Volunteer Center Service Awards Finalists were recently honored for their volunteer efforts during the Volunteer Center Service Awards presentation at Englewood Hospital's Medical Center of Learning. The awards are presented annually to outstanding volunteers and volunteer groups from across Bergen County.

Award recipients received a crystal star donated by Tiffany & Co. and all finalists received a certificate of recognition presented by Brenda Blackmon, new anchor for UPN9/WWOR - TV, Channel 9. Awards were presented in five categories:
 

Individual Youth Volunteer (up to age 18)

David Gordan pictured here with Lynn Singer (left center), president of the Volunteer Center Board of Directors, along with other volunteer finalists from the Holley Center. 
 

David volunteers at Holley Center, a residential treatment facility for abused children ages 8-11, where he serves as a mentor, friend, coach, tutor, and role model. He brings his homework on weekly visits so they can all do homework together, a simple act that reinforces good study habits and enables David to tutor the children at the same time. He plays sports with the boys, getting them outside for rare opportunities of exercise and fun. His nominator commented that the boys have grown to love him, and have started acting and even dressing like him. He is a solid and dependable presence in their lives and has helped his young friends recognize their abilities and enjoy increased self esteem.
 

• Jill Alboum, Park Ridge 
• Noreen Hartnett, North Arlington 
• Tamara Klajn, Fort Lee 
• Alexis Kusy, Franklin Lakes

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Individual Adult Volunteer  (over age 18)

Award Recipient 
George Kennedy Jr., Bogota

George Kennedy Jr. (left), pictured here with Lynn Singer, president of the Volunteer Center Board of Directors.
 

George Kennedy is at the Bogota ambulance building every day of the week and many nights. He answers every call during the day every day and is assigned to a night crew once a week. He covers for sick and absent squad members. He drives, tends to the sick and injured - just like all the other members of the Bogota First Aid Squad. The only difference is that he has a lot more experience. George joined the Bogota First Aid Squad 54 years ago, when it was formed on September 11, 1947. Now, at the grand old age of 79, he can still show the younger members of the squad how things are done. He sets a wonderful example for volunteers everywhere, and has saved countless lives through his dedicated service to the town and people of Bogota.
 

• Pat DiBisceglie, Rutherford
• Joan Hickey, Franklin Lakes
• Freddie Hoffman, River Edge
• Erilyn Riley, Ridgewood
• Betty Williams, Teaneck
• Everett Wise, Waldwick

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Student Volunteer Group

Award Recipient 
ECLC of New Jersey, Ho Ho Kus

Pictured here, from left, are Nicole Shoebridge, Diane Jordans (Volunteer Director, Bergen Regional Medical Center), Lynn Singer (president of the Volunteer Center Board of Directors), Russell Bargiel (ECLC Skill Coordinator), Amy Skorka, Joseph Gonzales and Ryan Swartz.

Working to enhance the quality of life for patients in long term care at Bergen Regional Medical Center, ECLC volunteers are truly amazing. All learning disabled students, this group of volunteers visits nursing home residents and encourages them to participate in activities. Many of the residents suffer from Alzheimer's disease, are wheelchair bound, and are unable to express themselves clearly. ECLC volunteers brighten their lives by providing the extra attention and caring that these residents need and to which they so obviously respond. And by working in the community, ECLC students gain knowledge and experience about the world of employment and appropriate social interaction. These two groups - students at ECLC and nursing home residents at Bergen Regional - are reaching out to each other and meeting many mutual needs.
 

• JOY - Joining Old and Young, Franklin Lakes
• Reach Out Inc., Ridgefield
• Service Club of Leonia High School, Leonia
• Volunteer Club - Just About Caring, Pascack Valley High School, Hillsdale

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Special Volunteer Center Award

Award Recipients 
Freddie Hoffman, River Edge

Freddie Hoffman pictured here with Lynn Singer, president of the
Volunteer Center Board of Directors.

Freddie Hoffman's real strength lies in his perseverance. Freddie has cycled throughout the United States, logging more than 1.2 million miles and single-handedly raising over $400,000 in 11 years to benefit the New Jersey Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This would be an amazing feat no matter what the circumstance, but Freddie is a learning-disabled adult who has effectively overcome a number of challenges to achieve remarkable results. He rides in memory of his mother, who passed away from leukemia, and serves as an inspiration to all who meet him. His efforts have been recognized with such honors as the Daily Points of Light Award, President's Service Award, and Russ Berrie Unsung Heroes award.

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Adult Volunteer Group

Award Recipient 
Knickerbocker Hook and Ladder Co., Closter

Pictured here, from left, are Joseph Talmo (Knickerbocker Hook and Ladder President), Capt. Mark Lupardi, Lynn Singer (president of the Volunteer Center Board of Directors), Chief Kurt Vreeland and Lt. Thomas Reinecke.

