Presidential Honors for Regional Hospice Volunteers

Their mutual admiration, shared joy and overwhelming spirit of compassion made the evening even more perfect for 43 Regional Hospice and Home Care (RHHC) volunteers who earned the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) on Thursday evening September 22, 2016.  The national award program recognizes and celebrates outstanding American citizens who positively impact their communities, while serving as role models. Award winners were celebrated at a cocktail reception in the Memorial Gardens of the Center for Comfort Care & Healing for the thousands of service hours the exemplary group donated to support families during 2015.

“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, RHHC 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.”

Awards were given to those who volunteered 100+ hours in 2015.  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 Home Care was selected to become a Certifying Organization for the prestigious award program this year, after determining that many of our volunteers were eligible for the various classifications.

“A quote on one of the walls of our Center for Comfort Care and Healing reads, ‘Volunteers are unpaid not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless,’ and that is exactly how we feel about the 445 volunteers that support our work. 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 peace and support to our families. Two volunteers in particular received resounding ovations as they received their medals – Gary Boulet and John Hoffman – two lobby greeters at the Center who have manned the front desk for more than 500 hours during 2015, and received Olympic-sized gold medals for their loving spirit and caring assistance to everyone who enters our Center.

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

John Hoffman

Silver Level – 250+ Hours Volunteered

Louise Burnette

Roberta Goodwin

Paget Haylon

Larry O’Toole

Suzanne Scovill

Sharon Siegel

Bronze Level – 100+ hours volunteered

Lisa Amiano

Daniel Bacon

Lindie Bacon

Berenice Barberi

Maryann Bova

Carol Buchwald

Ellen Curran

Penny Dawson

Patti Deakin

Ann Hayek

John Hinckley

Geri Hopper

Doug Johnston

Nancy Kear-Johnson

Nicole Kouvaris

Tracie LaJoie

Lori Leffort

Kathleen Lewis

Roseanne Loring

Ayde Lyons

Pat Macchiaverna

Dee Marino

Maureen McGuire

Phyllis Mount

Liz Neuwirth

Regina Ofiero

Terri Pawson

Deb Pointon

Ellen Raspitha

Judy Rickert

Edward Ruhl

Lynne Salierno

Theresa Taylor

Krysta Townsend