friday, to the delight of the children who follow Coco down the slide or who "now understand that dogs feel like cotton balls." Sue and Coco even co-wrote a book entitled Coco the Love Dog, with proceeds supporting organizations benefiting children, including the Lighthouse. Sue's dedication and positive energy have inspired others, particularly her colleagues at The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., to volunteer at Lighthouse events such POSH and our Young Leadership Committee's celebrations. One of her nominators said, "Sue is a one-woman dynamo" and truly deserving of this award.
Partnership Award: Dr. Margarita Posada and Suela Tinaj
The Partnership Award recognizes the outstanding collaboration between a staff member and volunteer who work side-by-side on a project. The recipients, staff member, Dr. Margarita Posada, and intern Suela Tinaj, have done just that for the past six months in our Arlene R. Gordon Research Institute. Together, they have been conducting an evaluation study of the processes, outcomes and effectiveness of Lighthouse volunteer programs and services. In her role as supervisor, Margarita has become a mentor to Suela, training her in basic and advanced research skills. Correspondingly, through her eagerness to learn and willingness to help, Suela has learned how to design and implement a research study. True to the spirit of this award, Suela and Margarita's teamwork has helped to create a "working environment that inspires others to strive for, and achieve, superior work performance through paid staff and volunteer partnerships."
Recording Service Award: Rosalind Scheer
This award is presented to an individual who demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to the Recording Service - and to the clients we serve. For 21 years, Rosalind Scheer has been a Lighthouse volunteer, faithfully recording books and other printed materials to make them accessible to people who are visually impaired. Her countless recordings have reached thousands of people, and include 27 issues of the Lighthouse newsletter Sharing Solutions, handbooks for HMOs, student textbooks and employment-related documents. Rosalind is not only "thorough, efficient and reliable," but also flexible in her service to the Lighthouse. When needed, she is "always willing to pitch-in as a reader for Lighthouse clients, usually on very short notice." Through her dedication and hard work, "Rosalind is an absolute delight to know and gives generously from her heart."
Reading Service Award: Joseph Ponessa
This award is presented to an individual who demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to the Reading Service - and to the clients we serve. Joe Ponessa has been reading with Sharlene Kraft on a weekly basis for the past seven years. In their sessions, Joe reads everything from grocery ads to law materials. However, Sharlene explains that this is just a small part of what makes him an extraordinary volunteer. Going above and beyond the expectations for a reader, Joe has helped Sharlene live a more independent life. He visits her at home to help configure a new cordless phone or assemble a shopping cart, for example. Joe even spent an entire weekend administering a simulated bar exam so Sharlene could sit for the New York State Bar. While Joe is an excellent reader, Sharlene explains, "what is equally important is his flexibility, his willingness to problem-solve and his dependability. Joe Ponessa has made my life better."
Special Events Award: Joan Ferrone and Susi Leiter
The Special Events Award acknowledges individuals who have been integral to the success of Lighthouse fundraising, recognition or other large-scale special events. As a team, Joan Ferrone and Susi Leiter managed the application process for both the 2005 and 2006 Scholarships and Career Awards. With approximately 50 applications submitted each year, the duo showed "incredible diligence and dedication" to complete this "Herculean administrative task" successfully. Their attention to detail ensured that files were maintained neatly and accurately. Further, their "willingness to help and get the job done" enabled these important programs to run smoothly. During Joan's 11 and a half years volunteering at the Lighthouse, she has also worked at numerous POSH Sales, ushered at special events and provided clerical assistance throughout the organization. Susi, who has been a volunteer for four years, worked at POSH and was a member of the Volunteer Resources Advisory Committee. Together, they demonstrate teamwork; individually, each personifies commitment to the success of Lighthouse special events.
General Support Services Award: Roberta Holden
The General Support Services Award recognizes consistently outstanding administrative, creative or technical volunteer service. Roberta Holden, has been lending her clerical, outreach and training expertise to our Poughkeepsie office for the past ten years. In 1997, she participated in the Lighthouse School Insights Education Program, where she helped to educate children about vision loss. For ten years, Roberta has volunteered weekly, and has been "flexible, consistent and professional in her demeanor." Her list of accomplishments includes data collection and analysis for our Preschool Amblyopia Screening Program, regularly updating client files, greeting guests at fundraising events and assisting in all aspects of outreach efforts. Roberta is a key contributor to the Poughkeepsie office, which insists that she "has become a long-time friend to the staff and, most importantly, to the Lighthouse."
Youth Volunteer Award: Gladys Alonzo
The Youth Volunteer Award recognizes the dedication of our youngest volunteers - those under the age of 17. Working in our Youth Transition Program, Gladys Alonzo assists teens ages 14-18 with special needs. In 2005, she supported learning in the areas of personal management, cooking, home management, computer training and work-related activities. In 2006, Gladys served as an interpreter exclusively to one teen who only spoke Spanish, helping her build skills to "develop independence, self-esteem and self-confidence." As a result, this client was able to enter, and benefit from, the Lighthouse Summer Youth Program, which is conducted in English. The Career and Youth Services staff agree that Gladys is "a bright, dedicated and very focused individual" whose self-confidence is "motivating and contagious" to staff and clients alike. Her supervisor says it best, "In a brief word, she is a 'keeper'."
Corporate Partnership Award: Pfizer Inc Lighthouse is proud to honor the ongoing generosity of Pfizer Ophthalmics and its unwavering commitment to our vital programs and services.
Community Partnership Award: The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc.
The Community Partnership Award is given to a corporation that has demonstrated consistent commitment to volunteer service within its community, and particularly to Lighthouse International. Volunteerism is ingrained in the culture of The Estée Lauder Companies, and employees are provided with a plethora of opportunities to give back through their MVP Corporate Volunteer Program. For more than ten years, the company has encouraged its employees to volunteer with their "neighbor," Lighthouse International. Initiatives over the years have included providing volunteers for the annual POSH Benefit Preview night and myriad other events, membership in the Young Leadership Committee, providing sensory therapy sessions through Estée Lauder's Corporate Fragrance Department, the donation of a cosmetic boutique for POSH and gifts for many Lighthouse events throughout the year. We look forward to working once again with the company at POSH in May - and for many years to come.
Founded in 1905, Lighthouse International is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to preserving vision and to providing critically needed health care services to help people of all ages overcome the challenges of vision loss. Through services, education, research and advocacy, the Lighthouse enables people with low vision and blindness to enjoy safe, independent and productive lives. For more information about vision loss, its causes and what you can do about it, contact Lighthouse International at 1-800-829-0500 or visit www.lighthouse.org
Further Information:
Leslie Gottlieb (212) 821-9760
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