Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 18, 2000

Release #182-00

Contact: Sunny Mindel/Mary Lasher (212) 788-2958
   

DEPUTY MAYOR WASHINGTON HONORS VOLUNTEERS AT 2000 MAYOR'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARDS

Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington, representing Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, today presented this year's annual Mayor's Volunteer Service Awards in a ceremony at City Hall. The awards honor outstanding members of New York City's volunteer community, who were nominated by not-for-profit organizations and schools and selected for recognition by a panel of judges.

Joining the Deputy Mayor were Harriette Heller, Executive Director of the Mayor's Voluntary Action Center (MVAC); and Task Force on Awards and Recognition Co-Chairs Mitzi Bhavnani and Pam Fishman.

Deputy Mayor Washington said, "On behalf of Mayor Giuliani, I wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the individuals who have shown us, through their volunteer activities, unmatched dedication to the betterment of our community. Congratulations to all those being honored today. I also want to express appreciation to all volunteers who donate their time and effort to important causes throughout our great City, thereby improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers."

Harriette Heller said, "The support of the MVAC volunteers provides an invaluable contribution to the City of New York. I am pleased to have this opportunity to thank and honor them for sharing their time, their skills and their hearts with New Yorkers."

Approximately 4,000 agencies and schools throughout the City submitted nominations for the outstanding volunteers. Thirteen judges then participated in the selection process, and four of these judges chose the finalists. Deputy Mayor Washington presented certificates to all winners, including 3 organizations; 34 individuals (including those who supervised volunteers); and a dog trained in animal therapy techniques, accompanied by his owner.

Top honors went to:

Mayor's Voluntary Action Center

The Mayor's Voluntary Action Center (MVAC) mobilizes individuals and organizations -- public, private and not-for-profit -- to participate in volunteer activities. MVAC maintains the largest database of volunteer assignments in the country, and matches volunteers seeking a meaningful work experience with the appropriate agency seeking a volunteer. MVAC also provides state-of-the-art training in volunteer management, believing that the management of volunteers is a professional task requiring the agency to devote time, effort and money in order to do it properly. In addition, MVAC runs the Clothing Bank, Clothes for the Homeless and Needy, a program that distributes new clothing to agencies and organizations that serve people who are homeless and in need throughout New York City.

For more information on volunteering, contact the Mayor's Voluntary Action Center at 212-788-7550.

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