This year’s STAR Awards ceremony showed that the power of volunteerism is stronger than ever, and not limited to a single community.

United Way BCKR and Gryphon Place partnered to host the first regional STAR Awards on Aug. 20 at Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center, bringing together volunteers from both the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo communities. More than 150 people turned out to celebrate as nine winners in five categories were chosen from a pool of 40 inspiring nominees.

We know there are thousands more volunteers making a difference in our community every day. If you know a STAR volunteer who deserves recognition for their efforts, it’s not too early to start the nomination process for 2020. Email getinvolved@uwbckr.org to get started.

Meet this year’s winners

Lifetime Achievement Award, Battle Creek

Marcia Moan

For more than 20 years, Marcia has greeted homeless residents and guests at Haven of Rest Ministries with a smile and a portable library full of books. With deliveries of books she purchases herself, she arrives each Friday afternoon to fill the tables in the dining room with reading material and encourage guests to borrow them. “Marcia also offers a listening ear and smiling face to the mix,” wrote Linda Hardenbook, Volunteer Coordinator at the Haven. “Marcia’s dedication to providing reading material to the people in our shelter help fill the long hours of the evening that might otherwise not have any entertainment. Her traveling library keeps our community reading.”

Lifetime Achievement Award, Kalamazoo

Charlene Taylor

Charlene, a Kalamazoo County native, has been giving back to the Kalamazoo community for decades, starting with the production of a play at age 15 that raised money for Lincoln Elementary. Known by many as the founder of Community Healing Center’s STREET after-school program, she has been a part of many other community events and programs including Roof Sit, Hillside Resource Fair, YC3 Event, Block Party, Martin Luther King Park, Community Mental Health’s Children’s Carnival, Tips for Kids, Serve for Kids and much more. She has advocated for drug-free communities, bully-free schools, and against underage drinking and drug use. “She has touched the lives of countless individuals throughout Kalamazoo County on and off the clock,” said friend Sharon Miller. What sets her apart is “her sincere heart and ability to relate because of the disparities she, herself, had to overcome.”

Adult Volunteer, Battle Creek

Steve Taft

From April to October each year, Steve can almost always be found at Binder Park Zoo. A decade-long fixture at the zoo, he volunteers there five days a week during peak season, and three days a week during the off-season. That has added up to an incredible 10,000 estimated hours. “Steve is known for helping with anything and everything that zoo staff asks of him,” said Denae Scheidler, Volunteer and Communications Coordinator at Binder Park Zoo. “He is a wonderful asset to the zoo and will do any task with a smile on his face. He works side by side with all departments of the zoo and helps to ensure things are seen to completion.”

Adult Volunteer, Kalamazoo

Ashley Wright

Ashley’s commitment to infants and caregivers isn’t limited to her full-time job as a labor and delivery nurse. After seeing a news report more than a year ago about St. Luke’s Diaper Bank and the diaper need in Kalamazoo, she was moved to dive into the mission and help families in a volunteer capacity. Ashley started with a donation of 20,000 diapers – the single largest donation St. Luke’s had received to date. She continued on to volunteer at many diaper repackaging events, join the organization’s Core Volunteer Team, serve as the volunteer social media coordinator, and organize a second large-scale collection. This time, the result was 25,000 diapers and 20,000 wipes. Her collections have allowed St. Luke’s to serve an additional 900 families over the past year. “Ashley is a tireless advocate, an enthusiastic volunteer and a selfless person,” wrote St. Luke’s Board President Allie VanHeest, who nominated Ashley for a STAR Award. She goes above and beyond at work and with SLDB to look out for the babies of our community.”

Youth Volunteer, Battle Creek

Magdalice Rosas

High school can be an extremely busy time in a student’s life, but 11th-grader Magdalice managed to carve out 168 hours last school year to volunteer with Voces in Battle Creek. She participated in an elementary literacy program twice a week, and is an avid volunteer for the organization. “She is reliable, and can be given any responsibility and will accomplish it,” said Elizabeth Garcia, who nominated Magdalice. “She has been a great help to us.”

Youth Volunteer, Kalamazoo

Xiao Covell

Xiao got to know the OutFront Kalamazoo organization while receiving youth services there, and has become greatly involved as a volunteer working to support the staff, programs and other youth who receive services. Xiao has helped prepare for fundraising events, works to ensure that programs are supported, and often facilitates youth group meetings. He also took on tasks to prepare for Kalamazoo Pride, the third largest pride event in the state. “Xiao works tirelessly to uplift and promote youth leadership among the youth receiving our services,” OutFront staff wrote in his nomination. “His dedication and energy brings joy, creativity and peace to the OutFront Kalamazoo office.”

Corporate Volunteer, Battle Creek

Adient

When Charitable Union is in need ofneeds a volunteer group, its first call is typically to its “go-to” volunteer group: the employees at Adient. They are on hand for every back-to-school distribution, winter coat distribution and prom dress event. They have been known to mobilize quickly for last-minute needs, and can take on large tasks that free up staff for other work. “All it takes is one phone call,” wrote Tammy Jimenez, Volunteer Coordinator at Charitable Union. “They come early and stay late to make sure the people in our community are taken care of and are treated with dignity and respect. They have a heart to serve, which shows in their actions and how they interact with people in need in our community.”

Corporate Volunteer, Kalamazoo

Pfizer

Volunteerism is built into Pfizer’s DNA as one of the largest employers in Kalamazoo. The company offers its employees up to eight paid hours of volunteer time each year, with an additional eight hours granted to new hires. The Pfizer Foundation offers yet another incentive for volunteerism: E – each time a group of five or more Pfizer colleagues volunteers for 15 or more total hours, the agency at which they choose to spend their time receives $2,500. This adds up to an incredible amount of volunteer hours for the community, crucial funding for local organizations, and exposure of many people to the community’s most pressing needs.

Group Volunteer Award, Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo Detachment #879, Marine Corps League

The Marine Corps League volunteers served an estimated 400 volunteer hours in 2018, but the group’s efforts have been changing lives for decades at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. “Their personal support and willingness to go the extra mile for their fellow veterans is admirable,” said Todd Greenman, who nominated the group. Their support for their fellow veterans has included 40,000 miles of transportation for medical appointments, an annual birthday celebration for veterans, welcome bags with personal care items, and twice-monthly breakfasts that are purchased, cooked and served by the volunteers. “Over the years, the volunteers have spent extra time talking to the veterans and sharing military and personal stories,” said Greenman. “The veterans look forward to their visits and truly enjoy a home-cooked meal. The VA’s philosophy is to make the patient units to be as home-like as possible, and these volunteers have contributed to that.”