NRV Leading Lights Annual Report 2017-2018

New River Valley Leading Lights 2017-2018 Annual Report

In 2018, we received nominations for 57 volunteers. Pictured above are some of these exceptional community members.

Celebrating Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Our Impact New River Valley Leading Lights recognizes and honors volunteers across the New River Valley who are making community-changing impacts, culminating in an annual celebratory banquet.

10 Years of Honoring Volunteers 514 Volunteers Nominated as Leading Lights 68 Distinguished Recognitions $51,000 distributed to NRV nonprofits

leadinglightsnrv.org

Pictured above are 2018 present Montgomery County Community Leading Lights.

From the Board: stories of service drive our work For ten years, NRV Leading Lights has honored and acknowledged volunteers across our region, and this work continues to drive each Board member. Distinguished Recognitions were given in the following categories: High School (2), Collegiate (2), Floyd County (1), Giles County (1), Montgomery County (2), Pulaski County (1), Radford City (1), and Lifetime Achievement (1). Also this year, our volunteer Board raised a total of $20,695 from more than 70 different sources, including individuals, businesses, nonprofits, civic clubs, foundations, colleges, and universities. Our work would not be possible without your generosity and support year after year - thank you. Our expenses totaled $17,214, with our banquet making up nearly 50% of our expenses. Other expenses included a total of $6,000 in funds given to this year’s Distinguised Leading Lights. Each Distinguished Leading Light chose a local nonprofit meaningful to them as the recipient of these funds (donations). As you read through this report, above all, we hope that you take away this: each of us owes a debt of gratitude to all those who serve our community. In 2019, please consider nominating someone at leadinglightsnrv.org! The 2017-18 New River Valley Leading Lights Board:

Dick Arnold, President Marcela Jara, Secretary Lewis Webb, Treasurer

Brandon Brooks Mike Butt Kymn Davidson-Hamley Jessica Davis

Bob Job Bill King Christina McIntyre Ryan Martin

Mary Pettitt Enrique Rebolledo

Tim Rosche Erika Tolbert

19.4% 41.2% 24.5% 14.7% .2% TOTAL INCOME

Leading Lights ($2,000+ sponsor) Flood Lights ($500 - $1,999) Spot Lights ($250 - $499) Strobe Lights ($100 - $249) Bright Lights ($99 & below)

$4,000 $8,500 $5,050 $2,950 $195 $20,695

Income

49.8% 29.0% 11.8%

Banquet Monetary awards for winners

$8,577 $5,000 $2,039 $776 $747 $75 $17,214

Award materials Communications Fundraising Miscellaneous expenses

Expenses

4.5% 4.3% 0.4% TOTAL EXPENSES

Some of our 2018 winners (L-R): Christina McIntyre (who accepted the Giles award on Ann Goette’s behalf ), Taylor Hawkins, Jean Umberger, Scott & Mendy Sink, Diane Blair, Kyndal Stakes, Sydney Curtis, Catherine Pauley, & Jessica Shelburne.

Giles County: Lynn Hill Lynn Hill is a long-time board member of the Christian Mission and Hope House. She has become the backbone of the Giles Early Education Project (GEEP). She and her husband built three “Little Friendly Libraries” in distressed areas of Giles County. Montgomery County Janne Mathes Janne was a leader in founding the emergency shelter pro- gram for homeless men, “To Our House”, by serving on the NRCA policy council for 8 years. Janne is one of the founding members of the Blacksburg Refugee Partnership which brought six refugee families to the community from Syria and Afghanistan. John Galbraith John founded the NRV Glean Team. The Team coor- dinates over 200 volunteers, gleaning from 5 farms and recovering over 25,000 lbs. of fresh fruit and vegetables per year. He also coordinates an annual “potato drop” that involves 50 volunteers distributing 43,000 lbs. of potatoes to hunger relief organizations in the New River Valley. Pulaski County: Archie Booth Archie has served 63 years as a Boy Scout leader leading 60 boys to Eagle Scout rank. He volunteers each day at the Pulaski Daily Bread and has served several terms as their board President. Radford City: Penny Sweet Penny coordinates NRV’s Project Linus. She created partnerships with 30+ local agencies to supply blankets to children who have suffered loss and distress. She volunteers at Radford Elf Shelf, and is a board member of Radford Dept of Social Services, and Radford Clothing Bank. Pictured above (L-to-R):Olivia Obertello, Tom Sherman, John Gailbraith, Janne Mathes, Megan Talarek, Hunter Cole, Archie Boothe, Penny Sweet

