Published: June 07, 2008 07:47 am            

56 volunteers reach gold-level status

Hundreds show for annual Gold Leaf event

Hundreds of people filled Northside Christian Church in New Albany on Friday to honor 56 community volunteers as part of the Ninth Annual Gold Leaf Volunteer Recognition Luncheon.

One of the recipients was 88-year-old Harry Sullivan, who has worked for years repairing and maintaining the community building in Henryville. He also works as a volunteer fireman.

“The award means a lot,” Sullivan said after the luncheon, while looking down at his gold leaf pinned to his lapel. “It means so much to me because it shows people respect what I’ve done.”

Melissa Harbeson, program officer with the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana, organized the event. She said people such as Sullivan make the community what it is today.

In her speech to the group, Harbeson cited the Independent Sector, which says a volunteer hour in 2007 is worth about $19.51. Harbeson said within the volunteer careers of the 56 honorees, they gave almost 95,000 hours. That adds up to more than $1.8 million.

“It really is amazing,” Harbeson said, looking at the numbers again after the luncheon. “People don’t realize how much our nonprofit sector really relies on volunteers. If they had to pay for that, things just wouldn’t happen in the community.”

Many recipients were humble after the luncheon.

“It was very special (getting the award),” said Paula Reilly, who volunteers for Blue River Services. “I feel like there’s a lot of people more worthy of it then me.”

“I am just totally pleased and surprised,” said John Dyer, who volunteers with Southern Indiana Botanical Society. “I feel not worthy of receiving it, because I love doing my gardening. It doesn’t seem like volunteer work when you’re doing what you love.”

Award recipient Jan Huber works to preserve what she loves, which is Providence High School.

“By volunteering there, hopefully it will keep Providence in the community for years to come,” she said.

Harbeson said another goal of the luncheon is to inspire others to go out and help the community. She said she hopes this gives attendees ideas on the various nonprofit organizations in Clark, Floyd and Harrison counties.



The Recipients

Following is a list of every organization that honored a volunteer, followed

by the name of the person they honored.

American Red Cross, Clark County Chapter, Betsy Loveland

Asset Building Coalition, Hope McKim

Blue River Services Inc., Paula Reilly

Boys and Girls Clubs of Harrison County – Gerdon Youth Center, Patti

Motsinger

Business & Professional Women of New Albany, Suellen Wilkinson

Caesars Foundation of Floyd County, Judy Hess

Carnegie Center Inc., Kit Shearer

Chamber of Commerce of Harrison County, Sam Eckart

Christian Academy of Indiana, David Allison

Clark County Youth Coalition, Lt. Jim Hickerson

Clark County Youth Shelter and Family Services , Melissa Wilson

Community Foundation of Southern Indiana, Don Day

Thrift Shop of DePauw Memorial United Methodist Church, Alice Swango

Develop New Albany, Dan Neel

Floyd County Head Start, Maie Klaphaak

Floyd County Historical Society, David C. Barksdale

Friends of Division Street School, John F. Seville

Friends of Fairview, Jason Kingsley

Friends of NA-FC Public Library, Lesa Smith

Graceland Baptist Church, Sara Altman

Guerin Inc., George “Junie” Gesenhues Jr.

Henryville Community Association, Harry Sullivan

Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana Inc., Ted Fulmore

Hosparus, Ann Neel

Howard Steamboat Museum, David J. Reinhardt

Interfaith Community Council Inc., Ben Shiner

Ivy Tech Community College , Pat Washington

Kiwanis Club of Henryville, Connie S. Shaw

Leadership Southern Indiana, Roger Whaley

LifeSpan Resources Inc., Ed and Kate Weinmann

LifeSpring Inc., John R. “Jack” Vissing

Manger Baby Shop, Ernestine Lee

Metro United Way of Clark County, Sharon E. Reich

Metro United Way of Floyd County, Barbara Eurton

Metro United Way of Harrison County, Sam Uhl

Morton Memorial United Methodist Church, Norma L. McGloshen

New Albany High School Alumni Memorial Fund, Sarah B. Keller

Noah’s Ark Children’s Village, Gary Crockett

Our Lady of Providence Junior-Senior High School, Jan Huber

Our Place Drug and Alcohol Education Services Inc., Shannon Johnson

Regional Youth Services Inc., Karen Berry

Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Joe Theobald

St. Catherine Regional Hospital Auxiliary, Sonja Kendrick

St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities, Kathy Kruer and Jeanne Schmidt

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, New Albany, Ray and Louise Gohmann

Southern Indiana Botanical Society, John Dyer

Southern Indiana Genealogical Society, Mary Clipp

S.U.R.F. Board --- Students United Radically for Floyd County, Dan Dickey

Trash Force Inc., Myra Craig

YMCA of Harrison County, Kimberley A.G. Cerami

YMCA of Southern Indiana, Greg Reger

Youth Count, Vince Klein

Youth Philanthropy Council of Clark County, Bob McIntosh

        

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