They range in age from around ten years to Senior Citizens and represent a wide variety of groups and organizations, but the one thing they have in common is a desire to serve unselfishly…without pay. On Thursday, April 24, more than ninety of these people were honored at a Heroes Among Us ceremony hosted by U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis. The volunteers were from Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties, the areas that comprise the 12th District, which the congressman represents.
More than forty groups and organizations serve various age and demographic groups, from the unborn (A New Generation) and those entering the last stages of life (HPH Hospice), to the mentally ill (NAMI) and veterans (K9 Partners for Patriots).
It was practically standing room only at the Elks Lodge 2582 on County Line Road in Spring Hill when the honorees, their friends and family, and members of their respective organizations gathered to witness the names being called out, along with the reasons they were nominated. Each honoree received a bound certificate. What made this honor especially important is that Bilirakis entered their names and associated information into the Congressional Record.
In his opening remarks, the congressman stated, “Volunteers are the ones who show up when there is a need, who lend a helping hand without asking for anything in return and who inspire all of us with their selflessness.”
“Without volunteers, many of the programs and initiatives wouldn’t be possible. You help bring our shared values to life and make our communities stronger, kinder, and more resilient. These public servants are indeed the backbone of our community,” he continued.
Several Hernando County groups and organizations nominated volunteers for this award. These included A New Generation, Brooksville Main Street, the Hernando County Education Foundation, Hernando County Family YMCA of the Suncoast, HPH Hospice, K9 Partners for Patriots, National Alliance On Mental Illness Hernando (NAMI), People Helping People in Hernando County, Inc., Ridge Manor Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Need, F.W. Springstead High School, and United Way of Hernando County.
A New Generation nominated Frank Cassarà for this prestigious award. A New Generation helps women with pregnancy testing and counseling, post-natal education, and parenting, among other services. For more information on A New Generation, go to www.anewgen.org.
Donna Mackey, Cindy Gandy Mahon, Andrea Read and Casey Thieryung represented Brooksville Main Street. They were recognized for their untiring efforts to promote the downtown businesses, enhance cultural enrichment, and bring more tourism to the area by organizing such events as Christmas on Main, Friday Night Live, community cleanup, and preservation of historic buildings. So if you’re looking for fun, family-friendly events or want to volunteer, go to www.welovebvl.org.
Brooksville Main Street issued the following statement: “These individuals embody the very heart of Brooksville. Their passion, energy, and countless volunteer hours have directly contributed to the growth and vibrancy of our historic downtown.”
Debbye Warrell was recognized as an outstanding volunteer by the Hernando County Education Foundation (HCEF), an organization that works to advance student achievement and promote excellence within the public schools. Among its activities are fundraisers for student scholarships; the Cinderella program which donates prom dresses to students who can’t afford them; the Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year programs; and the Tools 4 Schools Boutique, where teachers can pick up supplies free of charge to supplement what is budgeted for their classrooms.
Before becoming a volunteer for HCEF, Ms. Warrell had a distinguished career as a school Media Specialist. After retiring, she was hired by the school district to oversee the school media centers. Since 2007, Ms. Warrell has volunteered 5,000 hours with HCEF in various capacities. For more information on the Hernando County Education Foundation, go to: www.hernandoeducationfoundation.org.
The Hernando County Family YMCA of the Suncoast nominated Teresa Piechowicz and Gerry Whitted for their volunteer efforts with that organization.
Part of the certificate mentioned that Ms. Piechowicz “is always the first to arrive and last to leave. She has the unique ability to lift others up…and stepping in wherever she is needed without hesitation.”
Gerry Whitted was described as “an unstoppable force of generosity, leadership, and action.” He is one of the leaders of the YMCA’s “Togetherness Program.” Through fun competitions, the program encourages its members to excel at collecting food for organizations such as People Helping People and funds for scholarships for people who can’t afford to join the YMCA.
The certificate states that, “Gerry is more than a volunteer. He is a community connector. He ensures that the ‘Y’ remains a pillar of strength for those served. His ability to inspire others to give, serve, and engage is unmatched.”
