City of Brisbane

Ken Walker: Ken Walker is a personification of the values and volunteer spirit that makes Brisbane a truly special place to live. Ken has volunteered his time and efforts into numerous different program areas. Ken is not only a Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commissioner; he is a charter member of the Brisbane Youth Sports Association and has served on the sub-committees for the Community festival, Festival of Lights, and Monte Carlo Night. Ken has also translated his life long love of wrestling by volunteering over 1,500 hours into a very popular and successful youth wrestling program. Ken’s passion for life and love of Brisbane has given Brisbane one of its brightest stars.

City of Campbell Recreation

Campbell Kiwanis Club: The Campbell Kiwanis Club members have volunteered for 15 years to conduct the Santa Visits at the annual Carol of Lights Celebration. Volunteers make sure that every child who wants to visit with Santa has an opportunity to do so and every child goes away with a Holiday coloring book, a cookie, and hot apple cider. The members are very enthusiastic and make every child feel special. The success of this Community Spirit Event is largely because of the generosity of this community group.

The Kiwanis Club has also put on the annual Eggstravaganza since 1994. This event was a City initiated event that was cut from the operating budget in 1993. The Campbell Kiwanis graciously stepped forward to take over this well attended Community event. They provide visits with the Bunny, wrapped candy for hunting, and a variety of games and crafts for all the children in attendance. They do all this at no charge to those wishing to participate.

The Campbell Kiwanis Club has also sponsored an annual scholarship of $500 for the past five years to the City’s Financial Assistance Program for low-income children to participate in City recreation programs. The scholarship enables 4 to 5 families to enroll their children in recreational programs that teach them life skills such as winning and losing with grace and dignity, how to cooperate with others to accomplish a common goal and basic survival skills like water safety.

The Campbell Community is grateful to have the Campbell Kiwanis Club’s support and wishes to recognize their efforts to make Campbell a better place to live.

Barbara Conant: Barbara Conant is a retired schoolteacher, former City Council member, and Mayor who has brought her many skills to serve in a range of activities. She has been an active member of the local Campbell Chamber of Commerce. Since February 2001, she has served on the nonprofit Board of Directors for the Campbell Museum Foundation, which supports the city’s two museums – its historical museum and, the Ainsley House. She is a member of the museum’s Education Committee and been instrumental in developing and shaping the highly-successful “Hands-on-History” third-grade school field trip program which has grown in the past three years to serve over 3,000 students and teachers. Last year she was responsible for organizing a fundraiser, which raised over $9,000 for the museum and this year, she coordinated the Foundation’s annual Holiday Teas enjoyed by over 350 people. Barbara continues to make contributions and her influence is felt as she helps with the annual Toy Program for needy children and at the Campbell Museum Foundation Gift Shop.

Pineapple Kalani Kamakea: “Pineapple,” as his name would suggest, is from Hawaii and carries with him the spirit of Aloha. He has a ready smile, a casual and friendly style that is disarming, and is quick to lend a helping hand. His significant-other, Jan, is a volunteer greeter at the historic Ainsley House museum and in 2000, when the museum’s nonprofit, fundraising organization, the Campbell Museum Foundation needed help with its summer concert BBQ, Pineapple stepped in to help. He quickly assessed a need for more organization in getting food and supplies ready and in ample quantity and he took on the huge responsibility of ordering food, monitoring the inventory, setting up early, and getting the summer-long project into a highly efficient mode. Last year, the Foundation raised just over $19,000 through the summer concert BBQ. Pineapple’s role is significant in making this annual event a success, a role he joyfully takes on and for which he graciously declines any thanks. He simply smiles!

Daly City Parks and Recreation Department

Liz Hamre: A long list of “What can anyone volunteer to do at Doelger Senior Center,” seems to have been an integral part of Liz’s life since 1993 when she first volunteered helping to decorate for special events. The most outstanding job Liz holds at the center is Chair of the Membership Committee, with 8 people under her guidance and direction. With this position comes the responsibility of being an active Advisory and Planning Council member. As Membership Chair, she has direct responsibility of organizing and orchestrating volunteers, signing up new people, accepting renewals, processing forms and cards, and even sending out new solicitation letters to close to 2,000 members. A vital part of the Membership Committee is welcoming those new to the Center and her duty is to coordinate the quarter New Member Welcome. Liz’s other duties are working at the Deli, preparing sandwiches, leading the Thursday canasta group, and tallying up the volunteer hours each month. Tallying the volunteer hours is a long and arduous process. Liz takes care that the hours recorded by each of the 250 volunteers are accounted for. No wonder she reached 5,000 hours of volunteer work last year, saving the City of Daly City at least $65,000.00

Congratulations Liz for a well deserved recognition!

