Volunteer Awards
For information on Time for Art: A Celebration of Volunteers, where our finalists were recognized, check out our blog.
Recognizing our community’s volunteers
Volunteers are an important foundation of many nonprofit agencies and bring many skills and resources. United Way provides local organizations an opportunity to recognize their volunteers through our annual Volunteer Awards. We accept nominations annually beginning in December.
Award Descriptions
All awards are judged based upon the outstanding contributions to a nonprofit organization.
Youth volunteer award: Individual in college or someone younger than age 18.
Young professional volunteer award: Individual 40 or younger.
Adult volunteer award: Individual 41–54 years old.
Senior volunteer award: Individual 55 years or older.
Business volunteer award: A business or company.
Group volunteer award: Two people or more.
Nominations for 2019 will be announced in winter of 2018. After the community submits nominations, United Way’s William B. Quarton Society and Young Leaders Society choose three finalists in each category. The community then votes for the winning volunteers. Winners in each category receive $500 to donate to a nonprofit of their choice. We announce winners at our annual recognition event in April.
2018 Outstanding Volunteer Awards
- Elizabeth “Beth” Uthoff, Various Nonprofits
- Karly Gaul, Tanager Place
- Lauren Winchester, Catherine McAuley Center
- Sonya LaGrange, Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity
- Kristy Staker, Bridgehaven and Freedom Festival
- Sean McBrien, Willis Dady Homeless Services
- Sandy Steckler, Cedar Rapids Public Library
- Milinda Fraley, YPN
- Jim Archambeau, Cedar Rapids Curling Club and others
- Cindy Sale, Gems of Hope
- Bob Ocken, UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids
- Adrienne Walls, VFW Post 788
- Thompson & Co. Tanager Place
- Wells Fargo Bank, Various Nonprofits
- Clipper Windpower, Aging Services
- American Cancer Society Road to Recovery, American Cancer Society
- Barb Fearn & Pam Caster, Cedar Rapids Public Library
- Mount Mercy University Enactus, Mount Mercy University and others
Nomination Guidelines
- The nominee’s volunteer service must be in United Way of East Central Iowa’s service area (Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Jones, or Linn Counties).
- Nominee’s volunteer organization must be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) and serve the community at large. Religious or professional groups providing services only to their members are not eligible.
- You may nominate only ONE outstanding volunteer or group per category. You may not enter the same volunteer or group in additional categories.
- Volunteer service must be acts for which the nominee did not receive financial compensation. Reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses, such as gasoline, is acceptable.
- We cannot return submitted materials, and through submission, you give permission for future use in promotions or editorials.
- You may submit nominations for each of the six categories. You must complete one form for each category.
