On Saturday, April 10th four Lund Family Center volunteers/groups received recognition for their exemplary community engagement by Governor Jim Douglas and the Vermont Commission on National and Community Service.
Lund Family Center Board member Jeanne Kennedy received the Vermont Lifetime Achievement Award. Kennedy, owner of JB Kennedy Associates, LLC, has volunteered at Lund Family Center (LFC) for 20 years advancing the organization’s mission to strengthen families by helping children and families thrive in Vermont’s 14 counties. In addition to helping staff develop effective legislative strategies and keeping Lund current regarding key legislation, Kennedy volunteers at events, prepares holiday meals for clients and helps wherever needed. Kennedy was there to outfit Lund’s renovated residential site and rolled up her sleeves on moving day--making beds, helping residents unpack and warmly welcoming them into their new home.
On Tuesday, April 13th Lund Family Center was honored with three awards at the annual Kidsafe Collaborative Awards Luncheon. Lund Family Center Board member Jeanne Kennedy received the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award. Lund Family Center’s Children’s Treatment Coordinator, Katie Amadon received the Outstanding New Professional award and the Vermont Department for Children and Families and Lund will receive the award for Outstanding Collaboration for its Regional Partnership. Lund Family Center is proud of the contributions and achievements of our volunteers, staff and agency partners.
Mike Sessions, Vice President at Pizzagalli Construction attended the awards ceremony to accept the Business/Corporate Award on behalf of Pizzagalli Construction. Pizzagalli Construction has more than a 20-year track record as an engaged partner of Lund Family Center. Pizzagalli offers nonprofits support and partnership through numerous vehicles; including financial contributions, volunteer engagement and generous sharing of the company’s resources, like their conference room for phonathons and their helium tank for nonprofit events. Pizzagalli employees volunteer in groups and individually, partnering with organizations across Vermont including Make A Wish Foundation, Forever Young Treehouses, Habitat for Humanity, Fletcher Allen Healthcare, United Way and Resource VT.
Jayne Magnant represented Rhino Foods, Inc., which received a Group Volunteer Service Award. Rhino Foods has a strong commitment to community engagement that is visible in their volunteer work with the United Way and with organizations like Lund Family Center. Rhino Foods generously donates product to support community events like Lund’s annual adoption picnic and they come out in full force as a group to do everything from painting offices to helping in childcare. Rhino Food Inc. also gives their employees two paid days a year to leave the office and volunteer in the community. Everyone from the senior level staff to the custodial staff volunteers to make their community a better place.
Saint Michael’s College students Megan Flanagan and Hilary Richard received the Adult Volunteer Service Award for their volunteer work in the College’s MOVE program. They first became interested in Lund during high school when volunteering at Lund’s Annual Adoption Picnic. At St. Michael's they noticed that the MOVE program did not have Lund Family Center as a community partner so they took the initiative and developed their own project. They first provided respite childcare at Lund and now run a weekly arts and crafts activity group for Lund residents. Richard and Flanagan have mobilized more than 12 students who volunteer with them.
