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2008 Volunteer Excellence Awards |
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Bill Manth - '08 National Winner: Adult Category |
Niagara Falls Chapter |
Bill Manth is blessed with amazing energy and drive. Thrivent Financial and members of his western New York community of Tonawanda are blessed that he has chosen to use those gifts to help others.Bill serves as vice president of the Niagara Falls Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and chapter members look to him for direction and inspiration as they plan their activities to help others. His commitment to excellence is a true driving force behind the chapter’s success. He implemented a policy where chapter leaders take turns attending Thrivent chapter activities and set up a Thrivent Financial display table with a banner, tablecloth and giveaways. In addition to his dedicated work with Thrivent Financial, Bill is very active in community organizations and in his church. But no matter where he volunteers, he is the face of Thrivent Financial with whomever he works with, letting them know about the wonderful opportunities available through Thrivent Financial. Among his community work, Bill served as the events committee chair for Mercy Flight. He led the effort to raise more than $10,000 for this volunteer organization. The funds are critical to Mercy Flight’s ability to fulfill its mission of transporting critically ill people, donated organs and medical personnel throughout western New York. Bill’s commitment to the health and safety of his community doesn’t stop there. He has served as a volunteer firefighter for Gratwick Hose Fire Company for more than 40 years. He also is the deputy director of the emergency management and response team for the city of North Tonawanda. Bill took this part-time job knowing full well that it required a full-time commitment. Through literally thousands of hours of volunteer time, Bill ensures the safety and security of North Tonawanda’s citizens. In 2007, when an ice storm hit the area, Bill — through 35 continuous hours of work — led the effort to ensure that the people of the community had food, shelter and medical assistance. Bill is a dedicated member of his St. Paul Lutheran Church congregation and serves in many roles, including lawn care and a go-to person for mechanical questions. And, as co-chair of the Canal Fest Parade Committee, Bill leads an effort in which 10,000 residents take time to celebrate their community pride.
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Matt Wilhelm - '08 National Volunteer: Youth Category |
New Hampshire Chapter |
By bringing to action his philosophy of giving what you can and never giving up, Matt Wilhelm is truly an inspiration to youth. He not only devotes his talent and time to giving to others, but also is described as one who’s “able to get people involved in a way no one else can.” Matt’s passion to help and his gift of motivating others to get youth involved is demonstrated through the various activities and programs he participates in with the New Hampshire Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. He recruited young people to participate in a Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity project in Vermont. He also worked with the chapter and City Year New Hampshire (CYNH) to inspire more than 2,000 people — including young people, corporate employees and civic leaders — to take part in a JOIN HANDS DAY service project uniting volunteers in the United States and South Africa. Through his extensive involvement with CYNH, an organization that unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, Matt has energized countless people for the good of his community. He demonstrated his passion for the future of CYNH by working with his peers to redefine and relaunch the first CYNH alumni board, bringing excitement and big ideas about what is possible. Through his work with ServeNext.org, Matt led strategy sessions with the CYNH executive director to educate and engage political leaders to support national service in New Hampshire. As a result, the organization implemented a strategy that educated all presidential candidates and New Hampshire stakeholders about CYNH’s work and future goals. Using his social entrepreneurship skills, Matt founded Concert Corps, an innovative way to inspire young people to volunteer. The organization connects touring performing artists and their fans with non-profit partners to provide meaningful community service. In his church, Matt has been active by hosting social gatherings and trips, and teaching Sunday school classes to high school students.
| | 2008 Regional Volunteer Excellence Award Winners |
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Reverend Tobias Anderson - Families with Children Category |
The Hudson Valley Chapter of
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans experienced an almost total veteran leadership
shift in 2007. Tobias was the sole experienced leader and agreed to shepherd
the new board in spite of increased work and family responsibilities. Tobias
was instrumental in guiding the chapter to conduct training/appreciation events
to help Thrivent branding and building relationships. Tobias encouraged the
board to think creatively about ways to use operating funds to promote member
engagement and build a network through trainings, workshops, appreciation
dinners and more. Most of all, Tobias
built relationships, working together to the benefit of all and for the glory
of God.
