CHARLESTON, W.VA. – When a group of young, dedicated professionals decide to make community service a priority, the possibilities for results can be endless! Generation Charleston, a volunteer organization comprised of young professionals who live and work in Charleston and its surrounding communities is a prime example.
On Wednesday, July 15, Governor Joe Manchin will honor Generation Charleston for its tireless dedication to service at the annual Governor’s Service Awards banquet at the Charleston Civic Center. The banquet is held as a part of Faces of Leadership, the annual state volunteerism conference.
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. Generation Charleston will receive its award in the organization category.
First known as Charleston Area Alliance’s Young Professionals, Generation Charleston provides its members with opportunities for professional development, social networking and community service. The organization believes that young professionals who are actively engaged in their community create a stronger, more positive environment for personal and professional growth.
Generation Charleston originally set out on a mission to understand the challenges young professionals face when trying to get involved in their communities. The organization found that many don’t want to volunteer alone, don’t know how to get involved, or don’t have the time to research volunteer opportunities. Because of these findings, the organization developed seven work teams, one of which is the Community Outreach Team, that plans service projects in which members can easily participate.
Last year, Generation Charleston members participated in a variety of projects for the YWCA, Habitat for Humanity, Secret Santa Foundation, and Cato Park.
“This is a group of talented, big-hearted and altogether spectacular go-getters,” Debby Weinstein, executive director of the YWCA, said. “Their volunteer work is nothing short of stellar!”
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; Betty Russell, Berkeley County
- National Service: Ruth Pepper, Jackson County
- Organization: The Hope Shop, Wirt County; The Shepherd’s Center of Greenbrier Valley, Greenbrier 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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