The First Lady of Texas, Cecilia Abbott, has guest as honorary chair to unveil the vibrant crew who's snagged the prestigious Governor’s Volunteer Awards this year. Partnered up with OneStar Foundation, the awards are tipping their hats to the cream of the crop in volunteering, recognizing folks and groups who've really put their back into serving their communities in Texas, according to a release by the Governor's Office.
“It is with great excitement that I recognize 15 exceptional awardees of this year’s Governor’s Volunteer Awards, commemorating 40 years of honoring outstanding volunteers,” said First Lady Abbott. Chris Bugbee, who's top dog at OneStar, chimed in saying, that the award winners are the spitting image of that tough, resilient Texan spirit that's all about serving others and laying down tracks for the young guns to follow.
I am happy to join @onestarfdn in announcing the 40th Annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards recipients.
— Cecilia Abbott (@TexasFLCA) February 14, 2024
We are truly grateful for these awardees who go above and beyond in serving their community to ensure a greater tomorrow.
Learn more here: https://t.co/lztzzFxoEP
These big-hearted Texans will be in the limelight during April, National Volunteer Month with a fancy do at the Governor’s Mansion. And the list of awardees reads like a who's who of community heroes – from Ann Hammond who's been fighting the good fight against domestic violence in Houston, to the power couple Kent and Priscilla Pate of Midway who's known for their transformative work with Texas vets and at-risk youth.
The awards also shone a spotlight on the younger generation, like high schooler Rizwan Khan from Plano. This kid racked up over 4,000 service hours, a massive feat, also catching our eye was Rahul Vijayan from Pearland. This young visionary is bringing sustainability and nutrition education into schools with hydroponics wonders. They aren't the only names that got the governors' nod. There are champions for suicide prevention, like Jana Anderson, and folks like Joan Ulsher, who's turned her military service into a mission to better the lives of kids in foster care.
Then there's a whole family affair going on in Allen with the Cheng Family who's got their hands dirty, giving back through their org 'Under My Umbrella'. Business is also putting its money where its heart is with McCoy’s Building Supply getting the Corporate Champion big-ups for their local charity work and spirit. For the school squads, Academy 4 in Fort Worth is killing it with its mentorship programs, while Arlington Classics Academy students are all about generosity, banking over 27,000 cans for the hungry every year.
Not to be outdone, some heavy hitters have made their mark with the blood, sweat, and tears they've poured into disaster relief. Orange County Disaster Rebuild is that team, picking up the pieces post-Harvey and Laura with millions of dollars funneled into helping folks rebuild their shattered homes.
And we can't forget the AmeriCorps alumni – Joe Carreon from Dallas and Katrina Huffman from Brady – who kept the service flame burning bright long after their official stints ended.
For Texans, by Texans, this roster of volunteers has laid it all out there, shaping their communities with a blend of grit and grace.
