Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame Candidates Sought

Nomination Deadline is November 9

The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service has released 2013 nomination materials for the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame - the most prestigious state-level honor volunteers can receive.  The people selected are those who have forever changed their community, the state, the nation or the world with their volunteer service and action.

"Each year we ask members of the public to nominate the people who so richly deserve special recognition for their volunteer efforts and the impact they have made," stated Adam Lounsbury, Executive Director of the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service.  "Volunteers are amazing, and we are very glad to offer this opportunity to honor the most outstanding volunteers in our state."

Nominations must be postmarked by November 9 and can be submitted in one of several categories: individual; national service member (AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Learn & Serve); family; group; organization/nonprofit; or business/corporation.  Details and nomination materials can be downloaded at

www.volunteeriowa.org/promotion/volunteer_recognition.aspx.

Since the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame was established in 1989, 142 names have been added to plaques on permanent display in the State Historical Museum.  Following are just a few examples of the types of activities from past honorees:

·        Starting a school foundation and professional development program for teachers to support education beyond the usual outlets of sports, music and PTA as well as helping uninsured and underserved children receive free eye care in order to improve classroom performance

·        Helping develop, design and implement a Human Services Campus (HSC), which now houses 13 nonprofits and 130 staff

·        Providing long-term leadership for numerous civic, government, cultural and educational committees and co-founding a private nonprofit rehabilitation agency that provides job skills and independence for citizens with disabilities

·        Designing, building and modifying devices to aid persons with disabilities in addition to helping schools teach K-12 students about science with everything from rocketry programs to robotics and building equipment

·        Creating safe before and after-school activities and mentoring programs as well as developing activities to cover gaps in service for low-income and at-risk youth

·        Sharing the story of a dramatically transformed life to inspire and motivate others to serve as mentors and creating programs that expand mentoring and raise awareness of youth homelessness

Beginning a project at age 11 with a simple desire to collect and distribute personal items to children in peril in Central Iowa.  The project went on to become a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that provides services to thousands of children worldwide.

For more information, contact: Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, icvs@iowa.gov, 515.725.3094 (toll-free, 800.308.5987)