It was a day for Greater New Haven volunteers to take a bow

My Roget Thesaurus gives several synonyms for the word “volunteer”: “to step up,” “come forward,” “proffer,” “optional,” “free” and “contribute.”

All of these words barely begin to describe the unselfish hard work of the remarkable group of people honored April 13 at Amarante’s in New Haven by the Greater New Haven Association of Volunteer Administrators.

Following a welcome by Christine Urpin, AVA chairwoman, the willowy and lovely Kristen Cusato, WTNH News-8 newscaster, presented the following awards:

Youth Volunteer Award: Kendall and Tyler Woods — The dynamic twin sisters raised huge donations for an orphanage in Nairobi. These young women also work with Circle of Care, helping families of children with cancer. They have earned many awards and have bright futures ahead of them. Tyler studies at George Washington University, where she is a volunteer intern for Richard Neal, congressman from Massachusetts, and Kendall is at Bucknell and volunteers for the Head Start program.

Rising Star Award: Sharon Adkins — Presently enrolled at Yale Divinity School, Sharon’s efforts as a volunteer at Columbus House helped to raise the level of success of a program called Abraham’s Tent. Sharon conducted workshops for the Yale Homeless Action Project and organized more than 100 student volunteers for a Day of Caring effort at the Yale Divinity School, as well as events at Columbus House — dramatic proof of the difference one person can make.

Leadership Award: Ellen Swirsky — Her own horrific battle with breast cancer motivated her tireless service to St. Raphael’s Hospital, starting in 1994. Her vision to support education and resources to others with any form of cancer became an integrative program called Looking Forward.

A remarkable talent, Ellen designed the concept, developed a business plan, organized the program, developed marketing and graphic design materials and set up donor databases. Now, 16 years later, Looking Forward offers a variety of wellness services for cancer patients and their families.

Distinguished Service Award: Linda Sheehan — For the past 10 years, Linda has been a dedicated volunteer at Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven. She has tutored Turkish women, refugees at Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services and Hispanic students at JUNTA. She serves as the volunteer president of the Case Memorial Library in Orange. Linda says, “Volunteering is the safest high any person can have.”

Additionally, the Excellence in Community Award was given to two organizations: The Latina A.R.M.Y. Inc. (Accomplished Role Models Motivating Young Latinas), which helps Latinas make better choices and become their own advocates, and Yale-New Haven Hospital Patient & Family Centered Services for its program to improve the patient experience and promote the practice of patient- and family-centered care by having patients and family members share their experiences with Y-NH staff members. Since 2010, more than 800 employees have heard more than 115 educational sessions.

AVA, now in its 14th year, is a professional organization uniting individuals in the New Haven area who are engaged by a human service or nonprofit agency to direct its volunteer services. Our entire community owes an enormous debt to these inspired, unselfish and dedicated individuals who are committed to making a difference in the lives of others.

“I am only one, but I am one.

“I cannot do everything, but I can do something.

“And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”

— Edward Everett Hale

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