Wednesday, April 25, 2007 · Page 12 Local volunteers honoured during Volunteer Week BY ANDY COMBER A number of local and county volunteers were honoured at the 20th Annual 'Hearts that Light the Way' Volunteer Awards presented by the United Way/ Centraide of Windsor and Essex County held April 17. "We are here to celebrate our most valuable resource - our volunteers," said United Way's executive director Sheila Wisdom, who praised all of the volunteers, which represent 1200 not-for-profit organizations in the region. Some local residents were singled out from about 200 nominations to receive one of the nine awards presented. "It was a real surprise," said Rick Mayea of Cottam who was presented with the 'Light the Way' County Volunteer Award in recognition of his 12 years of work with the Gosfield North Parent Council. Described as a "dedicated volunteer", Mayea has worked with a number of local organizations including the Youth and Family Resource Network, Cottam Minor Baseball and Essex District High School. "Rick has not only inspired his children to volunteer, but also many others in the community," said Wisdom in presenting the award. A Harrow couple was also recognized for their volunteer efforts, along with county and city volunteers. "It is a great honour," said Jack and Sheila Brush who were presented with the Volunteer Spirit Award for Essex County in recognition of their dedication and longstanding commitment as volunteers. In presenting the award, Essex County Warden Nelson Santos noted the couple's success in bringing the "Super Cities" Walk for MS to the county. About 300 people took part in last weekend's event held in Leamington. "Jack has struggled with MS for over 20 years," said Santos, who recognized Jack as the chairperson of the MS Walk Committee in Leamington, and noted the couple's hard work in building a county network to help support people with MS. "Jack and Sheila are certainly an inspiration to all of us," he said. From Leamington, John and Liduina VanOorschot received the Volunteer Family Award in recognition of their family's longtime involvement with Scouts Canada. Other recipients included Andrea Grimes (Good Neighbour Award), Taryn Matis (Focus Youth Award), the late Dinah Kerr ('Light the Way' City Award) for 17 years of service with the Association for People with Physical Disabilities, and John McGivney (Volunteer Spirit Award) for his support of the Children's Rehabilitation Centre, Sheila and Jack Brush of Harrow were recognized with the Volunteer Spirit Award for Essex County at the 20th Annual `Hearts that Light the Way Volunteer' Awards. Rick Mayea of Cottam was recognized with the 'Light the Way' volunteer award for Essex County at the 20th Annual 'Hearts that Light the Way' Volunteer Awards held in Windsor, April 17. which has been renamed in his honour. In addition, awards were presented to the Outreach Volunteer Group of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southwestern Ontario, and a Special Recognition Award went to John Nabben and the "You, Me and Billy" Players of Walkerville High School for their anti-bullying drama. Drawing on the Volunteer Youth Awards went to 12-year-old Jessica Veneza of Leamington, 14year-old Jessica Novosedlik of Windsor, and 16-year-old Anika Duenk of Leamington. Their award winning posters were used to create the United Way's Volunteer in Youth poster. A PLANTING PAIR Daniel Schwab / Free Press Essex District High School students Ally Fairhurst and Jon Andrews didn't mind taking a day off classes to get a little muddy while planting some of the 400 trees that went into areas near the storm pond at the intersection of Maidstone Avenue West and Highway 3. About 50 Grade 9 and 10 students planted a variety of native Carolinian trees and shrubs that were supplied by the Essex Region Conservation Authority through the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, a program of the federal government that aims to improve municipal wastewater effluent quality.