Honoring Volunteers Who Open Their Hearts

As part of National Volunteer Week, 27 volunteers at UJA-Federation of New York beneficiary agencies were honored for giving so much of their heart and soul year-round to help people in need.

“All of the good work you do happens in the field, but this is our chance to reach out and thank you,” said Marc Utay, chair of UJA-Federation’s Volunteer & Leadership Development Division, at the April 28th event.

Marc Utay, chair of UJA-Federation’s Volunteer & Leadership Development Division, spoke at the annual volunteer recognition event.

The 2011 Volunteers of Excellence, nominated by the agencies they serve, were recognized for their outstanding commitment and dedication.

“You strengthen community by being present and opening your hearts and your hands to other people,” John S. Ruskay, UJA-Federation’s executive vice president and CEO, told the audience of 100 volunteers, guests, and agency professionals.

Susan K. Stern was the keynote speaker. She is a former chair of the board at UJA-Federation and currently chair of the New York State Commission on National Community Service and chair of President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Stern spoke about her 30 years of volunteering with the Jewish community as well as on state and national levels.

“The best place to find yourself is to lose yourself to others,” Stern said. “You have decided not to stand idly by, but to help others live better day by day. Thank you very much for your service.”

Learn more about our volunteer recognition efforts.

The 2011 Volunteers of Excellence are:

• Michael Apata — Jewish Home Lifecare
• Mickey Axelbank — Bronx Jewish Community Council
• Iraida Berger — Jewish Community Center of Staten Island
• Shelley Cohn — Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services 
• Marie Colosimo — F•E•G•S Health and Human Services System
• Sandra Ehrlich — Riverdale YM-YWHA
• Doug Fairtile — Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation
• John Finucane — YM & YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood
• Paula Gordon — Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center 
• Evelyn Gotlib — Hebrew Free Burial Association 
• Carol Isaacs — Jewish Association for Services for the Aged
• Lynne Iser — Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
• Yochanan Deodat John — Jewish Child Care Association of New York
• Jack Kunz — Beth Abraham Health Services’ Margaret Tietz Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
• Benjamin Levitz — Council of Jewish Organizations of Flatbush 
• Stacey Nusbaum — Rosenthal JCC of Northern Westchester
• Nadira Persaud — Kings Bay YM-YWHA
• Diana Podolnick — Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life Stony Brook Hillel
• Anton Revich — Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst 
• Clara Ricciardi — New York Legal Assistance Group
• Bess Rosmarin — DOROT
• Inna Sheynker — Shorefront YM-YWHA of Brighton-Manhattan Beach
• Emily Silman — Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty
• Philip Strassler — UJA-Federation of New York on Long Island
• Sharon Upbin — Jewish Community Center of the Greater Five Towns
• Steve Wachtel — Jewish Community Council of Washington Heights-Inwood
• Emily Willens — Barry and Florence Friedberg Jewish Community Center
• John Deodat Yochanan — Jewish Child Care Association of New York