A Note from VIP Supervisor, Corina Sadler ...

Celebrating National Volunteer Month April was National Volunteer Month. VIP celebrated with Mayor Harry LaRosiliere and the Plano City Council with a special proclamation during the City Council Meeting held on April 8. Plano was named the Happiest City in America by WalletHub and this recognition sparked exciting media opportunities for us to share the impactful work of staff and volunteers featured in this issue. The response we received from the community about their love for Plano and interest in serving others was fantastic. Spring is a time for us to reflect on our successes and show appreciation for the thousands of volunteers who join staff in service to the City of Excellence.  With Gratitude, Corina Sadler, CVA

Get Involved

Volunteer with us! Volunteering improves the lives of Plano residents, while providing fulfillment and interaction for volunteers. Current volunteer needs are continually updated at VIP online. To learn more about the below opportunities, contact Corina Sadler at 972-941-7617.

Seeking Culinary Volunteers Do you have previous cooking or kitchen experience? Join the volunteer team at the Gazebo Café inside the Sam Johnson Recreation Center for Adults 50+ who prepare fresh, low-cost lunches Monday-Friday. This opportunity is great for retirees or culinary students.  Share the Story of Plano Do you like having your picture taken? Visit Plano is always looking for residents who can help share the story of what’s happening in Plano by posing for photos around town or being featured in short videos about Plano. The content is donated to Visit Plano for promotional use. Hike Through History The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation needs volunteers for Hike Through History on Saturday, June 8 from 7:45 to 10 a.m. This is a walking tour through Downtown Plano's historic homes and cemeteries. Volunteers serve as tour guides and timekeepers. Community Emergency Response Team Lend a hand when an emergency strikes our community by volunteering for Plano's CERT program. This team of volunteers is trained by the Emergency Management department. You must live or work in Plano, be at least 18-years-old, possess a valid driver license, perform light-duty physical lifting and pass a background check to apply.  Special Events Interested in volunteering for one-time events in Plano? Email volunteersinplano@plano.gov and get added to the Special Event List to hear about Downtown Plano, City of Plano and Visit Plano events. More opportunities For more volunteer options, visit our website.

In Volunteers in Plano

What Makes Plano So Happy? VIP Being named the Happiest City in America has its perks. VIP was spotlighted by local media for the amazing work of our staff and volunteers, which was just one of the reasons why Plano is so happy. Our community has an extremely giving spirit which is evident every time we answer a call at the VIP office.  Hannah Davis (pictured) from WFAA-8 ABC dropped by for a live segment during Daybreak. It featured volunteers at the newly renovated Sam Johnson Recreation Center for Adults 50+. They enjoyed prepping food in the Gazebo Café and sharing why Sue, Flo and Rick love Plano.  Diana Zoga from NBC Channel 5 interviewed a dedicated Plano Animal Shelter volunteer Lea Anne about what keeps her volunteering and why the shelter is truly a special place in Plano.  Dallas Morning News columnist Sharon Grigsby spent an afternoon at the Environmental Education Center watching volunteers from Live Green in Plano hard at work. In her article she said she is confident there is no place happier in North Texas than our City of Excellence. Rounding out the media coverage for VIP was a stop at the We Are Dallas Fort Worth podcast where Corina Sadler discussed a variety of City programs engaging volunteers, along with tips about what’s fun in Plano. We are thrilled to share the story of staff and volunteers with a new audience.

In the Community

Staff Mentors Volunteer with Plano Independent School District City of Plano staff work every day to provide excellent services. They also take personal time to give back to the community they serve. Sara Deats (pictured) from the Sam Johnson Recreation Center for Adults 50+, along with Esmeralda Garcia and Nu Nguyen from Neighborhood Services, are part of the Plano Independent School District's mentoring program. They've given rave reviews about supporting a student one-on-one. Thank you all for sharing the spirit of Plano!

Organizations Give Back to Plano

Thank you to the following business and student organizations who teamed up to give back to our community.

The University of Texas at Dallas, Alpha Gamma Delta, at Plano Animal Shelter

Market Street at Haggard Library

Hewlett Packard Enterprise volunteers at Haggard, Davis and Parr Libraries

Special Recognition

Preservation Texas Honor Awards Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation (PCHP) Executive Director Jeff Campbell received a 2019 Preservation Texas Honor Award for the restoration of Davis Cemetery. Davis Cemetery is a historic African-American Cemetery in Plano, Texas. Thanks to everyone involved in the restoration efforts, including; Sundance Associates, Texas Cemetery Restoration, Diamond Fence & Concrete and Hopewell Manufacturing. Thanks to the Plano Heritage Commission for approving the grant funding for this project and special thanks to Michelle Giltner for writing the award nomination! Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped at the first Tombstone Mysteries. The event brought public awareness to both Davis and Old City Cemeteries.