Foster City Parks & Recreation Department

Joseph Murphy: Joe Murphy has been an active member of the 55 Plus Club for over ten years. During his time he has been the president of the club and served as editor of the club’s monthly newsletter. He also writes a weekly column for the local paper regarding the club’s activities. For the last three years Joe has donated movies from his personal collection and shown them at weekly movie showings. Joe’s spirit and love of his community and friends is overflowing and apparent in his contributions to the programs.

Thank you, Joe

Mel Woolf: Mel Woolf has served as a community volunteer for approximately five years. His most significant contributions have come in the last three years as a member of the Parks and Recreation Committee where he served as Chair of the committee in 2003. Mel’s commitment and passion to get involved as a volunteer in all elements of Parks and Recreation Department activities have been invaluable. Mel’s insights as a citizen to the Director of Parks and Recreation have always been beneficial contributions that have led to more successful programs and projects. Mel stands firmly behind the Department’s mission in creating community and quality of life for the residents of Foster City.

Congratulations, Mel.

City of MillBrae

The O’Connell Family: The City of Millbrae salutes the O’Connell family for its many years of dedicated service. Charlene O’Connell is the City’s Senior Services Coordinator and her husband, Kevin, was recently voted Millbrae’s Man of the Year. Along with their children, they have been active volunteers at the Parks and Recreation Department, Chamber of Commerce Art and Wine Festival, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Millbrae Lions Club, SASH, and a variety of other community activities.

The Parks and Recreation Department holds a number of Senior Adult special events each year. The O’Connell family spends hundreds of hours preparing and cooking the meals, decorating, entertaining and hosting. Because of this fantastic family, the participants leave the events happy, with full stomachs and wanting to participate again.

The O’Connell family displays a community spirit and dedication that is a model for those wanting to make an impact on their community.

City of Milpitas

Marcia Fraser: Marcia has assisted with the BINGO program at the Milpitas Senior Center for the past few years. Each Wednesday, she arrives at the Center to prepare her area and sell BINGO cards and to organize the winning prizes. She fills out the appropriate paperwork each time documenting the number of cards sold, how much money was collected and how much money was distributed in prizes. On occasions when a new substitute BINGO caller works, she assists the caller in choosing the 10 different types of games to call that day, such as Crazy Kite or 4-Corners.

City of Redwood City
Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department

Marie Walsh: Marie Walsh has been the Chairperson for the Veterans Memorial Senior Center Advisory Council since January 2001. During the same time, she served as a member of the Senior Affairs Commission appointed by the City Council of Redwood City. In both roles, Marie has been an advocate for housing, transportation, nutrition, Skateboard Park, and fun. Her service helped secure a new senior center van, supported another center’s nutrition site, expanded the holiday giving projects, and supported new programs through her fundraising efforts. Marie Walsh has touched many lives that she is not even aware of by serving her community. The patrons and the Senior Center staff have been very fortunate to benefit from her wisdom, her compassion, her giving nature, and her humor. Thank you Marie for all of your many gifts and for being so COOL!

City of San Carlos

Jim DiPaola: The San Carlos Parks & Recreation Department is fortunate to work with outstanding volunteers like Jim DiPaola in order to offer quality athletic programs and life experiences for young people. Jim has coached Little League Baseball for 6 years, Pony Baseball for 1 year, AYSO soccer for 6 years, and CYSA soccer for 3 years. In addition, Jim has contributed 5 years of service as the San Carlos Little League Vice President and Safety Officer, and 3 years as the President of San Carlos Pony/Colt Baseball. His efforts in organization and cooperative community spirit have resulted in one of the most respected youth baseball programs in the area. Jim has worked diligently to maintain a quality recreational sports experience for youth, including supporting the city’s commitment to mandatory training for all youth sports coaches. He also participates in a movement to acquire artificial turf fields in order to better serve the demand for athletic fields in San Carlos.

Thank you Jim!