As part of the music
ministry “Faithful Folk”, Tobias spearheaded the grassroots
effort “For Diana” CD project to support a young mother involved in a serious
car accident. Diana has two small children and is a youth worker in the ELCA.
She may never walk again, but through the “For Diana” effort, a collaboration
of volunteers and Thrivent Financial, she and her family have received
tremendous prayer and financial support. This effort grew to include volunteers
from Michigan to Florida,
Maine to Massachusetts, and with the help of the
Hudson Valley Chapter, has raised over $30,000 to
date. Since Tobias’ ministry began five years ago, Faithful Folk have recorded
4 CDs and raised over $50,000 for various organizations.
In 2007, Tobias was blessed
with a new son, became an ordained ELCA minister, and was diagnosed with colon
cancer.
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Clark Paradise - Retired Category |
Clark is the creator, president and main motivator behind
Your Grandmother’s Cupboard which is an outgrowth of an earlier non-profit
organization – Shepherd’s Helper’s. He
has been involved with the Ocean County Chapter in many roles and has always
been there to find solutions.
Your
Grandmother’s Cupboard is also a main supporter of a “Bus Ministry” to the
homeless in Lakewood NJ providing propane, food & clothing as
well a personal products and diesel fuel for the bus.
Recognizing
that food banks do not supply personal items (razors, sanitary items, diapers
etc). Your Grandmother’s cupboard now
provides “mini” kits for men, women, children and infants. These kits are provided to area food banks
for distribution to those who need them.
Clark, as president of Lutheran Bible Ministries, developed
a “Courier Outreach Message Program” to bring God’s word to the homeless and
those who do not attend church. Each
week, they create & distribute a bookmark sized slip of colored paper
containing uplifting bible messages to food pantries & clothing
distribution points so the homeless can receive the Word along with food,
clothing and warm blankets.
Clark
attends Holy Cross Lutheran
Church where he served as
Past Council President, currently serves on the evangelism committee, the
stewardship committee and the finance committee member, audit committee
Clark
is past president of the Twin
Port’s Seafarer’s Center
and has changed the mission of the center from primarily providing support for sailors
to providing shelter for homeless and battered women.
Clark
has made the center a distribution point for the Courier Outreach Program, so
he is caring for the body and soul of the needy.
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Hats Off to our '07 Volunteers in the Northeast Region! |
We also salute the individuals who were selected for Volunteer Excellence Recognition in 2007! We celebrate their accomplishments and demonstrations of caring for others! Thanks to all volunteers for the thousands of hours of volunteer service unselfishly devoted each year!! You are truly making a difference in your church and your community. |
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The Reverend Gary Stiegler, Adult Category |
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Rev. Gary Stiegler uses his networking skills to bring all age levels together, as service is provided to many organizations in the Ocean County (NJ) area. He has been an integral part of the success of the Ocean County Chapter, since he started as the president in 2004, when he stepped in to fill an unexpectd void. He sets a great example as he encourages service teams to raise $3 for every $1 supplemented, by ensuring that congregational coordinators are trained and thanked profusely, and by increasing the awareness of Thrivent Financial. |
| | His work with Habitat for Humanity placed the chapter in a good place to successfully apply for a Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity site for 2007. Pastor Stiegler also spreads his boundless energy as he volunteers for the Lakewood Clergy Association (president), Lakewood Police and Fire Departments (chaplain), International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, the Ocean County Health & Human Services Advisory Council, Jackson NJ Chamber of Commerce, the Jackson Clergy Association and the Lakewood Community Bus Ministry to assist homeless in Ocean County. He annually leads the clean-up of Island Beach State Park as a JHD activity. Lutheran Social Ministries of NJ will receive a $250 donation from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in Pastor Stiegler’s honor.