Sue Simone was honored for her work with HPH Hospice, which serves Hernando, Pasco and Citrus counties. They offer palliative care to individuals in the last stages of their lives and support for those individuals and their families. Additionally, as a founding member of the Women of Giving (WOG), Ms. Simone played a crucial role in laying the foundation for its fundraising efforts.
Jeanne White, a Certified Dog Trainer, was honored by K9 Partners for Patriots for her work in “training veterans to train their dog,” as she puts it. For Ms. White, the most rewarding aspect of what she does is “seeing that dog choose that veteran and seeing the change in that veteran from day one.”
Ms. White’s certificate stated in part, “Once a match is made…she remains a constant source of support, always just a phone call away during late nights and weekends.” She admits that finding the right dog for the veteran can sometimes be challenging and sometimes the veteran has to wait to be matched, but the effort is worthwhile because, in some cases, these service dogs have literally saved their owner’s life. For more information about K9 Partners for Patriots, go to: www.k9partnersforpatriots.com/.
National Alliance on Mental Illness Hernando (NAMI) nominated Joanne Gillespie and Tommy Baker for the Heroes Among Us award.
Baker’s certificate stated, in part, “As Board President [of NAMI], Tommy played a pivotal role in strengthening NAMI Hernando’s foundation, guiding strategic growth and supporting long-term sustainability.”
Joanne Gillespie is a retired Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher. Her certificate stated, “As the mother of an adult son living with schizophrenia, Joanne brings personal insight and professional experience to everything she does.”
“For eight years, she has taught Family-to-Family and led family support groups, offering encouragement and understanding to others.” To find out more about NAMI, go to www.namihernando.org.
People Helping People in Hernando County, Inc. (PHP) nominated Mary Adams for her dedication to that organization. Not only has she served as treasurer on the Board of Directors, but she has also given countless hours to help with some of the services they offer.
PHP has numerous programs to help Seniors, the indigent and the homeless. These include serving meals to these often overlooked members of our community, providing hot showers and laundry facilities to the homeless, and free medical care to those who can’t afford it. For more information, go to www.phphernando.org.
Fifteen people from the Ridge Manor Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Need group received recognition at the ceremony. Although many of these people also suffered damage to their homes, power outages and other effects of Hurricane Milton, they stepped up to bring in government and non-profit resources, and solicit food and clothing for those less fortunate. They worked from October until mid-December on these relief efforts.
According to Mike Lastra, the principal of Eastside Elementary School and one of the volunteers, the week after the hurricane hit, they organized a family BBQ with the help of vendors and multiple agencies.
“A food pantry was set up on our campus. We also rode the school bus to the affected areas and passed out food kits. On some days, we would get on a boat and deliver supplies.”
F.W. Springstead High School in Hernando County recognized Dean Lancaster for his amazing talent as a volunteer announcer for their football, basketball, and baseball games.
A portion of the certificate stated, “He [Lancaster] blew everyone away and gave a college-like feel to the game,” his first time out. “He was prepared, professional, and enthusiastic.” Because of his talent, Lancaster has been asked to announce at other school events, such as Senior Night and their annual Cheerleading competition. He explained that announcing at these events is his way of giving back to the community.
United Way of Hernando County selected Donna Telesco for the Heroes Among Us Award. She has volunteered with several of the organization’s programs. United Way supports many non-profit organizations through its fundraising efforts. Each year, they partner with local businesses with pledge drives, in which employees contribute to the effort.
One of its many missions is supporting education through such projects as Stuff the Bus (collecting school supplies for students), scholarships, and Born Learning Trails. They also assist the elderly with their Dementia Care Support Groups and offer help to people with filing their income tax through their VITA program. These are just a few of the many services that United Way offers. To find out more, go to www.unitedwayhernando.org.
All the volunteers honored last Thursday evening are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to volunteerism in the Tampa Bay area. There are many unsung heroes, not recognized at the ceremony. And the value of their services in both dollars and cents and goals accomplished is infinite.
