newjerseynewsroom.com

Award recognizes volunteerism

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno presented the Governor’s Jefferson Awards to 20 New Jerseyans, organizations and companies at a ceremony at the Newark Museum Wednesday.

More than 1,400 nominations were submitted for the 2012 awards.

Honored were:

• Beatrice Emma Bernzott of Linden, PSEG Environmental Stewardship
• Becton Dickinson, Volunteer Service Trip Franklin Lakes Corporate Leadership
• The Rev. Steven A. Brigham of Lakewood, Faith Based Services
• Alrick A. Brown of Plainfield, Verizon Education
• Evelyn Dudziec of Newton, Lifetime Service
• The Rev. Thomas Ellis of Newark, Community Pillar
• Janet Farrand of Long Valley, Service to Youth
• Richard Goldberg of Parsippany, Executive Leadership
• Stacey Halvorsen, PT Bordentown, BD Health Care Professional
• April Kauffman of Linwood, Volunteer Leadership
• The late Michael Kenwood of East Windsor, Hurricane Irene Response
• Mallory King of Jersey City, Founders/Innovators
• Dale Mertz of Dover, Against All Odds
• Sam Morris of Mine Hill, Good Neighbor
• New Eyes for the Needy, Short Hills Volunteer Group
• Pass It Along Sparta Youth Volunteer Group
• Harry Pozycki of Metuchen, Founders/Innovators
• Adele Taylor of Williamstown, Youth in Service
• Evan Thomas, Brookside Emergency Services
• Susan Tonry of Robbinsville, BD Health Care Individual

“Volunteerism is truly compassion in action, and these citizens have not only identified priority needs, but have found unique ways to address those needs,” Guadagno said. “Some of the honorees have given decades of service to their communities. Corporate volunteers have directly served thousands of victims of the Haitian earthquake. One dedicated and selfless individual gave his life responding to the needs of others during Hurricane Irene.”

Guadagno noted the honorees represent a small fraction of the approximately 1.5 million New Jersey volunteers who provide more than 170 million hours of service annually.

The Governor’s Jefferson Awards is a partnership of the state Office of Volunteerism, PNC Bank, the Community Foundation of New Jersey, BD, PSEG, Verizon, and State Farm Insurance. The Governor’s Volunteer Awards began under Gov. Thomas Kean in the 1980’s and the National Jefferson Awards were initiated in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft Jr. and Sam Beard to establish a prize for public and community service. New Jersey consolidated the two awards programs in 2010.

This year’s award feature several categories, including a one-time-only category for those who volunteered during the response to Hurricane Irene.