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Peter Keto, Young Adult Category |
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Peter Keto feels that it is important to volunteer in his community, to help people who are in need, to strive to be his best when faced with challenges. That he has proven with his volunteer work with the Northeastern Massachusetts Chapter, for which he serves as the Internet Advisor, combining his interest in volunteering with his computer skills.He went to other churches and chapters in New England to volunteer to help build a house for a family in need of a home with support from Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity and the Western MA Chapter. | | He has actively served with the Concord Prison Outreach, which ministers to inmates at a maximum security prison. He helped coordinate a Care program activity to assist with the ministry's fund-raising. Peter has been an active participant in Join Hands Day activities, such as the landscape restoration project at the Squannacook Sportsman’s Club in West Groton, MA. A donation will be made by Thrivent Financial to his church, St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudbury, MA, where he is also an active volunteer.
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Alberta "Honey" Pabst, Retired Category |
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Alberta “Honey” Pabst says that she is so thankful that she was able to serve as the records director for the Suffolk County Chapter for four years. She continually looks for opportunities that will help her church reach out into the community. Honey had done a marvelous job of coordinating Thrivent Financial members and chapter support with the outreach of volunteers in the local community. She saw the opportunities for activities to make a contribution to the mission of Thrivent Financial by publicizing the good that is done as an organization. She has been active in her church activities, especially those that reach out into the community. She organized a Sock Sunday, and Undy Sunday, and a Treasure & Tag Sale. She was also intrumental in starting the Atlantic District's LWML stamp program among over 100 congregations to help support the LWML Interpreter's Fund for the Deaf in the District. |
| | She continues to work with the Suffolk County Girl Scouts, the Suffolk County Homemakers Council, Camp for Kids for children on dialysis, and the Lighthouse Mission. The donation in Honey’s honor will be sent to the Atlantic District Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.
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Mary Diesing, Families with Children Category |
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Mary Diesing sets a positive role model daily as she encourages her home-schooled children to volunteer with the family. Together they also participated in a National Night Out in south Burlington, VT. As a chapter leader, she has personally called all the congregational coordinators in the 11 Lutheran churches in the state of Vermont to explain their role and the Care programs. Service activities during the recent past included Relay for Life (American Cancer Society), CROP Walk, National Night Out in South Burlington (VT) Church, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, and maintaining a Helping Hands garden, started as a JHD project, into harvest season, when many community members were fed. | | Mary feels that her most rewarding volunteer effort allows her, along with her family and church members, to make a difference in the church community as they host and prepare Christmas luncheon and reception after church on Christmas morning. This tradition was started to bring joy and fellowship to those attending church who otherwise wouldn't have family to be with on Christmas Day. Mary selected the Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity as the recipient of the Thrivent Financial donation in her honor. |
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Financial Representative Volunteer of the Year |
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Each year one full time Financial Representative from each regional financial office is honored for his or her outstanding efforts as a volunteer. Marie Rampino, FIC, is the recipient of this honor for her 2006 service in the Northeast Region. As a leader in service to her church and community, Marie truly exemplifies the mission of Thrivent Financial.Marie serves in the volunteer role of Financial Associate Advisor to the Queens County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Marie attends all Queens County meetings as well as the service activities that they sponsor. She is in regular communication with the chapter’s congregations to ensure they have access to and make use of resources available to them. |
| | She happily acknowledges that the majority of her volunteer efforts take place through the Queens County Chapter. With her strong connections to the local community in Queens, which is one of the five boroughs of New York City, and to Lutheran organizations, she works to see that people in need and organizations that make a difference are able to benefit from the charitable work of the chapters.Marie serves on the board of the Martin Luther Foundation, which supports the educational ministry of Martin Luther School in Maspeth, New York. She was a part of the group that put this Foundation together in 2006 and currently serves as the secretary. She volunteers her time to raise funds for the organization to support its mission. Marie brings her expertise as a financial representative to bear on her volunteer work as she seeks to help this organization, through charitable gifts, to be able to endow and sustain its ministry. Marie has been a board member for the Martin Luther High School and has helped in their fund-raising and development areas. She has also done similar work with other local Lutheran schools. She uses her experiences to assist as a board member, as well as to help these organizations raise the funds they need to provide affordable, quality, private school education. She is a financial representative, leading the Skyline Group, which has offices in Maspeth, New York. |
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