HandsOn nominees named; award event will be Nov. 8

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

HandsOn Volunteer Network of the Valley, in partnership with WFMJ TV 21 and the Our Valley’s Volunteers Campaign, has announced nominees for the HandsOn Volunteer Network Award.

These volunteers will be recognized for their efforts to improve the civic health and social conditions in the Mahoning Valley.

The awards are an opportunity for local organizations, the public and volunteers to recognize an individual, or group of people who show exceptional commitment to community and social improvement.

The 2012 nominees in the individual category are Marianne Bryson, Beatitude House; Jamie Hughes, Adopt an Angel; Heather Merritt, Birds in Flight Sanctuary; Bonnie Loomis, Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio; Tom Marshall, Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley; Kate Shipka, Mill Creek MetroParks; Timothy Sokoloff, Iron Soup Historical Preservation Co.; Anthony Spano, Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley; Suzanne Spirito, Hospice of the Valley; and Virginia Wepfer, S.O.P.H.I.A.

Nominees in the Virginia Leskanic Navigator Category are Betty Brindiar, Canfield Operation Blessing; Ilona Labusch, Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries; Rita Patton, Volunteer Service to Seniors Reassurance Calls Program; and Beverly Pariza, American Cancer Society and Mahoning County Veterans Services.

Nominees are judged by a panel of community volunteers including Shana Chasebi, Revere Data; Carol Griffin, Mahoning and Columbiana Training Association; David Turner, First Energy Corp.; Dr. Adam C. Earnheardt, Youngstown State University; Carol J. Bigelow, community volunteer; Gayle Wanamaker, Loghurst; and Shannon Sweeney Tirone, YSU.

The awards will be presented at the HandsOn Volunteer Network Award Celebration planned Nov. 8 at Avalon Golf and Country Club at Squaw Creek, 761 Youngstown-Kingsville Road SE, Vienna. A cash bar will begin at 5:30 p.m., dinner and program will be at 6:15. Tickets are $30 per person and can be purchased by calling 330-782-5877.