Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center volunteers receive awards
Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/brog/News/60195/
BENTONVILLE — Patti Bennett of Rogers and Carla Kallesen of Bentonville were pleasantly surprised Monday morning at the Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center. Each woman was honored with the President’s Volunteer Service Bronze Award for volunteering between 100 and 249 hours over the last year at the center.
Bennett and Kallesen are members of the Parent Teacher Organization. During the past year, they have assisted with multiple fundraisers and staff-recognition events and solicited donations, as well as recruited additional volunteers. Also, Kallesen has served on the board of directors and several strategic-driven committees.
Michelle Stephens, executive director of the children’s center, welcomed the honorees and several members of their families.
“ Providing the highest level of quality care to our children takes support of our entire community, ” Stephens said. “ Carla and Patti demonstrate the significant impact volunteerism can have on a nonprofit (organization ). It is because of them that we are able to do what we do every day at the Helen Walton Children’s Enrichment Center. ”
Brayden Bennett, 3, joined his mother, Patti, as she was presented the award by Stephens. Rylee Kallesen, also 3, joined her mother when Stephens gave the award to Kallesen.
Stephens mentioned how both women make sure the staff, as well as the children, have treats for special occasions.
Explaining that each woman goes far out of her way to help the center be the best place it can be, Stephens also discussed the creation of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers make.
The council created the President’s Volunteer Service Award Program as a way to thank and honor individuals who, by their commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.
Awards are presented to Individuals, families or groups that have achieved a certain standard measured by the number of hours served over a 12-month period or the cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime. So far, the President’s Council has given more than 400, 000 awards to the nation’s deserving volunteers.