CHARLESTON, W.VA. –When Betty Russell first heard about the number of Eastern Panhandle residents putting their health at risk because they couldn’t afford dental care, she was appalled. But unlike most others, she did something about it.
Russell will be honored with a Governor’s Service Award on Wednesday, July 15 by Governor Joe Manchin at the annual Governor’s Service Awards banquet at the Charleston Civic Center.
Presented since 1995, the Governor’s Service Awards honors youth, young adults, adults, seniors, families, organizations and businesses who exemplify outstanding dedication to volunteerism and community service in West Virginia. Russell will receive her award in the senior category.
Last year, Russell spearheaded the first Mission of Mercy, or M.O.M., free dental clinic in West Virginia. Mission of Mercy is a two-day free dental clinic that enlists volunteers to provide dental services for those who cannot otherwise afford them.
“She gives her own time and talent to the project,” Jan Callen, a friend of Russell, said. “She is the spark plug who worked on planning the project consistently for about a year.”
Working with the Eastern Panhandle Health and Human Services Collaborative, Russell brought together community members to develop a strategic approach to tackling the dental health care problems in the region. The plan included establishing dental health education programs, a community dental health center, and the two-day Mission of Mercy project. To prepare for the Mission of Mercy project, Russell researched similar efforts in other states and eventually identified a steering committee, organized planning meetings and motivated and recruited volunteers.
Last June, the project mobilized 711 volunteers, including dental and medical professionals, and provided $475,000 worth of free dental care for more than 1,100 patients. The effort included 1,100 oral examinations, 1,526 extractions, 675 fillings, and 21 dentures provided free of charge. She also advocated for the establishment of a nonprofit community dental center, which is slated to open in October, 2009.
A 2009 Mission of Mercy is currently being planned for the Eastern Panhandle region and Parkersburg.
The Governor’s Service Awards are administered by Volunteer West Virginia, the state’s Commission for National and Community Service to honor outstanding individuals, organizations and businesses solving community problems through volunteer service. A panel of volunteer judges, including past awardees, choose the recipients on the basis of achievement, community needs, continuing involvement, innovation and impact of service.
Other recipients of the 2009 Governor’s Service Awards include, by category:
- Lifetime Achievement: Karen Betler, Harrison County; Vivian Crane, Greenbrier County
- Youth: Jonathan Ross and Anastacia Meadows both of Cabell County
- Adult: Annette Fetty-Santilli, Barbour County
- Senior: Raymond Shaw, Harrison County
- National Service: Ruth Pepper, Jackson County
- Organization: The Hope Shop, Wirt County; The Shepherd’s Center of Greenbrier Valley, Greenbrier County; Generation Charleston, Kanawha County
- Business: Beckley Newspaper – the Register-Herald, Raleigh County
For tickets to the awards banquet, or information about the conference, contact Moya Doneghy at (304) 558-0111 or 1-800-WV-HELPS, or by email at moya.doneghy@wv.gov.
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