Volunteer of the Year Awards

June 2008

Berkeley County Volunteer of the Year:  Pat McMillan

is a founding member of the Health and Human Service Collaborative, she brought great expertise to organizing the Collaborative’s work and could always be depended on to bring great insight and judgment to the process.  Pat also took on the Chairmanship of one of the Collaborative’s working Groups, in fact probably the most challenging work group.  That is, addressing the problem of affordable housing in the Eastern Panhandle.  Pat McMillan is also a member of our Community Impact Steering Committee and when we needed her at the last minute she stepped in to help us facilitate the Thriving Children Solutions Council.   Congratulations and thank you, Pat!

Jefferson County Volunteer of the Year:  Susan Walter has done and continues to do so much for the United Way movement in the Eastern Panhandle.  The impact of her work is great.  Her focus has always been on addressing the needs of the community.  As a Fund’s Distribution volunteer for a number of years she always sought to encourage the delivery of effective and efficient programs to ensure that our limited United Way dollars achieved the greatest impact in addressing the greatest needs in our community.  Going from Funds Distribution Panel member to being instrumental in the establishment of the Eastern Panhandle Health and Human Service Collaborative was a natural progression for Susan and why she took on the role of Chair of one of the Collaborative’s working groups.  She brings a broad perspective to developing strategies to address community needs and that’s also why we asked her to become a member of our Community Impact Steering Committee and then a member of one of the Community Solutions Councils.  When she sees a problem she throws herself into finding a solution.  That’s why we now have an Eastern Panhandle Regional Resource Coordinator and an Information and Referral Center, why we will hold the first WV MOM, a community emergency dental clinic and why we will eventually have a dental clinic that focuses on the under and un-insured.  Congratulations and thank you, Susan!

Morgan County Volunteer of the Year:  Edward Duncan has been self-less in his support of the health and human service community in Morgan County.  United Way and especially its agencies in Morgan County are fortunate that he chose to settle in the Panhandle.  He’s worked diligently to increase the effectiveness of one of our agencies in Morgan County; aiding it in getting on a sound financial footing and becoming more effective in delivering services to the community.  He joined the Morgan County Campaign Committee several years ago and has been making an impact on the campaign and many other facets of our mission ever since.  He’s worked diligently for Morgan County’s continuing growth in its annual campaign.  Most recently he served on the Independent Seniors Community Solutions Council.  If a volunteer is needed he is one of the first to sign-up.  United Way is extremely fortunate that Ed Duncan has been so freely given of his time in developing the resources and in helping us determine how to best focus those resources in making an impact on the many needs throughout the Panhandle.   Congratulations and thank you, Ed!