2018 Distinguished Recipient Snapshots

High School Neha Nudait, Blacksburg High School

Neha advocates for causes such as cancer awareness, mental healthcare, and the SCA’s Thanksgiving Basket Project. Neha’s coding talent helped create a sensor that detects vitamin and mineral deficiencies in breast milk. Megan Talarek, Blacksburg High School As a volunteer at Lewis Gale Hospital Montgomery, Megan has logged over 300 volunteer hours. She also served as a youth soccer coach with New River United. At Blacksburg High School, she is President of the Red Cross Club and the Help Save the Next Girl organization. Hunter attends New River Community College full-time while working at Volvo Trucks. In his “free time” he vol- unteers 1,400 hours a year as a Firefighter for the Hiwassee Fire Department and serves on the Riner Rescue Squad. Olivia Obertello, Virginia Tech Olivia is a program leader for YMCA at Virginia Tech for Margaret Beeks Cub Connections. She has volunteered at Harding Avenue and Margaret Beeks Elementary. She helps coordinate the Blacksburg Farmer’s Market and vol- unteers at The Farmacy Garden. College Hunter Cole, New River Community College

Community Floyd County: Vickie Spangler

Vickie is dedicated to Floyd County’s 4-H programs and the Farm Bureau. Vickie is the treasurer for Floyd Coun- ty Chamber of Commerce, the chair for Farm Bureau’s Women’s Committee, and a board member for the Farm Bureau. She also oversaw the growth and venue relocation of the Floyd Livestock and County Fair.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Tom Sherman, Blacksburg

How to Get Involved Nominations are open at leadinglightsnrv.org! Do you know individuals or couples who meet the following criteria? 1) Devote a significant, ongoing amount of time to service, 2) Their service makes an impact and addresses community needs, and 3) They demonstrate leadership and/ or show initiative? Nominate them! Become a Board member or community advisor. We are always looking for talented people to serve on our Board and teams. Members serve three-year terms, commit to attending monthly meetings (September - May), and partici- pate on one or more team. Advisors have a less formal com- mitment where they lend their expertise to specific projects or teams. Donate or become a sponsor. Every donation or sponsor helps support our efforts, and, in turn, our community. If you are interested in donating, becoming a sponsor, or joining the Board, please contact us at leadinglightsnrv@gmail.com. Connect with us! Tom has been a volunteer leader in every organization he has served. He and his wife served as PTA co-presidents. His service leadership in education continued as the President of the Faculty Senate where this work earned him the Baldwin Memorial Town and Gown Award in 2010. Tom was also a founding member of the Neighborhood Foundation, a group of activists working for the advancement of safe and reasonable development in Blacksburg. He has garnered utmost respect as an elected official serving 5 terms on Town Council and as Vice Mayor. Through his work with Habi- tat for Humanity serving as a board member for 8 years - as well as Chair of Family Services Committee - he has been pragmatic, empathetic, and passionate about social justice. * * *

New River Valley Leading Lights

Above photos: Tom Sherman; 2018 nominees from the Community-Montgom- ery County category; Enrique Rebolledo enjoys the Gala; Present 2018 nominees from the Com- munity-Radford, Giles, & Pulaski categories.

@LeadingLightsNRV

@LeadingLightsNRV

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Credits: photos by KymnImages Photography. Copy by Kymn Davidson-Hamley & Sandy Hagman. Graphic design by Lindsey Gleason. Printing by Wordsprint. Front page map: Free Vector Maps retrieved from: freevectormaps.com.