Patrick Leeper: The City of San Carlos determined a need for a volunteer coordinator to support the Parks and Recreation Department. This new position was approved for hiring just as the economy began impacting City budgets. As this position had not yet been filled, it was frozen. Fortunately for us, Pat Leeper came forward as a volunteer interested in supporting volunteerism in San Carlos. He agreed to volunteer as the Coordinator of the Volunteer Program. Pat brings his business background, his incredible people-skills, and his desire to help San Carlos move forward in this position. Since he began as the volunteer coordinator in May 2003, he has worked with key Recreation staff, RSVP, San Mateo County Volunteer Services, and our City IT department to develop a volunteer database that all San Carlos Parks and Recreation units may access. This database will help us work more cohesively as a department fielding volunteer applications and more successfully placing volunteers in positions they enjoy and can excel in. His goals for this coming year include developing media contacts and agency contacts to help with our volunteer recruitment efforts and development of an on-line volunteer application. Pat has been a tremendous support developing a volunteer network that staff did not have the time to develop without the help of someone who could hear all of the unit needs and provide the coordination between staff, IT, outside agencies and new ideas to make our volunteer program more inclusive, cohesive and successful.

Thank you Pat!

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department

Wilma Gardner: Wilma Gardner, founder of "Shields 800 Block Club" is the heart of her neighborhood. Shields 800 Block Club celebrated their tenth anniversary on April 10th 2003. This group came about when one woman, Ms. Gardner, began to notice increasing amounts of graffiti across the street from her home at the Merced Heights Playground. Coincidentally, as this disturbance was increasing, Ms. Gardner came across an article in the Independent Newspaper regarding how beautiful her neighborhood used to be, which included pictures, well this was all Ms. Gardner needed to encourage her to take action. She clipped the article out and took it to all the neighbors on her block and quickly found out they were just as concerned as she was about their neighborhood. They called their first meeting, at which they decided to become a club called "Shields 800 Block Club" and they also decided to march down to their neighborhood superintendent’s office, at the time was Mike Morlin, to voice their concerns. He was very supportive and began filling out requisitions for improvement projects in their neighborhood as they voiced their concerns. From then on it became their mission to "Keep their front yard looking Good."

Since then, members of the group, lead by Ms. Gardner have regularly attended neighborhood meetings, particularly Capital Plan meetings, they have taken action by making it their business to volunteer every 4th Saturday of the month to complete improvement projects at Merced Heights Playground; such as, but not limited to, gardening, clean up inside and out, and much much more! Kudos to Ms. Gardner for her efforts in "keeping her front yard looking good."

Rebecca Pollock: For the past six years Rebecca Pollock, a Middle School teacher at Aptos Middle School, has made it a priority to get her students in touch with the natural world. Rain or shine her student’s walk two miles every other month to volunteer at Pine Lake Park in Stern Grove. Here students pull ivy, plant native plants, clear out storm drains, and uncover the interconnections of the plant and animal life found in this San Francisco Park. Without Rebecca’s above and beyond the call of duty attitude, 60 students each year would not have this muddy and exhilarating experience by leaving the cements walls of school for the wet and dirty Pine Lake Park atmosphere. Most students remember these field trips as the highlight of their sixth grade class. Nobody is more aware than Rebecca of the need for youth to be outside exploring the natural world with his or her peers rather than behind a TV or computer screen. Thank you Rebecca for helping to restore the connection of youth to the natural world!

City of San Jose

Friends of Happy Hollow Park & Zoo: Happy Hollow Corporation (HHC) is a very dedicated and productive volunteer organization that has provided support through donations, event production, labor, and promotions since 1961. Happy Hollow Corporation incorporated in 1958 when a group of Jaycees from the San Jose Chamber of Commerce lobbied the City of San Jose to build a children’s park on property owned by the Kelley family. Sine that time, HHC has grown and developed as an organization. Members of HHC make connections in the community, solicit volunteer support from service organizations and individuals, fund raise, assist the City with facility improvements and supports the many programs and services provided by City staff at the Happy Hollow Park and Zoo.

Over 43 years, HHC has provided support to Happy Hollow Park and Zoo by donating playground equipment, a carousel ride, a modular building for education programs, funds to construct a night house and exhibit for the jaguar, and a van for outreach activities. Just over 5 years ago, HHC implemented the Membership program that significantly increased the visitor attendance at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. This one action promoted the Park while raising funds that are donated to the City to annually fund seven positions. In the fiscal year 2003/04 the funds for those compensations packages amounted to approximately $250,000.00.

They have consistently supported Happy Hollow’s mission and programs by writing grants, donating funds for the conservation of species and rainforest land, participating in the Master Plan process and the accreditation and re-accreditation process for the Zoo, providing funds so that staff can attend trainings, improve the facility and conduct special events.

