Prince William Red Cross honors businesses, volunteers

The Prince William American Red Cross honored numerous businesses and volunteers for their service to the community at its 2009 annual meeting at Prince William Hospital.

On June 11, individuals and businesses received recognition for their contributions to the Red Cross. Individuals who donated $1,000 or more were awarded the Clara Barton Award, which is named after the founder of the American Red Cross. Businesses were awarded the Good Neighbor Award for significant financial, in-kind goods and services or donations of time to the local chapter.

“We are especially thankful for the support of our community partners and faithful financial donors that enable us to serve our community while continuing to respond to emergencies needs in our community,” said Chairperson Cindy Stackhouse.

During the awards portion of the annual meeting, a special award was presented to the Sheriff Hill and the Prince William County Sheriff’s Office for the special “Partnership for Life” campaign it conducts. For four years Sheriff’s Office volunteers have partnered with Prince William Red Cross volunteers to distribute emergency preparedness information to the community and provide residents an easy way to donate to the local chapter. This year the campaign distributed thousands of emergency preparedness brochures and raised more than $13,000 for a four-year total of more than $60,000.

A special award for Manassas Mayor Harry “Hal” Parrish II and his exceptional leadership as the chapter’s 2008 Heroes for the American Red Cross campaign was also noted. The campaign raised more than $60,000.

Several volunteers were also recognized for their exemplary service to the chapter as Volunteer of the Year. The Dennis Webb Health & Safety award, named for long time Red Cross Health & Safety Instructor and Disaster Response Team volunteer, was presented by his son Brian Webb to Shelia Lynn.

Since 2004 Lynn has volunteered one to two mornings every week. She provides essential services in the health and safety office from labeling informational materials, cleaning and preparing manikins for classes, stuffing envelopes for mass mailings and other functions that free up the staff to work with clients and instructors.

Disaster Service Volunteer of the Year Bob Jones has volunteered for the past six years in several capacities. Even though Jones has spent the last few years going to school to earn a Masters Degree in social work and working, he always answers the call to respond to a house fire or other emergency. “Whether the need is casework, shelter manager, incident supervisor or to load shelter supplies Bob is there and ready to serve,” Chapter CEO Karen Wayne said.

The Prince William American Red Cross Youth Services Volunteer of the Year was presented Genesis Webb. Webb is the leader of the local Red Youth Corps as well as the Regional Youth Consortium. She has organized blood drives and various service projects for the Youth Corps and she also participated in the Potomac High School Red Cross club for the last four years. In addition to going to school and working a part-time job she volunteers at our Quantico office and produces the chapters quarterly youth newsletter. Webb will attend Howard University in the fall.

Hope Zurn was honored as the Emergency Services Volunteer of the Year. Zurn has volunteered with the chapter for the last three years at the Quantico office and supports the Services to the Armed Force program. She has staffed many activities on Marine Corp Base Quantico such as the Welcome Aboard and Spouses Orientation, family days and other events. She also helps at chapter events across the county.

For the past three years, Lorraine Coughenour has been a regular fixture at various community blood drives. She was selected as the Blood Services Volunteer of the Year for her work has a greeter. Coughenour is the first person donors see when they arrive to give blood and she always greets them with a smile. Lorraine makes sure donors receive special care and attention, helping them through the donation process and thanking them for their gift of life.

Brain Swanson was selected as the Community Services Volunteer of the Year and although he was out of town, his hard work and support in numerous areas from responding to a fire, opening a shelter, helping to raise funds, giving blood to building a house for Habitat for Humanity, going on church mission trips and helping with the Heritage Hunt CERT was acknowledged by Wayne.

During the formal portion of the annual meeting, Wayne also announced three new members of the Board of Directors and Directors elected to a second three term for the 2010 fiscal year:
• Risha Vyas, BB&T
• Maureen Duetermann, Potomac Hospital
• Dr. Elaine Sours, DDS, Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
• Jack Papp, Lockheed Martin
• Albert Ruiz, Plexus Scientific Corporation
• Michael Shepelak, S.W.I.F.T.
• Kimberly Davis-Riffe, Protiviti

Wayne summarized how important each business and volunteer is to the non-profit organization. “Without each of you, we cannot provide the service this community so desperately needs.”

The meeting was adjourned and attendees enjoyed refreshments, provided compliments of NOVEC.

— Submitted by the Prince William Red Cross