Volunteer Appreciation Lunch VIP celebrated volunteers from several departments during a luncheon at Courtyard Theater. Appreciation goes to volunteers from Emergency Management, Engineering, Environmental Health & Sustainability, and the Police department's Victim Services, Crime Analysis and Records divisions for joining us.  Interurban Museum Awards Genie Hammel was awarded The Russell Kissick Award and Debbie Calvin was awarded The Maggie Sprague Historic Preservation Award. These two dedicated volunteers support the important work of the Interurban Railway Museum in the historic downtown Plano arts district.

Thank You, Doris! A heartfelt thank you goes to Doris Heimann for nearly 20 years of volunteer service at Haggard Library. Staff and volunteers from past and present came together to celebrate Doris’ accomplishment.

Police Volunteer Awards The Plano Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association awarded several volunteers with recognition during their annual awards meeting. Volunteer of the Year Daryl Molitor Rookies of the Year Michael Manor & Bill Werner President's Award Ch. Rick Krupka Teen Presidential Awards These amazing teen volunteers received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for serving over 100 hours with the City of Plano:  Rachael Juarez Forrest Foong Sumaita Ahmed Chenna Chireddy (Not pictured: Laura Salas, Olivia Shih and Morgan Cheng)

Volunteers Going Above and Beyond Our Plano Stages volunteers always go above and beyond to serve the community. This year five completed crowd management training to better serve special events across multiple stages.  From left to right: May Ngyuen, Diane Novembrino, Michael Novembrino, Melissa O’Neal and Nancy Witkowski

Plano Public Library Volunteer Awards

Brenda Clow received the Top Shelf Donations Volunteer for her dedicated service to Davis Library and ensuring the donation management process runs smoothly.   We would also like to thank the following volunteers who received special certificates for their dedicated years of service: Margaret Atkins was selected as the 2019 Volunteer of the Year for giving countless hours and personal passion to the Family Talk program at Harrington Library. This version of Small Talk encourages families with small children to practice English conversation together. Margaret's initiative helps this program flourish and creates a welcoming experience for new families from all over the world.  15 years of service: Debbie Mosser, Library Technical Services, 2,233 hours 10 years of service: Phyllis Owen, Small Talk, 575 hours 10 years of service: Claudia Caudill, Haggard Library, 538 hours 10 years of service: Doug Feltz, Schimelpfenig and Harrington Libraries, 900 hours 5 years of service: Rebecca Brady, Small Talk, 235 hours 5 years of service: Vivian Dong, Small Talk, 170 hours We also recognized several groups of teen and adult volunteers from across all five locations. Thank you to Council Members Ron Kelley and Angela Miner for joining us. Every library volunteer makes a huge impact in services and creates a dynamic experience for patrons.

Animal Shelter Volunteer Recognition Thank you to a stellar group of volunteers who joined us for our annual appreciation lunch. Their hard work to support staff in finding forever homes for the animals is remarkable. This year’s Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Laura Purser, a six-year volunteer of the Pups in the Park program. The program pairs volunteers with adoptable dogs for weekly outings at local parks. Laura truly exemplifies the dedication and passion required of a great animal shelter volunteer. Appreciation also goes to incoming City Manager Mark Israelson, Council Members Rick Grady and Rick Smith for dropping by.

Thank You for Supporting Our Volunteer Recognition Efforts

Benihana Market Street at Park & Preston Kenny’s Burger Joint Alamo Drafthouse Cinema DFW Nation Tours

Non-Profits Seeking Support

Wellness Center for Older Adults This Plano nonprofit is located inside the Sam Johnson Recreation Center for Adults 50+ (SJC). The Wellness Center assists older adults to achieve their highest level of physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Volunteers with a big heart for seniors and who can support programs like Project Independence, Mental Aerobics and Memory Café are needed. If you would like to learn about volunteering, contact Michelle Owen at 972-953-7669.   Computers for the Blind This Richardson-based nonprofit is seeking volunteers to refurbish computers to specifications needed by their clients. No experience necessary, hands-on training in the build process is provided and you may even learn more about how computers work. All age volunteers are welcome. To sign up or learn more, visit their website .