-A +A

Volunteer of the Year Awards

Volunteers are the cornerstone of our organization and are vital to raising awareness in the communities in which they live and work. Each year, the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) honors individuals for their commitment to outstanding volunteerism and making a difference for families living with Lewy body dementia. The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes one outstanding volunteer for their valuable and selfless commitment to innovation, dedication, contribution to the building of LBD awareness, and enhancement of the efficiency of the LBDA.

We need your help! Nominate someone you admire for their service to LBDA’s mission and help us recognize the efforts of hardworking individuals who stand out as an example of exceptional dedication to the countless LBD families we serve!

Eligibility and Nomination Details

  • Write a brief narrative describing the efforts and contributions of the nominee
  • The nominee must have participated in at least one LBDA volunteer activity in 2011
  • The nominee must be 18 years or older
  • Previous award winners are not eligible.
  • Nominate someone (maybe yourself!)

Recognition

  • The Volunteer of the Year 2011 will be chosen by LBDA’s Board of Directors in December 2011.
  • Upon acceptance of the award, recipient will receive an award and public recognition through the Lewy Body Dementia Association’s Web site. Stories will also be shared publicly and may be used in future newsletters and outgoing media including press releases and e-mail communications.

Judging Criteria

  • Nominee has demonstrated dedication and commitment to the building of LBD awareness
  • Nominee exemplifies an ethic of selfless commitment to innovation
  • Nominee has helped improve efficiency of the LBDA

Deadline

Please complete the nomination form by November 30, 2011 for consideration.

 

Past Award Recipients

2010

LBDA is pleased to recognize Irene Selak as the 2010 Volunteer of the Year. This achievement will come as no surprise to many members of LBDA’s discussion forums, where Irene serves as moderator. In addition to her work welcoming new members of the online LBD community, she serves as a primary contact for telephonic and electronic support on LBDA’s Caregiver Helpline. She first came to LBDA through an LBD support group while serving as a caregiver for husband, Jim. As she became an active participant in the LBDA forums, her natural desire to help others became evident through the information and resources she providing to other forum users. Read more about Irene’s volunteer service here . Thank you, Irene, for your stellar example of Sharing Experience!

 

2009

The LBDA congratulates Ms. Ronnie Genser who has been awarded the 2009 LBDA Volunteer of the Year award. Ms. Genser’s tireless efforts have helped so many families throughout the United States and Canada. Ms. Genser volunteers as the Lewy Body Dementia Association’s Support Group Coordinator for LBDA’s national support group network. Through her leadership and expertise, the network has grown from just six support groups to 68 support groups which are now in 26 states as well as the Canadian province of Ontario. Read more about Ms. Genser and her work with the LBDA here.Thank you, Ronnie!

 

2008

LBDA is proud to name Victoria Ruff as our 2008 Volunteer of the Year. Victoria hails from Boston, MA, where she cared for her mother who passed away from LBD. She joined LBDA in 2006 and currently sits on the Outreach Committee. She has made the LBDA Chat Room a valuable resource for caregivers and others affected by LBD to meet online in real-time. Victoria leads an LBD support group and has helped to bring information and resources on Lewy body dementias to local facilities. Most recently, Victoria designed and led a project which reached out to hundreds of doctors and facilities across the United States, inviting physicians to self-report to LBDA if they treat Lewy body dementias. Thank you, Victoria, for your outstanding work!

 

2007

Helen Whitworth from Mesa, Arizona is the LBDA Volunteer of the Year for 2007. Helen joined LBDA in 2005 when she began exhibiting at medical conferences. In 2006, she took over writing volunteer job descriptions, supervising new volunteer applications, and developed a new volunteer orientation process. Under her supervision our volunteer ranks have nearly doubled and we are now more effectively engaging volunteers in our mission across the country. Helen continues to exhibit at medical conferences to help spread the word about LBD to physicians, and is currently the Outreach and Education Committee Chair. Thank you, Helen, for all that you do!

 

2006

2006 Volunteer of the Year Carol Caughran from Tamarac (Ft. Lauderdale), Florida is the 2006 LBDA volunteer of the year. In September 2005 Carol started the first LBD monthly support group in the US, and in January 2006 held a LBD caregiver's symposium in Coral Springs, FL. The symposium included two professional speakers and a caregiver panel. Carol arranged for the event to be filmed and it is now an excellent resource for professional and home caregivers (available on DVD and VHS). Thank you, Carol!

 

2005

Gourete Broderick from Toronto, Ontario, Canada was selected as the first LBDA volunteer of the year for her dedication to raising awareness of LBD throughout Canada, the US and beyond. Gourete (a.k.a. "Courage") conducted an international e-mail campaign to professionals and has mailed LBD brochures to hundreds of organizations throughout Canada. Thank you, Gourete!