City to Honor Volunteers Next Week

By City of Newark

The City of Newark will be holding its annual volunteer recognition program [Wednesday, May 15] which consists of two components; individuals who volunteer directly for the City of Newark and nominees for the Viola Blythe Volunteer of the Year. 

The first component recognizes individuals who volunteer in various departments at the City of Newark. Individuals may volunteer in Recreation, at the Senior Center, or in the Police Department.

For the second component of the program, individuals are nominated for one of the Viola Blythe awards. The awards were named after Viola Blythe, the woman who gave her heart-and-soul to those less fortunate by providing support and care that was greatly needed.

The Viola Blythe Volunteer of the Year awards contains four categories: The Viola Blythe Volunteer of the Year, recognizing outstanding contribution in any area of volunteerism; the Group Award, recognizing volunteerism by organizations based in the City of Newark and serving Newark citizens; the Senior Award, recognizing volunteerism by individuals 62 years of age and over; and the Youth Award recognizing volunteerism by individuals 17 years of age and under. 

This year, 14 nominations for the Viola Blythe Volunteer of the Year awards have been received. The nominees are; by category: 

Viola Blythe Group Award: 

• Cargill Cares
• Dino’s Grill
• Piecemakers Quilt Guild
• R.A.V.E.N. (Ready and Active Volunteers Engaged in Newark)
• The California Scholarship Federation

Viola Blythe Senior Award:

• Margrith Reichmuth

Viola Blythe Youth Award:

• Justin Morua

Viola Blythe Volunteer of the Year:

• Shelly Arthur
• Mike Berke
• Laurie Gratz
• Melinda Pickens
• Lucir Schlickmann
• Mary Teixeira
• James Zulawski

Contributions during the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2012 will be considered by an independent Selection Committee.

The volunteer recognition program is scheduled to be held at an evening ceremony at the Newark Hilton Hotel on Wednesday, May 15, 2013.   Announcement of the winners in the four categories will be made at that time.