CHARLESTON, W.VA. – For the past 15 years, children at Gilmore Elementary School in Sandyville have seen the familiar face of their 85-year-old Foster Grandparent gracing the hallways and classrooms while tirelessly helping to improve handwriting, reading, math and vocabulary skills, just to name a few.
Ruth Pepper, fondly known by the students and teachers as “Grandma Ruth,” 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. Pepper will receive an award in the national service category for her participation in the national Foster Grandparents program.
As a Foster Grandparent, Pepper becomes a dynamic “best friend” to each Gilmore Elementary student every year. The Foster Grandparents program is a national service program that provides a small living stipend to its participants. However, many Gilmore teachers believe Pepper’s efforts are priceless.
“She is always doing far more than what could ever be expected,” Jane Singleton, a teacher at Gilmore, said. “She once asked to borrow a student math textbook to take home and ‘study’ so that she would be better prepared to tutor struggling students. Also, for those children who may not have someone at home, she has fashioned Halloween costumes and helped prepare science fair displays or book reports.”
Each year, Pepper joins Gilmore’s teachers several days before the students arrive to prepare for the school year. And when the students do arrive, spending time with “Grandma Ruth” is often the highlight of their day.
“In addition to keeping a daunting, daily schedule of tutorial appointments with children, it’s the intangible qualities of character and strength and warmth of personality that truly set her apart from other very valuable volunteers,” Singleton said. “You’ll always find her, clipboard in hand, quietly slipping in to sit beside a child who needs a little extra help. Every child wants a ‘turn’ with her!”
In addition to her duties at the school, Pepper is an active musician for her church, sings in the Senior Community Choir, and attends many community-wide activities. Recently, Pepper has been a volunteer instructor with the PATCH 21 program, which connects the expertise of teachers and other community residents with kids’ interests.
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
- 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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