On Sept. 12, Options for Independence hosted its annual meeting and awards luncheon at the Springside Inn. Options presented the Rev. John Humphrey Volunteer of the Year Award to two individuals, Susan Storms and Judy Dove, who have made a difference in the community and in the lives of individuals with disabilities.
The first Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to a community activist and returning board member Judy Dove. As a member of Options' Board of Directors, Dove served as an officer of our organization and also chaired one of our hardest working committees #- Long Range Planning, which puts on events such as the awards luncheon, our spring conference and the holiday open house. Dove (even after leaving our board several years ago) has been one of Options greatest champions in the health care community. She is one of those people who has a great institutional memory. She knows the right people to call and is able to connect people to the right organizations or services to help them address their needs.
Dove will never completely leave Options and was gracious enough to consent to return to our board of directors for a second tour with the organization.
The second Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Susan Storms of Brutus, not only on behalf of Options for Independence, but our community in general, which is better because of her volunteer efforts.
Last year, the Cayuga County United Way had its most successful year ever, raising more money than ever before. Many believe that they were able to do so, not only because of the great work of their campaign co-chairs Jon Budelmann and Lon Fricano, but also because they had one person who could talk to people better than most about community services and how they impacted her and her son, Jack.
Storms, who has a visual impairment, was someone who was willing to go from business to business and community event to community event to talk about her story as a young mother who has a disability and who needed some of the great services that are available within our community. A few years back, she lost her sight, and with her loss of vision, she started to use the services of our fellow United Way agency, Aurora of Central New York. With the death of her husband, she also utilized the services of hospice to deal with the issues related to death and the SCAT Van to transport her and Jack to and from their home in Weedsport.
Starting last summer and all the way through to the end of the United Way Campaign in December, Storms showed up at location after location to tell her story of challenges, perseverance and success. She was a vital part of that successful campaign and clearly someone who could show that all you have to do to make a difference is step forward and be heard.
For more than a decade, Options for Independence has recognized individuals in our community who truly make a difference, not because they want notoriety or a pat on the back. They do things because it is the right thing to do and because they want to make a difference. Judy Dove and Susan Storms volunteer their time and effort to help those in need. Their work truly does make a difference.
Amanda Derby is the housing advocate for Options for Independence, located at 75 Genesee St., Auburn. She can be reached at Options at 255-3447
Dove will never completely leave Options and was gracious enough to consent to return to our board of directors for a second tour with the organization.
The second Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Susan Storms of Brutus, not only on behalf of Options for Independence, but our community in general, which is better because of her volunteer efforts.
Last year, the Cayuga County United Way had its most successful year ever, raising more money than ever before. Many believe that they were able to do so, not only because of the great work of their campaign co-chairs Jon Budelmann and Lon Fricano, but also because they had one person who could talk to people better than most about community services and how they impacted her and her son, Jack.
Storms, who has a visual impairment, was someone who was willing to go from business to business and community event to community event to talk about her story as a young mother who has a disability and who needed some of the great services that are available within our community. A few years back, she lost her sight, and with her loss of vision, she started to use the services of our fellow United Way agency, Aurora of Central New York. With the death of her husband, she also utilized the services of hospice to deal with the issues related to death and the SCAT Van to transport her and Jack to and from their home in Weedsport.
Starting last summer and all the way through to the end of the United Way Campaign in December, Storms showed up at location after location to tell her story of challenges, perseverance and success. She was a vital part of that successful campaign and clearly someone who could show that all you have to do to make a difference is step forward and be heard.
For more than a decade, Options for Independence has recognized individuals in our community who truly make a difference, not because they want notoriety or a pat on the back. They do things because it is the right thing to do and because they want to make a difference. Judy Dove and Susan Storms volunteer their time and effort to help those in need. Their work truly does make a difference.
Amanda Derby is the housing advocate for Options for Independence, located at 75 Genesee St., Auburn. She can be reached at Options at 255-3447
