Maui County Celebrates Volunteer Heroes

Celebration of Service awards participants included (left to right, back row,) Jim Porowski, Valerie Bromberg, Alan Takeda, Sandra McGuinness for Lee Chamberlain, Tony Pompillio, Judy Guajardo for Jeannie Brew, (front row) Chrissy Stout for Tannis Grimes, DHHC Deputy Director Jan Shishido, Heather Greenwood for Rosalie Yoshida, DHHC Director Carol Reimann, Mayor Alan M. Arakawa, Myrna Fung and Volunteer Center Coordinator Wendy Stebbins. Photo credit: County of Maui/Ryan Piros

The County of Maui Volunteer Center held its annual “Celebration of Service” in the Mayor’s Conference Room in the County of Maui Building on April 12, 2016, to recognize 10 special volunteers who have made a great impact on the community.

This year’s Maui County “Volunteer Heroes” received recognition from the honorable Mayor Alan M. Arakawa.

The 2016 event differed from past events in that both volunteers and volunteer leaders were recognized.

Alan Takeda of Hawaii Animal Rescue and Lee Chamberlain of Maui Bicycling League were honored for their leadership contributions.

Rosalie Yoshida of the Foster Grandparent Program, Tannis Grimes of the Haku Baldwin Center’s Therapeutic Riding Program, Jim Porowski of the Hāli‘imaile Community Garden, Daniel Southmayd of Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission, Valerie Bromberg of Leilani Farm Sanctuary, Tony Pompillio of Maui Food Bank, Myrna Fung of the Maui Historical Society and Jeannie Brew of Nā Hoaloha were celebrated for the immense impact their volunteer activities have on the community.

The recognition event is held every year during April’s National Volunteer Week, which celebrates and encourages participation across the USA. Lead by Points of Light, National Volunteer Week has been taking place since 1974, and inspires hundreds of volunteer events every year. This special week offers the perfect opportunity for the County of Maui Volunteer Center to assist its partner nonprofit agencies in showing appreciation for their volunteers.

The Volunteer Center is the one resource and catalyst on Maui that leads, connects and mobilizes volunteers and volunteer agencies to contribute to a better life on Maui. It is an affiliate of the National HandsOn Network, the volunteer-centered branch of the Points of Light.

Visit http://handsonmaui.com to learn more.