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 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 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