Today, the Happy Hollow Corporation consists of 9 individuals who dedicate hours of personal time and energy to promoting Happy Hollow Park and Zoo and fund raising for facility improvements. Their efforts have made a significant impact on the residents of San Jose and the Bay Area, which has improved our community as a whole, and made San Jose, a better place to live.

Friends of Ryland Park: San Jose recognizes the Friends of Ryland Park (FORP) for their efforts and continued support of Ryland Park in downtown San Jose. Once known as a meeting area for illegal activity, a home to unfortunate transients, and an unsafe place to visit, the FORP have transformed this park into one natural serene beauty. Nancy DeMattei and Loraine Wallace-Rowe, who have done an enormous amount of outreach in their neighborhood, actively lead FORP. Nancy and members of the group spend a minimum of 10 hours per week weeding, fertilizing, raking, picking up litter, and watering plants and trees in the park. In the past three years, FORP have brought many talents and positive changes that have enabled park neighbors to take a stroll in the park at any given time during the day. During the spring and summer seasons, the group gathers on weekends to plant more flowers and maintain what already has been planted. Because of the tremendous impact they have made to the park and to the community they live in, this group is very much deserving of this CPRS award.

Santa Clara County Health and Hospital Systems Volunteer Doctors and Medical Staff: The Santa Clara County Health and Hospital Systems Volunteer Doctors and Medical Staff work with young adults between 14-25 to help them get out of the gang-lifestyle by removing tattoos in exposed areas of the body such as hands, neck, face, and arms. These volunteers are dedicated to improving San Jose youth’s health and greater hope for positive change. Since 1995, the medical staff volunteers have removed over 3,000 gang related tattoos and provided over 40,000 hours of tattoo removal treatments. These services have resulted in increasing opportunities for youth in education, employment, community service, and becoming more self-sufficient and productive citizens. The efforts of the volunteers have also contributed to keeping our youth and communities safe with the reduction of youth-related crime in the San Jose.

City of San Mateo

Mary DeWolf: Within 4 years Mary DeWolf has demonstrated a tremendous commitment at different levels of involvement as a Park Volunteer at the natural tide pool areas called Fitzgerald Marine Reserve facility located on the coast in Moss Beach.

Mary is currently the Docent Training Leader through the Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Volunteer Organization and has been instrumental in developing new Docent Training classes and raising awareness of this volunteer opportunity in the local communities. She started a new schedule of Saturday morning training classes in 2003 that brought in 40 new citizens to become new docents for this marine habitat area.

Mary also developed a radio (walkie/talkie) communications system for docents walking the tide pool areas in an effort to enhance docent communications and improve response with visitor assistance especially in medical situations. In addition, Mary serves as the Membership Secretary for the volunteer organization. She interacts with a real sincerity and a real passion to fulfill commitments to the volunteer organization and the County Parks Division as she enhances the protection and the promotion of education of this unique and sensitive marine habitat area.

Dave Morrison: San Mateo Parks & Recreation recognizes Dave Morrison for the tremendous efforts he puts into supporting our Dance and Fitness operations. Dave provides hours of volunteer time to both the Holiday Festival of Dance and the Spring Dance Show productions. For the last 4 years, Dave has assisted with the preparations and production of these two Dance Shows, including designing and building sets. His creative input includes building a Time Machine, creating a means for lightening bolts to “strike” the Snow Tree and even designing a television he could wear as a performer in the Show to sell products for the Holiday Season. In addition, he has been behind the scenes assisting with set-up, doing introductions, moving scenery and helping with clean up afterward.

On another front he has been a dynamic member of our San Mateo Dance Association for the last 4 years, first as a Member at large, then as Vice President and currently as President of the Board. This Board is our auxiliary organization for our Dance and Fitness program that meets monthly to support the programs endeavors. Dave has been a tremendous asset to the Board, bringing new ideas and directions to the program. His activities as a Board Member include participating in the major fund raising activities, membership drive, assisting with co-production of the Holiday and Spring Dance Shows and generally being available for whatever needs to be done. He is truly a very dedicated and vital asset to the division and deserves recognition for the hours of volunteer work he gives so generously.