The fire whistle blows and volunteer firepersons leave work, home, or family to put themselves at risk to aid others. Their nominator proudly declares "They give so much, so steadily, so unselfishly, so readily. They are always there when we need them." Last year the Knickerbocker Hook and Ladder Co. expended over 6,500 hours protecting, educating and aiding the citizens of Closter. They responded to 315 emergency calls, provided fire prevention education for over 1,000 school children, sponsored an Explorer Boy Scout Troop and provided multiple community services. Each member must complete 121 rigorous hours of training at the Bergen County Police & Fire Academy and participate in monthly refreshers. The volunteer firefighter is truly our under-recognized community hero.
 

• Bergen County Judicial Volunteers, Superior Court of New Jersey, Hackensack
   
• "The Grey Heads," Construction Team, Bergen County Habitat for Humanity, Hackensack
   
• Pet Therapy of Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack
   
• Post Stroke and Disabled Adult Support Group Volunteers, Division on Disability Services, Hackensack
   
• St. Anastasia's Bowery Ministry, St. Anastasia's Church, Teaneck
   
• The Shoppers of the Veterans Home, Paramus.

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Mentor Of The Year

Award Recipient 
Tracy Tronolone, Maywood

Tracy Tronolone (right) is pictured here with Lynn Singer, President of the Volunteer Center Board of Directors.
 

In May 1991, Tracey became a mentor to a 9-year-old mentally challenged girl through the Volunteers in Protective Services program sponsored by the Volunteer Center. After nearly ten years, they continue to have a thriving mentoring relationship, with Tracey providing this now 19-year-old (who is still in foster care) with emotional support, stimulation, socialization and lots of caring. A highly skilled mentor, Tracey effectively enforces positive behavior. When her mentee refused to wear a seatbelt, Tracey refused to let her ride in her car; they only walked until the mentee told Tracey that she would not unbuckle her seatbelt anymore. The mentee is confrontational and does not socialize well, so Tracey plays board games and gives her lots of individualized attention. Empathetic and compassionate about her mentee's limitations, Tracey has been a stabilizing force over the long term. She continually demonstrates patience, integrity, commitment and an indisputable character.
 

• Nannette Baker, Old Tappan
• Christine Keller Feoranzo, Fair Lawn
• Marylyn Fernandez, Oakland
• Barbara Moscowitz, Dumont
• Marie Pinto, Paramus
• Tracy Tronolone, Maywood

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Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council Agency Award

Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council (BVC) provides leadership in meeting community needs by mobilizing employee volunteers. The BVC acknowledges two non-profit organizations for outstanding efforts during the past year to recruit and involve employee volunteers in activities that directly impact the lives of children and families in our community.

Center For Food Action

Headquartered in Englewood with offices in Mahwah, Ringwood, Hackensack and Elmwood Park, CFA serves hundreds of families every year by providing food, emergency assistance and referrals to other services. CFA has a paid staff, but its real work is accomplished through the hard work and dedication of volunteers. CFA is particularly skilled at tapping into the vast resources of area corporations and has effectively utilized groups of employee volunteers to help families in need. CFA enthusiastically participates in Days of Caring and national service days, ably communicates the organization's needs through workplace channels, and is always organized and prepared when employee volunteer groups arrive, ready to work. Successful partnerships with companies include Chase Manhattan, whose 25 volunteers provided the equipment, materials and muscle to reorganize the agency's northwest warehouse; and Oritani Bank, whose employees volunteer during the holidays and throughout the year, organize food drives at bank branches and collect toys at the holidays.
 

Pictured here, from left are Thelma Fedele, Tara Perino (chair of the NNJBVC and member of the Volunteer Center Board of Directors) and Lynn Singer (president of the Volunteer Center Board of Directors).

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Morris County

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Morris County provides children in Bergen, Morris and Passaic Counties with positive adult role models. Being a "big" requires a tremendous commitment of time and emotional resources, and Big Brothers Big Sisters has demonstrated success in recruiting working individuals to serve as mentors. In addition to one-on-one mentoring, Big Brothers Big Sisters manages a School-Based Mentoring Program, which has recently seen significant growth thanks to the support of employees from Pershing, a Florham Park-based technical support company. Five Pershing employees devote one hour per week mentoring their "littles," and the entire Pershing workforce gets behind the organization by supporting annual fundraisers like Bowl for Kids' Sake.
 

Pictured here, from left are Gail Van Treuren, Lynn Adamo and Tara Perino, chair of the NNJBVC and member of the Volunteer Center Board of Directors).
 

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