Valley United Way’s Volunteer Action Center celebrated National Volunteer Day “Celebrating People in Action” with the 21st Annual Volunteer Recognition Event on June 26, 2013, held at the Valley United Way office, 54 Grove Street, Shelton, CT.
Nominations were requested by agencies and local community groups to honor both individual and group volunteers that have given their time and attention to benefit others and initiated advancement in the Valley’s physical, intellectual, cultural or moral condition.
This year’s student winners include Tyler Haywood of Shelton, receiving the Outstanding Middle School Youth award, Michelle Kellet of Shelton, receiving the Outstanding High School Student Award, Diane Berti of Seymour, receiving the Outstanding High School Student Award.
Tyler Haywood, who just completed eighth grade at Hopkins School in New Haven, has been a very active young member of the Valley community, volunteering at Sunnyside School, collecting and delivering food to the Spooner House in Shelton, as well as helping plan and prepare the Joseph A Pagliaro Sr. Family Fund Easter Egg Hunt Pancake Breakfast.
Michelle Kellet is a very busy young lady. Starting in elementary school, Michelle put her leadership skills to the test organizing projects with her Girl Scout troop and participating in student government. In middle school, Michelle began to volunteer with the Valley Parish Nurses and the Spooner House. In high school Michelle excelled in student government as well as extracurricular activities all while being a Valley United Way High School Volunteer Council Member, a junior member of the Sutter Terlizi Post 16 American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, a volunteer at Griffin Hospital and working part time.
Diane Berti, a senior at Seymour High School, is a dedicated volunteer at the library, working three times a week helping patrons find materials, shelving books, making department deliveries, and helping out in the technical services and circulation department. Diane loved volunteering at the library so much that she will soon be studying to become a librarian.
Winners of the Outstanding Volunteer Award include Nicole Herriot, David Rabinove and Ron Baldwin of Shelton. The Living Treasure Awards were given to Carol Osgood of Shelton and Marian O’ Keefe of Seymour. The Sharon Bryce Holly Community Hero Award was given to David Pantalone of Ansonia.
Nicole Herriot valiantly took charge throughout the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy. Moved by the devastation many families faced from the storm, Nicole immediately secured space in the Boy Scouts of America Building in Derby and arranged for volunteers to staff a collection drive for two weeks.
Using word of mouth, social media and other outlets Nicole spread word of the drive to the community. The Valley greatly supported Nicole, quickly filling the building with donated goods. Nicole then contacted neighboring municipalities and organizations to see where these items were most needed and organizing their delivery.
Winner of the Sharon Bryce Holly Community Hero Award, David Rabinove has been a volunteer for TEAM Inc. since 2007. The award is named for Sharon Bryce Holly, an outstanding employee of the Valley YMCA who through her community efforts, positive attitude and her willingness to help whenever it was needed, made a lasting impact on the Valley.
Starting as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Tax Preparer and making his way to the Board of Directors, David donates his time and skills processing the tax returns for the Valley’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) partnership.
On Sunday afternoons David meets at the Derby Neck Library to help people complete their returns. He has also completed tax returns and provided technical assistance and quality control at the TEAM site on Saturdays and weekday evenings January through April. David also created a family budgeting program for TEAM clients. David joined the TEAM Board of Directors in 2009 and was elected Treasurer in 2012.
Ron Baldwin has been a vital part of the Center Stage Theatre’s team since its first season in 2005. An engineer by trade and a talented visual artist, Ron graciously volunteered to assist with set construction and design for the theatre. Since that day Ron has helped with every production at Center Stage as well as the Shelton High School Drama Club spring musical.
In his words, “I keep doing what I’m doing so that you can keep doing what you’re doing.” Ron has volunteered hundreds of hours each year to Center Stage and has inspired other volunteers to join him.
Carol Osgood has been an extremely active member of the community, volunteering at the Bishop Wicke Café, acting as a personal shopper for residents, filling in at the Wellness Center as needed, and plays piano for the residents at all three Wesley Village Communities. She also accompanies the Wesley Height Chorus on the piano and began a program where the residents gather to sew sleeping bags for the homeless. Most recently Carol, has developed a new program at Wesley Heights called, Songs at Eventide, providing another source of inspiration and fellowship with the residents while reinforcing the bonds that tie the community together.
Marian O’Keefe has a great passion for history and put forth efforts throughout her life to protect it. She has investigated the history of the areas she’s lived in, become involved in its museums and historical societies, and sought to publicize the events and local personalities who shaped those towns. She has completed a historic resources inventory for the Connecticut Historical Commission and promoted her region’s history through lectures, publications, tours, and curatorial efforts throughout her life. Marian was a member of the Derby Historical Society Board of Directors while also serving as curator. Along with her volunteer work in Derby and later in Seymour, she provides volunteer support to the P.T. Barnum Museum in Bridgeport. Recently, Marian has been a valuable asset to Healthy Valley, a committee of the Valley Council for Health and Human Services.
David Pantalone has been a Board Member of the Valley YMCA since 2008, chairing the Property Committee for the last five years and stepping up in 2012 to become the Vice-Chair of the Board of Managers. David can be seen at the YMCA every morning and sometimes in the evenings as well. David is directly responsible for tens of thousands of dollars of donations and in-kind services to the Valley YMCA, using his skills as a HVAC contractor fixing, repairing and installing numerous air condition units and boiler repairs over the past five years. Recently David secured the donation of a sauna for the men’s locker room, a beautiful new welcome center desk, and an $8,000 donation of glass sliding doors for the new strength training center.
These volunteers were chosen based on their great sense of community responsibility and social awareness while embodying United Way’s vision of a caring community and Live United. Congratulations to all winners, thank you for all you do to make the Valley a better place to live, work and volunteer.
To learn more about the Volunteer Action Center or to find a volunteer opportunity please visit Valley United Way’s website at valleyunitedway.org or call Patricia Tarasovic at (203)926‑9478
Valley United Way is the leading philanthropic resource for the Valley towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton matching the needs of the community and the interests of donors to improve the quality of life in the community. United Way supports and creates initiatives addressing youth, families and people in crisis. Each year Valley
United Way funds programs and organizations that make a measurable difference in the lives of people living and working in the Valley.