Santa Clara County Parks & Recreation

Mike Boulland: Michael Boulland, founder and president of Friends of Santa Teresa County Park, has been a strong advocate for County Parks since 1980. His efforts are truly appreciated by staff, visitors, and his fellow volunteers. The marking of the historic Bear Tree Lot on the De Anza Trail is the direct result of a state grant he single-handedly wrote. He gave monthly educational, historical, and ecological tours of the Santa Teresa County Park to local elementary children. Mike continues to build trails, protect the historic waterfalls and lecture at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch. This interpretive site exists due in large part to Mike's commitment and energy. He was an integral part of the task force that designed the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Site of Santa Teresa County Park. Mike serves on the Volunteer Coordinating Council for the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department, on the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association and represents the Friends of Santa Teresa Park every month at the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Commission. Mike is a tremendous role model for volunteers and staff alike. Thank you, Mike, for your dedication, leadership, and countless hours of volunteer service that have made such a difference to Santa Teresa Park!

City of South San Francisco
Parks, Recreation and Maintenance Services

Ballet Parent Volunteers: Patricia Estelita, Maria Galli, Pirkko Lucchesi and Margaret Young: Patricia, Maria, Pirkko and Margaret enthusiastically and tirelessly volunteer each year for the South San Francisco Spring and Winter Ballet Recitals. Under the direction of our ballet instructor Maria Spremich, over 140 ballet students’ ages 5-18 perform at El Camino High School. Each year, the student’s dance 2-3 sold out performances with approximately 370 families and friends in attendance at each performance. Patricia, Maria, Pirkko, and Margaret begin their work months before each recital. They help the instructor sew beautiful costumes, create decorative headpieces, make props, and background sets for each dance piece in the ballet. On performance night, they help the students dress, put on their make-up, do their hair, and do endless last minute behind the scene details so the children are ready to dance their numbers. It is a fabulous, professional and beautiful event where every students shines. We truly appreciate Patricia, Maria, Pirkko, and Margaret for their time, commitment, and excellent work in making the Spring and Winter Ballet Recitals a great success. They are outstanding examples of parents getting involved in creating a wonderful performance experience for the children of our community. Thank You!

Jane Healey: Born on the Island of Malta, Jane came to SSF in 1959. Her husband, Charlie came to the Center for recreation and mentioned that his wife was soon to retire and he would no longer be as available to “hang-out” at our sites. In 2002, Jane decided to take on some volunteer work and has not left since. Jane assists in the day-to-day workings of our programs, assisting the coordinator in numerous tasks. She also has volunteer commitments with St. Veronica’s Church, the Maltese-American Social Club where she serves on the Board of Directors as Secretary and with the Women’s Committee and knitting group. Jane’s commitment to serving the public and older adults in our community is one of excellence and South San Francisco Senior Services is truly honored to have her as an “all-round” volunteer. Jane, we salute you for your dedication and spirit to helping our community and beyond.

Javier and Consuelo Marin: Javier and Consuelo Marin came to SSF Senior Services in March 2002. Hearing that the Center offered dancing and a nutrition program, (dancing is a passion that the Marins love), they decided to embark one day to our El Camino site. It happened to be one of the busiest days of the week and our staff was short handed and needed help in serving lunch to participants. The Marins were approached by our nutrition coordinator to help and they have not stopped helping since. Javier and Consuelo volunteer 4 days a week serving lunches and doing whatever needs to be done in our senior program. Residence of SSF for over 50 years and retired in February 2002, their dedication to serving older adults in our community and beyond is one of commitment and excellence. South San Francisco Senior Services is truly privileged to have such a dynamic team assisting in our program and services!

City of Sunnyvale

JoAnn Barney: JoAnn Barney is a current member of the Sunnyvale Senior Advisory Committee. Her work with us began in 1979 when the Senior Center was located at the Community Center. She is a very talented artist and worked as the Fremont Adult Education Coordinator for older adult classes. She teaches a variety of arts and crafts classes and has been an artist in Sunnyvale’s “Hands on the Arts” festival. JoAnn has helped to promote Senior Center activities and provides a dynamic lecture series on senior issues. JoAnn has donated numerous hours serving as President of the Sunnyvale Senior Coordinating Council, which was instrumental in the creation of the Sunnyvale Senior Center.

Enid Ching: Enid Ching, a retired Dietician, has been an active volunteer and member of the Sunnyvale Senior Center since 1996. She works a full day every Friday as a Customer Service Provider at the busy reception desk. In addition, Enid helps out as a cashier with the Senior Lunch Program and helps out with registration for the “Steppin’ Out” Trip Program. She has served as a coach with the Senior Center computer and is willing to help wherever needed. She can be counted on to show up to work with a smile and a sense of humor. She is an avid golfer, enjoys playing Mahjong, and enjoys time with her family and taking classes in Ikebana flower arranging. Enid’s contributions to the Sunnyvale Senior Center are greatly appreciated.

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