The Mayor's Voluntary Action Center presented the Mayor's Volunteer Service Awards to recipients today at a ceremony at the Surrogate's Court. The awards ceremony recognizes the dedicated efforts of individuals and groups throughout the five boroughs who exercise volunteerism. In addition to the traditional service awards, this year's ceremony included three special awards for volunteer response to September 11th. Deputy Mayor Patricia E. Harris and Director of the Mayor's of Voluntary Action Center (MVAC) Harriette Heller presented the awards. MVAC, established in 1967, provides leadership in mobilizing individuals and public, private and not-for-profit organizations to participate in voluntary activities that affects positive change in New York City. The office works to increase the impact of volunteer involvement in many different areas of community life.

"The individuals and groups honored today represent the true spirit of New York City and showcase how the dedicated efforts of volunteers keep our communities strong," said Deputy Mayor Harris. "We are inspired by the commitment of these New Yorkers to improving the quality of life of our City."

"The Mayor's Volunteer Service Awards are an opportunity to encourage volunteerism and strengthen services by honoring volunteers and recognizing their impact on community services across all five boroughs of New York City. We are delighted to continue the tradition of these awards started more than 30 years ago," said Harriette Heller.

Award Receipients

Payel Datta volunteers her time at the Red Cross and Reality Check, a youth led anti-tobacco movement. She serves as co-chairperson of Emergency Services at Red Cross and is on the Executive Board of their youth group. Ms. Datta has expanded her division from two to over one hundred seventy young members. She was instrumental in raising $40,000 for books and toys for homeless youth. At Reality Check, Ms. Datta serves on the statewide Executive Board of twelve teenagers, and chairs the International Action Committee. Additionally, she served as a mentor to students and encourages others to participate in volunteering through public speaking.

Helen Reel volunteers at the Bronx Council for Environmental Quality and is an advocate for green spaces and natural resources. From planting saplings with kindergartners to fighting for the protection of rare meadows, she has helped to preserve nearly 500 acres of parkland at Pelham Bay Park.

Connie Jarvis volunteers for St. John's Bread and Life Program, Inc. (SJBAL), a Brooklyn soup kitchen. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors and the Board's fundraising committee, Ms. Jarvis works directly with single mothers through SJBAL's employment preparedness program Farewell to Poverty. She responded to the decreased funding following September 11th by organizing a fundraiser in December 2001 to provide holiday dinners and toys to families in need. To enhance the self-esteem of the women, Ms. Jarvis has coordinated donations of clothing for interviews and recruited volunteers from the apparel industry to serve as advisors.

The United Hospital Fund's City Hospital Visiting Committee visits New York City municipal hospitals to observe conditions, meet with hospital administrators, and identify particular successes and challenges that affect care for the City's most vulnerable residents. The group informs the public about patient needs and issues concerning the physical condition, staffing, and operations of municipal hospitals. The committee helps mobilize resources to address problems, suggest solutions, and disseminate information about innovative programs throughout the system.

Carmen Wilkerson volunteers at Lenox Hill Hospital orienting, training, organizing and dispatching volunteers. She also assists at special events and with projects such as community outreach screenings and fundraising activities. Her work impacts patient care, the support staff of the hospital, volunteers and the community at large.

Hazel Toennies volunteers as a fiscal officer and advisor to the Western Wind Vocal Ensemble and the New York Grand Opera. In this capacity Ms. Toennies prepares all financial statements, documents and budgets for the groups' productions. Ms. Toennies assists with proposals for government and private funding, and has been an asset to both the Ensemble and the Opera for more than 25 years.

Firooz Mirbaha is an Electrical Engineer at Con Edison who volunteers with students designing functional robots to compete in the F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspirational and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition. Mr. Mirbaha has worked with students to increase their interest in the practical application of math and science and secured the donation of necessary tools. Over the years students have been motivated to pursue careers in engineering and related fields thanks to Mr. Mirbaha's influence.

Annette Nolan, a volunteer for Mercy Home for children, serves on the Board of Directors and on various committees. She is also a "buddy" to a developmentally challenged young girl. She has served as Chair for the Annual Luncheon and assists in raising funds for Mercy Home's various programs. She also donates her time reviewing grant proposals and meeting with perspective grantees.

Joseph Briller has volunteered for nearly ten years at Big Apple Greeter, an organization that supports New York City's economic development by connecting business and leisure travelers with knowledgeable volunteers for personalized tours of the City. Mr. Briller serves as a visit coordinator and has become familiar with the 400 active volunteer tour guides, matching them with 500 New York City visitors each month. He has introduced innovative internal systems that foster effective communication among the volunteers and visitors.

Orlando Pietrosante is a volunteer and ambassador of good will with Community Agency for Senior Citizens (CASA). Volunteering his services at the Pathmark Supermarket, he has come up with creative solutions to make shopping safer for seniors. CASA's mission to help seniors live independent lives.

Divine Bradley founded Project F.O.C.U.S. (Free Our Community Using Skills), a recreational center for urban youth. The goal of the project is to keep youngsters off the street and out of trouble, and to focus their skills and talents productively. Mr. Bradley had the vision for the center at age 18, and was able to make it possible through Youth Venture, a group that provides seed money to help young people launch a business or organization to help their communities. Mr. Bradley was the keynote speaker in a Washington D.C. National Youth Leadership Conference and was the recent recipient of the Urban Hero award.

Libby Romfh volunteers for the New York Urban Debate League (NYUDL), a program of IMPACT Coalition. Supporting under-served young people competing in debates, she handles administrative responsibilities and logistics for tournaments. Ms. Romfh has professionalized the volunteer operations, preparing them to support students participating in debates. Ms. Romfh works to give the hundreds of students at the NYUDL tournament a positive experience.

The HeartShare Heels and Wheels Club is a community-based recreation program for older teens and adults with developmental disabilities. Volunteers with this Brooklyn group visit with Club members in order to increase their social skills and assist them in becoming more independent. Volunteers Devaughn G. Glynn, Lama Jaber and Daphne Monteau have acted as ambassadors for HeartShare Heels and Wheels Club, promoting Heartshare at their school, and recruiting and mentoring numerous new volunteers.

Linda Beck, a volunteer for the African Services Committee, created an English as a Second Language (ESL) evening program for African immigrants. Serving as volunteer coordinator and curriculum developer for this program, she identifies and recruits teachers, provides teacher orientation, evaluates classes, and assesses new students for registration. Through her efforts, start-up funding, previously unavailable to the African Services Committee became possible.

The American Women's Economic Development Corporation's (AWED) volunteer faculty members provide assistance to female small business owners. Thirty-five AWED volunteers responded immediately after the September 11th tragedy, offering services to businesses below 14th Street. Volunteers, including Jennifer Sabin, Jane Umanoff, Mike Blumenfeld, Ginger Broderick, and Scott Leibowitz, provided moral support, while relaying business strategies and connecting small business owners with new information and resources.

Lisa Orloff and her colleagues organized the New York City Community Action Network in response to tragedy of September 11th. Known as NYC CAN, this group is committed to providing support and assistance to victims' families, rescue and recovery workers and other volunteers. The group also started a project called "Loving Arms," organizing visits to local firehouses to bring comfort to firefighters who lost colleagues in the attack.

Jeffrey Schneller coordinates, supervises, schedules and trains individual Amateur Radio Operator's for membership and service in the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network. Because of Mr. Schneller's efforts, the program was able to function through the World Trade Center attack and during the rescue and recovery operation following the crash of Flight 587 in Belle Harbor, New York, when standard radio systems failed.