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2016 President's Volunteer Service Award Winners

A warm evening under the stars in the Memorial Gardens of the Center for Comfort Care & Healing was the perfect setting to celebrate the 79 Regional Hospice and Palliative Care volunteers who earned the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) on Friday, September 8, 2017.  The national award program recognizes and celebrates outstanding American citizens who positively impact their communities, while serving as role models.

“We could not provide the exceptional level of care and support for our hospice patients and their families without the tireless efforts of our volunteers,” said Cynthia Emiry Roy, RHPC President and CEO. “They are a selfless group of individuals who devote their time to helping others, and we could not be more grateful or proud of their service.”

President and CEO Cynthia Roy with Gold Award Winners John Hoffman, Gary Boulet and Roberta Goodwin

Awards were given to those who volunteered 100+ hours in 2016.  Each recipient was presented with a letter signed by President Obama, along with a certificate commemorating the number of hours of service they provided to the organization and the community as a whole. Volunteers who provided 250+ hours of service in the calendar year also received a medallion, and those who provided 500+ hours of service received a medal.

Regional Hospice and Palliative Care was selected to become a Certifying Organization for the prestigious award program in 2015, after determining that many of our volunteers were eligible for the various classifications.

“The kindness of our volunteers continues to inspire me daily.  It’s amazing to support such an amazing group of people who selflessly give their time to support others in need. Their contributions are remarkable and we are pleased to be able to offer them the President’s Volunteer Service Award as a token of our appreciation and a testament to their contributions,” explains Laura Cordeira, Volunteer Manager.

Throughout the ceremony continual cheers punctuated each name as staff and volunteers celebrated the individuals whose kindness brings so much support to our families.  Three volunteers in particular received large cheers as they received their medals – Gary Boulet, John Hoffman, and Roberta Goodwin – each of whom volunteered more than 500 hours during 2016, and received Olympic-sized gold medals for their loving spirit and caring assistance to RHPC families.

The following individuals were 2016 President’s Volunteer Service Award Recipients based on their service as Family Support Volunteers, Lobby Greeters, Kitchen Volunteers, Flower Arranger Volunteers, Pet Partners, Reiki Practitioners, Volunteer Handymen, Administrative Volunteers, Bereavement Volunteers, and Healing Hearts Group Facilitators:

Gold Level – 500+ Hours Volunteered

Gary Boulet

Roberta Goodwin

John Hoffman

Silver Level – 250+ Hours Volunteered

Dan Bacon

Lindie Bacon

Karen Boutross

Carol Buchwald

Louise Burnette

Ellen Curran

Kyle Gundel

Paget Haylon

Roseanne Loring

Ayde Lyons

Pat Macchiaverna

Annette Nacinovich

Mark Ohayon

Larry O’Toole

Ellen Raspitha

Sue Scovill

Sharon Siegel

Theresa Taylor

Bronze Level – 100+ hours volunteered

Lorraine Anderson

Susan Balistierri

Jon Barb

Berenice Berberi

Linda Bennett

Maryann Bova

Chris Brown

Darla Case

Prudence Cooney

Marie Crowell

Lenore Cunningham

Penny Dawson

Patti Deakin

Rena Dobrydnio

Michelle Duclos

Roger Ferguson

Andrea Fink

Marilynn Gillotti

Bob Hagadorn

Helen Hedemann

Geri Hopper

Kim Kaplanis

Patricia King

Laurie Kommritz

Peter Kuhn

Jill Kuhn

Tracie LaJoie

Lori Leffort

Kathleen Lewis

Jim Loring

Bob Marchese

Dee Marino

Maureen McGuire

Laura Mezzetta

Carrie Moore

Mary Anne Moore

Phyllis Mount

Kathie Murtha

Regina Ofiero

Bob Peckham

Pam Picard

Deborah Pointon

Madeline Revere

Judy Rickert

Francine Robb

Diane Rosenberg

Ed Ruhl

Margitta Savo

Sunghea Shoener

Margot Snellback

Ginny Strauch

Bob Sweeney

Zack Taylor

Dennis Tendler

Joan Tendler

Sandra Urban

Joan Vetter

Luba Wozniak